Cultural collisions can be as unexpected as they are fun. Not to mention creative. And when they are found in the music world in particular, they often leave you with a song that appeals across genre, generation, and geography.
The latest single from Tojo Yamamoto is such a fusing together of contrasting and contradictory worlds that I never saw coming. I’d even go as far as to say that I thought we didn’t need it, but having heard it, I realise that I can’t live without it. but that’s music for you. And indeed, that’s musicians too. For “The Concession Stand Blitz,” is the band’s take on The Sweet’s classic “Ballroom Blitz.” And if you didn’t think anything good could come out of a group of ’90s US hardcore, punk, and metal survivors taking on the less credible end of British ’70s pop-glam, then you are about to be proved very wrong indeed.
Relocating the song to a fight at the famous Tupelo Concession Stand and bathing it in squalling sonics and anthemic vocals, pounding drums, and growling, grinding, gritty tsunamis of sound, this version adds the necessary weight for the song to have a new lease of life in the modern age.
It shouldn’t work – the no-nonsense attitudes of hardcore taking on the fey and flamboyant flouncing around of glam? It does, and it does so brilliantly. And of course, the Tojo’s put their own spin on things, not least the wrestling commentary that weaves in and out, describing this almost apocalyptic sonic battle taking place.
If The Sweet’s original sounded like a fun and frolicking glam rock blast, Tojo Yamamoto now makes it sound like they are driving an 18-wheeler with a shot transmission and in desperate need of an oil change, delivering the kit to Aftershock Festival and have accidentally crashed through a ’70s revivalist clothes boutique whilst listening to Steel Panther on the stereo! Or something. I don’t know,it’s hard to put into words, maybe just give it a spin, it’s magnificent!
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