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Kodo, the Japanese Taiko drumming group, came to Constitution Hall tonight. I've been a fan of the group for some time -- and anytime you've got major percussion in the music, I'm going to be all kinds of happy.
This show did not disappoint. Two hours (counting the intermission) of solid drumming expertise. The sheer power radiating off of the stage had to be felt to be believed (having fourth row seats didn't hurt in that aspect, mind you). It was more than just force of will from the drummers.
For one song, nine members of the troupe kneeled at the front of the stage before some small drums. They all started to play in a syncopaited rhythm, each of them moving around within the steady beat. One would start to play louder, then another, then a third; when the fourth would start, the first would fade back to normal. Absolutely riveting.
The small detail of some guy's cell phone going off about thirty minutes into the show was a travesty. What made it all the worse was that he (or she, to be fair) ignored it, just letting it ring and ring until the voice mail picked it up. I'm not a fan of venues that use cell phone blockers (what about actual emergency calls), but this was just ridiculous.
For the final number, all I have to say is that you could not be in this group without having a good body image. Three of the group came out wearing nothing but loin cloths. They played a huge taiko drum, one member on each side. Don't get me wrong, they had the body to get away with it (unlike me, natch).
The playing style of the drummers could only lend itself to those physiques. Frequently, the drummers would sit in front of a large drum, place their feet around it (one on each side), lean back at a sixty degree angle and play their butts off for about seven or eight minutes at a stretch. To be honest, it kinda hurt just to watch.
Posted by Casper at March 19, 2005 01:34 AM