Blog - Tokyo Panorama Mambo Boys in-store live report
Tokyo Panorama Mambo Boys in-store live report
On Sunday I dropped by Tower Records Shinjuku in the afternoon to check out an in-store event of the Tokyo Panorama Mambo Boys. For those who don't know, they're a club-oriented unit that uses popular mambo and latin sounds, and it features Paradise Yamamoto (Japan's only real Santa, and also a master of bonsai and gyoza), Gonzalez Suzuki (Soul Bossa Trio) and DJ Comoesta (aka Comoesta Yaegashi aka Comoestas, ex-5th Garden).
For the last 13 years each of the three famous members had been doing their own thing, but this year they're back together with a new release "Mambo Imperial" and two more coming until the summer! It was fantastic to see them finally on a same stage Comoesta played the music on his computer and DJ set, while Gonzalez and Paradise added percussions, plus Paradise's powerful mambo shouts: "Ahhhh.... UGH!!" They said that it was actually their first time ever doing an in-store live..!
Paradise did some funny MCing, warning little kids at the front that they're all over 45 and rotting. Paradise pointed out that Comoesta dropped the "Yaegashi" from his name and is now called just "DJ Comoesta", "but then again... who cares?" he joked, making Comoesta laugh out loud.
They started by playing just one mixed up track of about 10 minutes, then Paradise announced already "the next is our last song" surprising the audience, but Gonzalez assured "it's true!" Next up was a mix of a bunch of songs again, during which they had people from the audience who bought the CD at Tower to take a photo with them while they're performing on stage. Of course I got to participate and it was a lot of fun! They were all smiles and very nice.
There were several mambo families, parents dragging their little kids on stage for a photo, but some of the kids were making a scene and crying while Paradise tried to kindly sit them on a conga, he said "these kids won't ever listen to mambo again!"
Tokyo Panorama Mambo Boys' return remix mini-album "Mambo Imperial" is in stores now, and "Mambo Deco" is coming next month. They promise that the 3rd, due for summer, will be full of brand new tracks! The boys can be caught live at their club event "Latin Panic!" at Shinjuku Oto on February 29 (Friday). It opens at 22:00 and the live show starts at 23:00, ¥2500 including 2 drinks.
Ahhhhh..... UGH!!!
Posted on February 18, 2008 at 20:19 | Tweet
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Oh, man! That sounded like a total blast. I'd love to see them live some day.
What exactly is the deal with the new CD? I've been hesitant to buy it because the clips I've heard don't sound much different from the old album versions - are the tracks actually remixed (or rerecorded)? As much as I love the first album, I don't really need to buy it again.
Also - where on earth did you find that cover scan for Mambo Deco?
(PS - I've been reading this website for years but have never commented for whatever reason. This is one of my favorite sites to visit, Patrick! I find more & more reasons to leave NYC every time I look at this site.)
Posted by Mikey IQ on February 19, 2008 at 19:50
Thanks for your comment Mikey! I'm very happy to know you like the site.
Mambo Imperial is all old songs, same recordings although they've been lightly remixed, with new interludes in between. I think it's a good way to relisten to their older stuff, but you might have enough with the originals.
I got the Mambo Deco artwork from Mixi, a popular Japanese social network, where Paradise himself posted it in the band's community. Couldn't be more direct than that. :)
Posted by Patrick on February 19, 2008 at 20:17