After 5 years, the rockers ELECTRIC EEL SHOCK returned to Europe with their extensive ELECTRIC EEL SHOCK 30th Anniversary Europa Tour 2024. We celebrated the band’s 30th anniversary with them in Berlin. ELECTRIC EEL SHOCK was founded in 1994 in Tokyo with the ambition to become a big Rock band, as they titled their first album Maybe… I Think We Can Beat Nirvana.
Despite the relatively small audience gathered in the cozy URBAN SPREE with its Berlin DIY charm, the three musicians from ELECTRIC EEL SHOCK were undeterred and heated up the crowd right away with the first song of the night, Suicide Rock’n’Roll. The band drew in the audience with their crazy, charming style.
As always, drummer Gian played his trademark style with his four drumsticks, wearing nothing but one long sock on his private parts. Singer, guitarist, and frontman Akihito liked to incorporate riffs from well-known Metal songs into the performance. And bassist Yōji, joining the tour as a replacement for the band’s bassist Kazuto, completed the sound with a grounding bass. He was introduced to us as a former member.
The audience was in an excellent mood, dancing and poging through the evening. It’s been a crazy fun night with ELECTRIC EEL SHOCK telling us to quit our day jobs (with the song Quit Your Day Job), hailing to the 80’s music that influenced them (with So Much 80’s), and overall praising Heavy Metal. The musicians presented their over 30 years of experience with dedication to Heavy Metal, mainly playing songs from their latest album, Heavy Metal Black Belt. Fast riffs and pitches, as well as their self-deprecating manner, characterize the band as much as their unique, powerful stage presence.
SETLIST
01 Suicide Rock’n’Roll
02 Nice Guy of the Year
03 My Favorite No 9
04 Vegas Night
05 Metalheads Just Want To Have Fun
06 Lost in Sweden
07 Don’t Say Fuck
08 Dice De Try!
09 Quit Your Day Job
10 So Much 80’s
11 Rock & Roll Can Rescue The World
12 Metal Man
Encore
E1 Bastard!
For the encore with the song Bastard!, Akihito proclaimed that all of us in the room were bastards. He first pointed to himself, then to each of his band members, and then to everyone in the audience. We are all bastards! And we felt it, letting go of all restrictions and enjoying this last fun piece together with ELECTRIC EEL SHOCK.
