"She got me wrapped around her little finger, uh uh"

There are a few things you need to know about Fujiya & Miyagi. Firstly, contrary to what the band name suggests, they are not Japanese. Secondly, they are not a two-piece band. As of Friday night, they have expanded from three to four members to include a drummer. As I learnt from them after the show, our little Singapore had the honour of being the drummer's first ever show.

The crowd, consisting mainly 20- to 30-something sophisticated arty types, didn't have to wait long for the band to take to the stage, with spartan wolf whistles greeting their emergence. Opener Ankle Injuries immediately got the crowd bobbing their heads and tapping their feet, and the complimentary drink certainly aided in releasing their inhibitions.

The band, who got their name from the character Mr Miyagi in the 1984 film The Karate Kid and the Fujiya brand of record players, performed tunes mostly from their sophomore album Transparent Things such as Sucking Punch, Photocopier and In One Ear And Out The Other, and a handful of brand new ones like Uh and Pussy Footin'.

Togged in a Run DMC t-shirt, David Best's (Miyagi) casual singing/rapping of witty lyrics, with the occasional beatboxing and guitar solo thrown in, was a hit with the audience. With synth wizard Steve Lewis (Fujiya) churning out pumping beats and bleeps, supported by the groovy basslines of Matt Hainsby (Ampersand), they created a unique concoction both dance heads and rockers would approve of. New drummer on the block Lee didn't come onstage till the sixth number, bringing to the band a sound edgier, rawer than the usual drum loops would provide.



Fujiya

Miyagi

Miyagi and Ampersand

Lee the drummer in shades

The gig ended with a 2-song encore, the group's undoubted hit Collarbone and Knickabockor. Offstage after the show, the band were down to earth, obliging with photographs and autographs, chatting with fans and thanking them profusely for attending. They looked like any ordinary men on the street. Who would be able to tell they were the architects of such brilliant music?


The two balding members and one headful of hair. haha! But I was starstruck nonetheless