Yako (Melt Banana)
SPB: What surprised you the most on your first US tour?
Yako: I was surprised that we needed to show ID to enter the clubs. In Japan, we don't need to be over 21 to enter clubs!
Related features
Serotonin Mist
One Question Interviews • October 24, 2025
Hiroshi (Serotonin Mist) SPB: The Bandcamp page on your new album states: No label, no producer. 100% DIY. Is DIY an important issue for Serotonin Mist (and why)? Hiroshi: I believe that being DIY has both good and bad sides. The good side is that we can control every aspect … Read more
Massa Nera
One Question Interviews • October 23, 2025
Mark Boulanger (Massa Nera – drums/vocals) SPB: What was your first live show? Boulanger: Our first show was on 05/09/16 at The Meatlocker in Montclair, NJ. We played with Wastelands, Without, Yashira, and an insane NJ powerviolence band called Uncle Mark. If you aren't familiar, The Meatlocker is an absolutely … Read more
East End Redemption
One Question Interviews • October 22, 2025
Josh (East End Redemption) SPB: If your band had to be sponsored by a completely random household product (like cereal, dish soap, lawnmower, etc.), which one would it be and why? Josh: We would be sponsored by Turtle Wax car wax because "I wanna pet, I wanna I pet, I … Read more
Fest 23: Artist Interviews
Interviews / Fest 23 • October 18, 2025
FEST 23 takes place later this month, from Oct. 24-26 in Gainesville, FL. Something like a billion bands are driving, flying, canoeing, and snowshoeing to the festival from across the country -- many of them for the first time and many come back to play nearly every year. Scene Point … Read more
FEST LIBS 23 & Fest Moments
Music / Fest 23 • October 18, 2025
Are you ready for The Fest!? While we’re pretty sure you’re already counting down days until your trek to Gainesville, FL, we’ve got some Fest games for you to play, including a few samples from this year’s performers. Click here to play FEST LIBS -- like a fill-in-the-blanks word game … Read more
Related news
Melt Banana: US, UK, new record too
Posted in Bands on May 2, 2024
Napalm Death, Melvins, Melt Banana, oh my!
Posted in Tours on December 1, 2015
Melt Banana plan 2 North American tours
Posted in Bands on May 4, 2015
Related reviews
Melt Banana
Bambi's Dilemma
A-Zap (2007)
Listening to Melt Banana carries a list of requirements: Deal with the vocals. Deal with annoying noises. If you can't handle the speed and the fury, don't even bother. If you can embrace these qualities fully, you can totally understand why Melt Banana is such an important figure in noise rock. They slush together punk and noise rock elements and … Read more
Melt Banana
Cell Scape
A-Zap (2003)
You know Melt Banana, right? Their guitarist has SARS. Doesn't ring a bell? They're arguably the best Japan has to offer in terms of good no wave music? They had a split with (what used to be) everyone's favorite grind-core band The Locust a little more than a year ago? The split was despised by fans and critics alike? Still … Read more
