MUSIC
Over 2023 Gaijin Smash will gradually drop a series of sizzling new singles produced by Ian Culley & mastered by João Carvalho (more in bio) request demo
BIOGRAPHY
Japanese/Canadian dance-punk duo Gaijin Smash blends the contrasting elements of pop culture that raised them, playing fast driven lo-fi antipop bangers under the command of a paranormal drummer in a portable television.
After releasing their debut single “Creeper” on Halloween 2019, Gaijin Smash embarked on their “Japanada Tour” playing nine dates across six major cities in Japan and Canada.
The band’s debut EP Play Date was released on Friday the 13th of November 2020 and distributed through Be One Music before Gaijin Smash began releasing singles under their own label, Naked Tapes.
After slaying their overlord poltergeist drummer Gaijin Smash recently adopted drummer Ryan Macdonald (Kilmanjaro) to record their forthcoming series of singles co-produced by Ian Culley (Daniel Caesar, Charlotte Day Wilson) and mastered by João Carvalho (Badbadnotgood, Death From Above 1979).
PHOTOS
VIDEOS
PRESS
Gaijin Smash and the Japanada dance punk bash of "FTW"
“Gaijin Smash is a Japanese / Canadian dance-punk duo and their latest “FTW” is a blistering, caustic, kinetic banger of an alt-rock meets art punk creation that somehow had me thinking of a collision of Bikini Kill and Queens of the Stone Age. Really digging the guitar sound and the delicious sliding down the neck hook that is incredibly catchy and fun.“
– American Pancake
Gaijin Smash - "FTW"
“5 Words – Grooving, noisy, gritty, sweet perfection.“
– Postcard Elba
Five Questions With Gaijin Smash
“Toronto, ON-based dance-punk trio, Gaijin Smash have recently released their new single, “Headache.” Directed by Sam Harding and produced by Brynn Rhude, the music video for “Headache” drops hints surrounding the band’s relationship with their poltergeist overlord TV drummer, and their new savior drummer Ryan Macdonald.”
– Canadian Beats
Gaijin Smash - Creeper
“I really like how different ‘Creeper’ sounds. It combines two musical cultures which you wouldn’t automatically put together in a track, and creates a unique blend with an infectious energy.”
– Indie Midlands
Dance-Punk Duo Gaijin Smash Release Music Video [Japan/Canada]
“The video for “Creeper” provides an explanation of the band’s hypnotic relationship with their poltergeist drummer (who they appear to be commanded by) and serves as a subtle commentary on the grip that technology can have on society.”
– Unite Asia
Rock Act Gaijin Smash Releases Multilingual Single “FTW” [Japan/Canada]
“On Halloween of 2019 Mai and Conor awoke to the hiss of the TV from the living room of their Toronto apartment. In the fireplace was a package titled “Gaijin Smash” containing five VHS tapes and an itinerary for nine tour dates across Japan and Canada (handwritten in Katakana). The fifth tape displayed a video of a headless drummer playing the parts for “FTW”.“
– Unite Asia
Week Starter - Gaijin Smash
“Lo-fi, fuzzed out and catchy as hell, this is the only booster* we need. Turn it up and dance around your work from home office and make that zoom meeting into something memorable. *no but seriously please get all the shots.”
– Postcard Elba
Introducing: Gaijin Smash
“We really enjoyed the high-octane sound of Gaijin Smash’s Mountain (Live in Toronto) – click here to see what we wrote. So, we got in touch with the Toronto-based band to get the inside view on their sound, creative process and new single FTW.“
– Analogue Trash
New Music: Gaijin Smash – Mountain (Live in Toronto)
“Tight yet trashy, cocky and caustic, Mountain is a glorious collision of hardcore and glam. New York Dolls/MC5 meet Minor Threat on the streets of Toronto and decide to rock out in style, as with the vocal interplay adds more than a hint of danger to a high-octane performance. I’d love to see this band play live.“
– Analogue Trash
Gaijin Smash - Play Date
“An excellent debut EP from a cool new synth-punk band.“
– The Bare Minimum
PRESS LINKS
https://canadianbeats.ca/2022/07/08/gaijin-smash-five-questions-with/
https://uniteasia.org/rock-act-gaijin-smash-releases-multilingual-single-ftw-japan-canada/
https://uniteasia.org/dance-punk-duo-gaijin-smash-release-music-video-japan-canada/
https://www.analoguetrash.com/blog/gaijin-smash-mountain-live-in-toronto
https://www.analoguetrash.com/blog/introducing-gaijin-smash
https://undergroundnproud.com/2022/01/05/gaijin-smash-new-single-mountain
https://undergroundnproud.com/2022/05/24/gaijin-smash-new-video-headache/
https://postcardelba.com/2022/01/03/week-starter-gaijin-smash
https://www.americanpancake.com/2022/02/gaijin-smash-and-japanada-dance-punk.html
https://www.indiemidlands.co.uk/reviews/gaijin-smash-creeper/
https://tinnitist.com/2022/05/23/monday-mixtape-64-songs-worth-celebrating-side-3
https://fromthestrait.com/articles/the-rundown-january-24-2022
https://postcardelba.com/2022/01/21/friday-5×5-36
https://tinnitist.com/2022/01/14/weekend-mixtape-side-1-182-songs-that-will-take-you-to-the-top
TOUR
UPCOMING DATES
WED, APR 24, 2024 – TORONTO, CANADA – THE HARD LUCK
THU, MAY 2, 2024 – TORONTO, CANADA – THE PAINTED LADY
SAT, MAY 4, 2024 – TORONTO, CANADA – THE MONARCH TAVERN
THU, MAY 30, 2024 – TORONTO, CANADA – THE BABY G
PAST DATES
FRI, MAR 8, 2024 – TORONTO, CANADA – THE HARD LUCK
SAT, MAR 2, 2024 – TORONTO, CANADA – THE BOVINE
SAT, FEB 24, 2024 – TORONTO, CANADA – DOCK ELLIS
FRI, FEB 2, 2024 – TORONTO, CANADA – THE BOVINE
SAT, NOV 18, 2023 – TORONTO, CANADA – THE BOVINE
TUE, OCT 31, 2023 – TORONTO, CANADA – BAR ORWELL
FRI, SEP 29, 2023 – TORONTO, CANADA – THE BOVINE
SAT, SEP 23, 2023 – LONDON, CANADA – PUNK ROCK FLEA MARKET
FRI, AUG 18, 2023 – TORONTO, CANADA – THE DAKOTA TAVERN
SAT, AUG 12, 2023 – TORONTO, CANADA – DOCK ELLIS
SUN, JUL 30, 2023 – TORONTO, CANADA – THE BABY G
FRI, JUL 28, 2023 – TORONTO, CANADA – LEE’S PALACE
THU, JUL 13, 2023 – BARRIE, CANADA – INFINITY ZERO
WED, JUL 12, 2023 – OSHAWA, CANADA – THE ATRIA
TUE, JUL 11, 2023 – TORONTO, CANADA – THE BOVINE
SAT, JUN 10, 2023 – TORONTO, CANADA – THE BOVINE (CMW)
TUE, JUN 6, 2023 – TORONTO, CANADA – CAMERON HOUSE (CMW)
FRI, JUN 2, 2023 – VANCOUVER, CANADA – MUSIC WASTE FESTIVAL
THU, JUN 1, 2023 – VANCOUVER, CANADA – THE ROXY CABARET
WED, MAY 30, 2023 – VANCOUVER, CANADA – RAILWAY CLUB
TUE, MAY 29, 2023 – NEW WESTMINSTER, CANADA – BULLY’S STUDIOS
MON, MAY 15, 2023 – TORONTO, CANADA – OPERA BOB’S
SAT, MAY 6, 2023 – TORONTO, CANADA – THE BOVINE
WED, MAY 3, 2023 – TORONTO, CANADA – THE BOVINE
FRI, APR 28, 2023 – SARNIA, CANADA – EMPTY FEST
SAT, MAR 18, 2023 – TORONTO, CANADA – SEE-SCAPE
WED, FEB 17, 2023 – TORONTO, CANADA – HORSESHOE TAVERN
SAT, FEB 04, 2023 – HAMILTON, CANADA – THE KILLROOM
SUN, SEP 04, 2022 – MONTREAL, CANADA – BRASSERIE BEAUBIEN
SAT, SEP 03, 2022 – OTTAWA, CANADA – LIVE ON ELGIN
FRI, SEP 02, 2022 – TORONTO, CANADA – THE ARCADE
FRI, MAY 20, 2022 – TORONTO, CANADA – SNEAKY DEE’S
SAT, APR 09, 2022 – TORONTO, CANADA – THE BOVINE
THU, MAR 17, 2022 – TORONTO, CANADA – SEE-SCAPE
SAT, FEB 12, 2022 – TORONTO, CANADA – HARD LUCK
SAT, NOV 27, 2021 – TORONTO, CANADA – LIVING COLOUR
SAT, OCT 31, 2020 – TORONTO, CANADA – ART BAY
SAT, FEB 22, 2019 – TORONTO, CANADA – SNEAKY DEE’S
TUE, DEC 31, 2019 – TORONTO, CANADA – HOUNDS TOOTH
SAT, DEC 21, 2019 – TORONTO, CANADA – SNEAKY DEE’S
SAT, DEC 7, 2019 – VANCOUVER, CANADA – PAT’S PUB
WED, DEC 4, 2019 – KYOTO, JAPAN – LIVEHOUSE GATTACA
TUE, DEC 3, 2019 – OSAKA, JAPAN – NAMBA BEARS
WED, NOV 27, 2019 – KYOTO, JAPAN – ネガポジ / NEGAPOSI
TUE, NOV 26, 2019 – OSAKA, JAPAN – LIVEHOUSE PANGEA
SAT, NOV 23, 2019 – TOKYO, JAPAN – DAISY BAR
SAT, NOV 23, 2019 – TOKYO, JAPAN – GOLDEN EGG
WED, NOV 20, 2019 – MONTREAL, CANADA – TURBO HAUS
LINKS
SET LIST
Hacky Sack
Creeper
Banana Split
Oh No
Al Pacino
Mountain
FTW
Headache
Humans
Wannabe
Deceptacon
STAGE PLOT
TECHNICAL REQUIREMENTS
GOLD: “Triple Threat Trio” (full band)
- 2 x DI boxes
- 2 x microphone boom stands
- 1 x 3-piece drum kit
- 1 x hi-hat stand
- 1 x cymbal stand
- 1 x snare w/ stand
- 1 x drum throne
SILVER: “Poltergeist Pair”
(w/ TV drummer)
- 3 x DI boxes
- 2 x microphone boom stands
*Wow!* Now “Poltergeist Pair” Plug-N-Play Silver Package requires no batteries to operate!