Just ahead of their US Tour dates, Japanese indie trio The Molice have premiered the new video for their track Round Round Round on New Noise Magazine. The song leans into the band’s alt-pop sensibilities, reminiscent of U2 with a gritty, grunge-y, Pixies-esque guitar sound.
The band explained exclusively to New Noise Magazine, ‘Round Round Round was written in Tokyo, Japan, the song was recorded at GCR Audio recording studios in Buffalo, NY and the video footage was taken in the U.S. during our first short tour last year, so ‘Round Round Round’ is a song created all over our earth’s atmosphere!’
You can catch The Molice on tour throughout the North East USA between April 13th and July 7th (Full list of dates below). They’ll also be playing sets at the upcoming Cherry Blossom Festivals in Philadelphia, Roosevelt Island, Brooklyn, and Buffalo – the latter two will also include sets from label-mate DJ Sashimi.
The Molice are a modern Japanese band who draw inspiration from the DIY spirit of 70’s punk, 80’s new wave, power pop and 90’s unchained indie’s guitar rock. While many Japanese bands are the product of management hired producers and stylists, The Molice have gone their own way and created their sound from a wide and unlikely combination of influences. Their name also has a variety of inspirations including The Police, and the “mo” of Jim Morrison and Mo Tucker. Music writers have scrambled to find comparisons, though the Pixies and the Pretenders come up most often.
The band was formed in 2007 by the charismatic female singer/rhythm guitarist Rinko and high tension guitarist Yuzuru. After a year of polishing their material playing Tokyo’s numerous rock venues the band made their recorded debut in November 2008 with their album Doctor Ray.
Since their beginning, the band has had a high percentage of foreigners among their fans. Singer/ lyricist Rinko sings primarily in Japanese with a melodic rock style and while she is a classically trained pianist, on stage she supplies big chunky rhythm guitar. Her lyrics are often romantic, but sometimes venture into science fiction adding a unique twist every song.
The Molice’s East/West hybrid sound continues to gain fans worldwide. They’ve been profiled on MTV Iggy, received radio airplay in the Philippines and Australia, and were invited multiple times to play in Vietnam, where their videos have appeared on Yan TV.
In late 2017, The Molice released an EP titled Signs and visited the US for a string of dates across the Northeast. They also spent last Summer recording a new album in the US for release this year!
The Molice are Rinko (Vocals, Guitar), Yuzuru (Guitar), and Paro (Drums).
THE MOLICE TOUR DATES
4/13 Trumansburg, NY Silver Line Tap Room
4/14 Asbury Park, NJ The Saint (1PM Matinee Show)
4/15 Philadelphia, PA Subaru Cherry Blossom Festival (4:15 PM set)
4/21 New York, NY Roosevelt Island Cherry Blossom Festival
4/27 Albany, NY The Lo Beat
4/29 Brooklyn, NY Brooklyn Sakura Matsuri Festival
4/30 Manhattan, NY The Mercury Lounge
5/03 Cleveland, OH Coda Tremont
5/05 Buffalo, NY Buffalo Cherry Blossom Festival (2:00 PM set)
5/05 Buffalo, NY Nietzche’s (Electrorespect X)
5/17 Canton, OH Buzzbin Records
5/18 Pittsburgh, PA Howler’s
5/19 Athens, OH The Union Bar
5/24 Syracuse, NY Spark Contemp. Art Center (RINKO Art Show)
5/25 Binghamton, NY Lost Dog Cafe
5/26 Ithaca, NY Lot 10
5/29 Boston, MA Hojoko
5/31 Rochester, NY Funk N Waffles
6/01 Buffalo, NY Lockhouse Distillery
6/07 Dayton, OH Blind Bob’s
6/09 Cleveland, OH Happy Dog
7/06 Akron, OH Empire Concert Club
7/07 Buffalo, NY Sugar City Gallery (RINKO Art Show)