Lu Inchi - the first time in 24 years

As already announced here, the band "Lu Inchi" (or "Ru Inchi") will play on June 16, 2010 at Aoyama Cay, Tokyo. It will be the first performance for them in 24 years.

Lu Inchi is the one of the forerunners of Hikashu. Circa 1976, Makigami Koichi, Mitama Masamichi (later to be known as Mita Freeman) and Tobe Satoshi formed a band and they gave themselves the name. At first, they were just playing for fun and didn't perform in public.

The band resurfaced in 1980 as a side project of Hikashu. For the resurrection, Makigami and Tobe were no longer a regular and it became Mitama's project. There were many formations but mainly, the band consisted of Mitama (vocal, guitar), Sakaide Masami (bass, vocal), Sensui Toshiro (drums, vocal) and iWah (perc, guitar, bass, vocal) plus various guests. Sensui resigned Hikashu in 1983 but after that he stayed with Lu Inchi. iWah is a long-time friend of the Hikashu members.

In the 2010 performance, the personnel is the same plus Shimizu Kazuto (keyboard, bass clarinet) as a guest.

So what kind of music they play, you ask? Sorry - having never had a chance to listen their stuff for myself, I cannot tell what their music is like. What I could tell you that it has been said that the satirical, humorous element of Hikashu came from Lu Inchi. That sounds pretty interesting, doesn't it?



As for recordings, Lu Inchi has released a few cassette titles on their own label. Unfortunately, they all have been long gone and available nowhere for years. But rejoice. As a teaser, the first 50? audience of the Aoyama performance will receive a CD-R duplication of their first release "Lu Inchi Live?". They said this will be the only time the album reissued as original form.



Also the first solo recording of Mitama Masamichi called "Impro Katagi" ("Portraits of Improvisation"), which was originally released as one of Lu Inchi-related cassette series in early 1980s, will be also reissued as CD-R and for sale at the occasion.

Do not miss the chance, unless you have the intention of waiting another 24 years.

Another World Of Hikashu #3
Lu Inchi:
Mita Freeman (guitar, vocal), Sakaide Masami (bass), Sensui Toshiro (drums), iWah
Guest: Shimizu Kazuto (keyboard)
On June 16th, 2010
@ Aoyama Cay
open 18:00, start 20:00
advance 3,500 yen - at door 4,000 yen

Lu Inchi official site (in Japanese)
Aoyama CAY website

Related Entry:
Makigamisantachi and Ru-Inchi