No Buses: Japanese Anti-Fashion Indie Heroes
Named after the Arctic Monkey’s song, No Buses overtook my playlists and never let go with “Pretty Old Man” back when it released in February of 2019. In the two years that have followed, I’ve been gleefully discovering the band’s songs and history. The humor of this band extends to all of their music videos, and the sound is charming, simple, and unquestionably unique. This is a band that fills a space no other band can.
Formed in 2016, No Buses began with singer and guitarist Taisei Kondo showing Shinya Goto (guitar) his songs in high school. From there, they gathered up a band and started playing shows in Shimokita, famed for its own indie music scene within Tokyo.
After a few member swaps and an EP titled “Boys Love Her” released in August 2017, the band ended up with Goto, Sugiyama, Ishikawa, and Kondo.
The new lineup gave birth to “Tic,” in April 2018 and a handful of releases over the next couple of years leading up to their first album, “Boys Loved Her,” a reference to their first single.
This band has a trendy, anti-fashion style, absolutely reveling in dances almost as awkward as their lyrics. The shamelessness of their frontman is as relatable as the music, which is easy to listen to. In most of their music videos, members are doing some sort of weird little shimmy or step, but in each and every single one, count on frontman Kondo to do a little dance for you. Whether in the famous Shibuya scramble crossing or rolling around in a yard somewhere, Kondo will be shimmying in colorful arrangements and flailing body movements that barely make any sense.
Incidentally, this same frontman has another project that doesn’t quite suit the format of a whimsical band. Instead, his solo project, Cwondo, encapsulates the same style in a more self-contained and solitary way. If you would put on No Buses at a party, you could put on Cwondo for a day at home alone.
One could pop on some No Buses for both a cool and relaxed study session or to bop around the house to, and one can definitely see the appeal of seeking out a cozy venue to see these guys live. It’s incredibly versatile music with unending charm and just a touch of wit, and it’s no surprise they suit the Shimokita and Shibuya scene. Most of the band’s fans are full of faith that they will explode in popularity someday, and for good reason. Their skills and irreplaceable humor meld together in a way that’s both loveable and difficult to find. Even their subreddit’s description reads, “A community for whenever the band No Buses finally gets popular”.
While there’s a certain appeal to following underground music, it’s true that a lot of bands don’t last for the long term, but with such an enthusiastic and faithful community paired with a group of musicians who (musically, at least) really work well together, one could really get the idea that they’ll be around to see even greater successes.
No Buses has just announced a self-titled second album, due for release on June 26, 2021 as well as the official addition of a new member: Haruki Wada as a 3rd guitarist. The new album will include 12 tracks, including the previously released “Number 4 or 5” and “Imagine Siblings”.
Make sure to check out their website at nobusesband.com or keep up with them on social media by following their twitter and instagram for updates from this lovely bunch.
Originally published at https://opheliavang.blogspot.com on May 31, 2021.
