All roads lead to DOM
If you look for music in Kōenji, you’ll sooner or later find yourself at Sound Studio DOM.
DOM is one of those places that is hard to define: it’s a rehearsal space, music bar, community, and an event space where bands can organise their own gigs. It’s like being invited into your cool musician friend’s living room where everybody is welcome and you’ll certainly go home stinking of cigarettes.
With thirty-two years of history behind it, DOM is an institution in Kōenji.
The event that drew us up the stairs to DOM on this occasion was organised by the Japanese hardcore band, VOLCANO, featuring three other bands おまえ (Omae), PROM, and アシックス★ブーメランズ (Asix Boomerangs).
If you ask me what’s it like to go up two flights of stairs to DOM, I’d tell you it isn’t not intimidating. But as soon as we got to the third floor, we were greeted by the band members of VOLCANO, our hosts for the night.
A can of highball from the vending machine on the rooftop in hand, it was time to go in.
Packed in the tight rehearsal space, we were showered by the blasting noise of anger, passion, and obsession.
おまえ (Omae), a three-piece alternative punk band based in Tokyo, kicked off the night. With the only female musician (bass) of the night adding chorus to the two vocalists (guitar & drums), they leave an impression hard to emulate.
Meanwhile, PROM’s sound is reminiscent of Nirvana’s record Bleach (“most people don’t own it”), and the style of the guitar solo called to mind J Mascis of Dinosaur Jr.
The trance-like performance of アシックス★ブーメランズ (Asix Boomerangs) is difficult to imagine from the band’s off-stage personas and clean look. But on stage, they channel an energy that borders on a cult ritual and a religious awakening.
VOLCANO, the organisers and hosts of the night, closed with shorter songs with a dynamic complexity reminiscent of the sound of Fugazi. Speaking of trances, the drummer vocalist disappeared into the music, bringing the audience into an expression of anger hard to reach without blasting noise.
For me, the essence of DOM was captured by what one of the band members uttered during the show. He told of a time when he had nowhere to sleep one night and he stumbled into DOM and crashed. When the owner came in the next morning, he didn’t react or remark.
Because no words were needed.
Text: Ikumi Maekawa / Photos: Daniel Ågren
Sound Studio DOM: Website, Instagram