The 5678s And Dancing with Freddy “Boom Boom” Cannon – an Xperience Column by Johnny Mystery

The 5678s.

The 5678s are coming to Troy on August 26th but here’s some not so great news, it’s a sellout. Unless you got tix, you’ll be outside lookin’ in and that’s a shame. If you think you don’t know who they are think again. If you’ve seen the movie Kill Bill, then you’ve seen them. Remember the Japanese girls playing in the club? That’s The 5678s! A real band!! Barefoot, satin cocktail dresses and enough Teisco guitars to make a Garage Rock fan cry, these ladies are the real deal.

This all-girl band was formed in Tokyo around 1986 by two sisters. Sachiko and Yoshiko Fujiyama put together the group as a four piece originally. They became a trio around the time of their first tour of Australia in 1992. Yoshiko, who has a tattoo “Teenage Delinquent Queen” on her upper right arm was originally the lead singer but as the group has evolved, each of the girls have taken turns on vocals and often times, they are all singing at once. They perform like the ultimate girl group, playing covers of American rock and roll from the 1950s to the 1980s. Fact is American rock and roll has always been very popular in Japan. Ask The Ventures, Cheap Trick and The Runaways for starters.

Slow to be known over here, the 5678’s biggest fanbase is in Japan of course. Look at their website and you’ll see there’s not a lot of English up there. Enter Quintin Tarantino! The story as he tells it: “I was in Tokyo, waiting for a flight back to L.A. and killing some time in a clothing shop, when I heard their music playing in the store. I asked the clerk who it was and then asked if I could buy the CD from him. The clerk refused even when I explained I didn’t have time to go to a music store and I would pay him double what it was worth. The clerk called his manager, and I got the disc.” Of course, their fortunes changed once they appeared in “Kill Bill.”  The 5678s proved themselves to be unique and off the wall, with “I Walk Like Jane Mansfield” and the very excellent Ikettes cover “I’m Blue.” Check out their manic version of “Woo Hoo.”

Their records are worth seeking out but be aware, most if not all are imports and not cheap. Recommended: “Golden Hits of the 5678’s on the Hana label from 2003, The 5678’s on the Timebomb label 1994, Teenage Workout Timebomb label 2002. If by some miracle you do get to see them at No Fun on River Street, you’ll be in for a real treat. Also appearing with them will be NYC band “Sit and Spin” and local group “The Abyssmals.”

Elsewhere, I’ve read about two young ladies getting in trouble for dancing at a Freddy “Boom Boom” Cannon show. This, I do not get. Since when are we not supposed to get excited and happy at a concert?  Let’s face it, Freddy is getting up in years and probably not grooving like he use to and I’m sure he might have even encouraged it. I don’t have all the facts that went down but apparently the management of this theater requested that security turn them over to the police. If I get any more details, I’ll pass them along but, in the meantime, if anybody wants to get up and celebrate when Freddy Cannon belts out “Way Down Yonder in New Orleans” I say go for it baby!!!

Last but not least, I need to retract a statement from last month’s story about Bobby Fuller. I reported that Bobby’s brother Randy Fuller claimed Bobby might have gone to an LSD party the night he was last seen before his death. According to other informed sources, Randy never said this, thus making things even more mysterious….

One more thing, I and everybody else at this publication are looking forward to meeting and entertaining you at the 5th Anniversary party for Radioradiox on August 6th at The Hanger. This is going to be a great party you won’t want to miss it. Come on up and hang out. I’m sure we’re going to see some old friends and brand-new faces. Can’t wait! In the meantime, get out there and hit the bins and stay away from those LSD parties….