BRAHMAN in France

Most people that were attending BRAHMAN's concert, knew very little about the band. Occasionally they were featured in some Japanese magazines, but for France, there had been little to no promotion for the band.
It also seemed a slightly strange choice that the band chose to perform in Europe instead of the United States, seeing as they have released an album in the USA, but not in Europe.

Together with another French webzine, we were able to conduct the interview in the rather noisy restaurant of La Maroquinerie.


You seem to have been successful from the beginning of your career, how would you explain this?
Toshi-Low: It's been the same for ten years.

Nevertheless you’ve made quite a lot of albums?
Toshi-Low: We made ONLY 3 albums. I do not think that the band has enough qualities to release more. We are satisfied to have finally released our third album but we apologize for having made only three!

In 2003, during a concert in China, you were booed by the audience, how do you feel about this incident?
Toshi-Low: In fact, there were 5000 people in front of us and as we began to play, they threw stones at us... We did not know what it was, but it hurt badly, physically and also in our hearts. The organizer asked us if we wanted to do the concert despite everything and we decided to do it. It was hard because they threw many things at us but we concentrated on our appearance and the time passed quickly. Finally, in the last song, people applauded. After the concert, many people came to apologize us. I think that we did well to stay and play.

What are the themes in your songs?
Toshi-Low: There is really no subject, we write what we think without trying to force people to think as us. It is more like a small word for the attention of the public: there are words but it is for each person to incorporate them with their own feelings. There is really no "message".

Is there anything you would like to change, to make different in your career, what would it be?
Toshi-Low: There are lots of things that I should have done and that I regret... Maybe I was mistaken in what I did, and also in what I plan to do next...

You played at many festivals, which bands that you played beside impressed you the most?
Toshi-Low: That is difficult... I will say Red Hot Chili Peppers. When we were next to the stage watching them, with the singer in front of us... it was rather impressive!


The Concert

While an Okinawan song was playing at the background, the four members of the band appeared on stage in front of an audience that was completely foreign to the band. It seems that about four or five people came for BRAHMAN, while the rest of the audience were mostly waiting for the main act to begin. Yet, various heads were nodding along with the music, curious about the band.

Their show was good, although not very original, sometimes punk, sometimes rock, sometimes ballads with tearful words. They sensibly got the attention of the audience, who were however more interested to discuss their workday while drinking a beer. In short, it’s always hard for the opening act.

The band really gave their all and Toshi-low jumped, ran around and shouted. The same can be said for the other members, who delivered a quality performance, but unfortunately with some rather repetitive fragments.

As the the concert ends, the band leaves the stage. Without being exceptional, everybody had a good time with a pleasant band, as well as on stage as off stage.

Set list

01 - TONGFARR
02 - A WHITE DEEP MORNING
03 - CAUSATION
04 - SHADOW PLAY
05 - ANSWER FOR...
06 - THE VOID
07 - DEEP
08 - BASIS
09 - BEYOND THE MOUNTAIN
10 - LOSE ALL
11 - FOR ONE'S LIFE
12 - ARRIVAL TIME
13 - FAR FROM...


Thanks to BRAHMAN but also to Eric Ricot and Naoko as well as to Eric and Lorraine from Orient-Extrême.