Japan’s Otonana Trio have had a productive year, releasing their new EP on June 15th as well as heading out on their current tour. The quirky and fun band landed in Houston, Texas and it was a show to remember. The group’s light-hearted songs like “Ramen War” and “Somebody To Buy Me A Beer”, were high points of their Houston performance, garnering the best reactions from the crowd. This can be attributed to the funky drums and wonky riffs belted out by the trio as well as the zany antics of lead vocalist Kentaro Saito. All made for an energized Houston set that left crowds raving and waving “heart- ramen” flags.

Gallery- Otonana Trio Live in Houston, Texas 

On drums, Hikari Kuroda held the band together with her fancy foot and drum work as Kazuhisa Maekawa “shredded” on bass guitar. The trio who’ve played together for years have toured the US multiple times. When asked, “what city is their favorite to tour”, vocalist Saito, who speaks the most English of the three, deliberated with the group for a moment and then turned and said, “Houston” after which he began to laugh. They began their set with “Space Power Delight” and a high point of their set was “Ramen War” which got the crowd in frenzy that resembled a live protest for ramen noodles. The band did their signature song, “Somebody To Buy Me A Beer” during which a fan brought the band beers which they drank on stage in a ceremonious fashion.

In 2017, Otonana Trio met veteran record producer Robert Cutarella, who has worked with an array of superstars including Slash, Sting, Cyndi Lauper and Josh Stone, while playing a pub in Silverlake. Cutarella reworked some of the live favorites, remixing with a retro flare that taps the dance eras of NYC’s Danceteria and The Hacienda in Manchester. “I wanted to capture favorite hooks that are so memorable from Otonana’s concert- these guys can play!” remarks Cutarella. “These remixes interweave their signature grooves and Kentaro’s crazy lyrics with beats which I feel makes for a unique kind of ‘greatest hits’ record for the band.” The birthchild of the collaboration is their new EP, “JUMP” Stream their new EP on Soundcloud or Apple Music today.