Deep in Tokyo¡¯s indie music hub of Shimokitazawa, the twin venues of Three and Basement Bar often play host to some of the most diverse and offbeat expressions of Japan¡¯s underground music culture.
Drifting between performances at both locations as part of the Mama¡¯s Tattoo event this past summer, I saw everything from the avant-garde gothic-industrial vocal gymnastics of Dith to the more conventionally idol pop trio Avandoned, via the canine cabaret of Jon the Dog. As a one-night trip into music subcultures, Mama¡¯s Tattoo was a success. But the event also serves as a fascinating showcase of the impact that women are having on the indie music scene.
An irregular mini-festival run by a small collective of female musicians and journalists, Mama¡¯s Tattoo emphasizes not only women artists, but also what organizing member Ingel (from indie rock band Falsettos) calls ¡°a handmade feeling,¡± and what her event colleague Mayumi Shimada (of Trash Up! magazine) calls ¡°a thorough DIY spirit.¡±
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