TEKE::TEKE: New North American Tour + “Kala Kala” video

TEKE::TEKE

Announce Early 2022 North American Tour

Including First Ever US Shows  Presale Available Tomorrow, General Sale Begins Friday

Share Video for “Kala Kala” Off Debut LP Shirushi

Out Now via Kill Rock Stars

“Spitfire songs…frenzied mishmash of guitars, trombone, assorted Japanese instruments, and Kuroki’s singing — guttural, physical shrieks in her native tongue — bears a manic energy that bleeds into even the ballads” – The New Yorker“Unparalleled energy in all its surf-psych glory” – Consequence“If Quentin Tarantino directed a Bond film, it would feel somethinglike how ‘Yoru Ni’ sounds” – Paste“TEKE::TEKE’s exotic blend of Japanese balladry, surf rock and psychedelia isnot to be slept on” – Guitar World“A fresh and fascinating take on Japanese psych punk” – Under the Radar“Raw energy and sound…this outfit plays traditionalJapanese instruments up against raging guitars” – KCRW“Genre-busting…sumptuous tracks that show off the bands’ scope and range.” – BrooklynVegan“A unique modern-meets-retro sound that can…serve as the soundtrack to the coolest movie you’ve ever wanted to star in”- SPIN“Theatrical blend of psych, surf rock and traditional Japanese folk…led by Maya Kuroki’s emphatic vocal stylings” – Exclaim!

 Photo Credit: Andy Jon Today, Montreal-based seven-piece Japanese psych-rock band TEKE::TEKE announced a highly anticipated North American tour, which includes the band’s first ever shows in the United States.

Eager to share their near-mythic live energy that was channeled into their blistering debut album Shirushi—released earlier this year via Kill Rock Stars—to a groundswell of praise from outlets like The New Yorker, Consequence, Paste, Guitar World, BrooklynVegan, KCRW, SPIN, Under the Radar, Exclaim!, KUTX and beyond, the tour will kick off in January of 2022. Presale tickets for the tour are on sale tomorrow, and general sale will begin on Friday here.

To coincide with the announcement, they also shared a new video for “Kala Kala,” Shirushi’s lead single. “Kala Kala,” much like TEKE::TEKE, is an onomatopoeia. Here it’s the sound of ‘rattling’ or ‘clattering’. The lyrics, which vocalist Maya Kuroki wrote, explore the theme of identity, gender, and the ambiguity of it all through her wild signature poetry in Japanese. 

“Cluttering refers to the sound of masks changing fast, or a spinning wheel, or anything that moves in a kind of cycle. It’s just an image I had when thinking about identity and everybody’s quest for one, or quest for some kind of meaning as a living being,” guitarist Serge Nakauchi-Pelletier explains. “For yet another DIY video, we just wanted to go crazy with the visuals to match the energy of the music, using Maya’s colorful illustrations.” 

“Kala Kala”: Watch / ShareListen / Share: Shirushi

As demonstrated on singles like the ferocious “Meikyu,” otherworldly “Yoru Ni,” and fierce “Barbara,” each track on Shirushi plays out like a lost classic soundtrack with its own genre and storyline, even for those who may not have the benefit of the literal translation of Kuroki’s lyrics. The band incorporates traditional instruments, influences from ‘60’s/70s Japanese soundtracks, and the sentimental balladry of Japanese enka — yet Shirushi manages to sound as if it comes from some distant future.  After initially forming as a tribute band for Japanese guitar legend Takeshi Terauchi, TEKE::TEKE learned that they had to tear up their surf-tinged covers and build something new. Since then, the band has expanded their already wide scope into a dazzling journey through classic Japanese balladry and Brazilian psychedelia alike.

Fusing everything from traditional Japanese instrumentation to punk guitar, TEKE::TEKE have created their own musical universe — one that’s continuously expanding and demands to be seen in person.

Tour Dates

Jan. 13          Ottawa, ON @ Club Saw

Jan. 14          Montreal, QC @ Fairmount Theatre

Jan. 20          Toronto, ON @ Horseshoe Tavern

Jan. 26          Winnipeg, MB @ Winterruption Festival – West End Cultural

Jan. 27          Regina, SK @ Winterruption Festival – Artesian

Jan. 28          Saskatoon, SK @ Winterruption Festival – Amigos

Jan. 29          Calgary, AB @ Big Winter Classic Festival – Broken City

Feb. 1            Vancouver, BC @ Fox Cabaret

Feb. 2            Seattle, WA @ Barboza

Feb. 3            Portland, OR @ Mississippi Studios

Feb. 5            Los Angeles, CA @ Gold Diggers (Free Show)

Feb. 9            Denton, TX @ University Union Lyceum (University of North Texas)

Shirushi Album Cover

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