JAWing On – Life on Okinawa

Note: This was originally posted in July 2004. But when I saved the updated post with different contact data for Kween, the program reset it to today’s date.
Each year the persons of power, you know the ones that play God in determining which bands are going to play and when, select one closing act that is suppose to summate the over-all energy that the two day Peaceful Love Rock Festival generates. And each of the last few years the closing act is some former big-name Japanese band that, well to the more developed rock ‘n’ roll ears of the locals, just doesn’t seem to do the job. Meanwhile, they have been booking a mainland Japanese band that they seem to feel is not worthy of any time slot higher than early evening. This is a big mistake in my eyes and ears. If the response of the audience is to be taken into account of when which act plays, then this band should be the closing act. When this band plays the audience cheerfully sings along, and those who don’t know the words are sitting, or standing in front of the stage, with the biggest smiles across their faces a person will ever see. What seems to make this act so special, besides the well-known musical numbers that they perform, is the over-all energy of the band members. They really like what they are doing, and it shows. The lead singer is the most unlikely candidate for the role that he is playing, yet he has the personality and talent to pull it off. If those persons of power would use this particular band as the closing act, I could almost guarantee that the every single audience member would leave with a smile on their face. What band is it? Kween, the mainland Japanese tribute band to Queen. So maybe someone will get smart, as the plans for next year’s concert start to take formation. And, who knows, maybe we will be able to leave the 23rd annual Peaceful Love Rock Festival with songs on our lips and music in our hearts.