Mach Pelican

 

After a twenty year wait, Mach Pelican have finally dropped new music. The new 7 inch, titled A Secret Session features just two songs, Remember It and Summer Sun. the tracks sound like Mach Pelican, fun, Ramonsey punk rock. The kind of music I find it hard to believer anyone could dislike.  Its an amazing story, three kids for Japan meeting in Perth, starting a band based on there love of the Ramones, then go on and become one of the most beloved band bands in the 90s/early 2000s.

Singer/ Guitarist Keisuke Nakamura spoke with me from his home via the Zoom machine.

Munster: Mach Pelican, for the last few years have done the odd show here and there, and it’s been 20 years since the last release, so what made you want to record new material?

K Rock: we played from 96-2007, then we broken up. Toshi, moved back to Japan for a while. We did the reunion when he came back. Toshi’s now back and at the same time we started to write songs and do more.

Munster: I saw you support CJ Ramone over 10 year ago…

K Rock: oh yeah, that was one of the reunion shows.

Munster: I was going to say that was one of your first shows after Toshi returned. Is it safe to say your back full time, or full time as you can be?

K Rock: yeah, not like before, we used to do 100 shows a year. We’re quieter, but still a few shows. Since Toshi’s permanently here in Australia we can do more.

Munster: when Toshi left for Japan did you think that was the end?

K Rock: I wasn’t sure, I was always up for it and ready to get the band going again.

Munster: Did you do any music in between?

K Rock: not a lot, but I did write a few songs and an acoustic set myself, a few gigs at The Reverence in Footscray. Also, at the Tote.

Munster: Is that true you three met in Perth?

K-Rock: yes, that where we all met in 96. We were all studying English at school. Toshi and I were in the same school, Astu was in a different school. We ended up finding each other. Toshi was already in a band. Astu was coming to Toshi’s show, that’s where we met, then we discussed forming a band. The first show we had a different line up. I was the singer. Toshi was on guitar, we had a female drummer and Astu was on bass.

Munster: so, there was a four piece Mach Pelican at one point?

K Rock (laughs): yeah. From second show we was a  three piece

Munster: how did you find each other, was it your appreciation for the Ramones and rock n roll that you decided to be friends?

K- Rock: the Ramones was the link. What CD did you bring from Japan, and that. Toshi was like you like the Ramones, I’m like of course, and it started there.

Munster: growing up in Japan what where you listening to as a teenager?

K- Rock: we grew up in the 90s, so a lot of 90s stuff, Green Day Rancid, NO FX, was some of the stuff I would listen too, and High Thunder, they were huge back then.

Munster: How did you find Melbourne? Because Japan and Perth are completely different places, like Melbourne it to Perth.

K- Rock: yeah, I think that was part of the tour. We played only in Perth from 96-98. Our first tour was booked by Wally Meanie. I think that was when we signed to Shock Records, and we were on Recovery at the same time. We didn’t now Melbourne had a lot more venues, more for the rock n roll, so we came here to do more shows pretty much. One of the places we played was the Public Bar in North Melbourne, our next show, the releasing party will be at Last Chance, the same venue, so we return to the starting point in Melbourne.

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Munster: How big a thrill was it being on Recovery?

K- Rock: oh that was great, when we got on TV lots of people that came to the shows said we saw you on Recovery, so was a good launch pad.

Munster: One of your records that a picture of you guys with CJ Ramone in the booklet, how big a thrill was it hanging with a Ramone on tour?

K- Rock: that was great, we met CJ Ramone at the Vans Warped Tour. He was playing bass for the festival for a band, we bumped into him at the marquee, and we got talking, we said we’re playing the main stage, and he checked us out, and he said sounds like Ramones and Dickies, so that was surprising, so happy to see him

Munster: is there a main songwriter in the band or do you share duties?

K- Rock: Toshi, he had a band before we formed, he had a few songs when we first formed. Toshi was the main songwriter. So, the drummer was songwriter for the first LP. With the new 7 Inch, one of the songs is Toshi’s and side B is me, so we all write now.

Munster: you have this 7 inch coming out, is there any plans for an LP or just the 7 for now?

K- Rock: just the 7 for now. I don’t know if we have time for an LP, maybe just release a few 7 inches, just keep releasing them. Then release all the songs as an LP

Munster: Mach Pelican appeared in the video clip for TISMs Thunderbirds re Coming Out, how did that happen?

K- Rock: yeah (laughs). There were a few bands there. that was when we signed to Shock Records. Shock asked us to be in the video clip. We just went there and saw all the bands, like what’s going on here (laughs). I didn’t even know who TISM was at the time, we just showed up where we were told to.

Munster: on a personal note, you’re a chef?

K- Rock: I own a restaurant, in Preston. Toshi had one in the city once, a while ago, not anymore, now he’s doing the music promotion.

Munster: Do you have a big following in Japan?

K Rock: we haven’t toured there in 20 years. We used to go over every year when full time. We would play 200 capacity venues, very underground.

Munster: aside from the new 7, is there much else on?

K- Rock: nothing much planned. Where plying in Japan in July. Til then a rehearsal, maybe record some new stuff, a few local shows in Melbourne, maybe Queensland, Sydney Adelaide but nothing planned

 Mach Pelican “A Secret Session” Single launch at the Last Chance Rock n Roll Bar, Saturday 31 January, with Loose Lips and Elvis 2

A Secret Session out via Cheersquad Records.