Weekend Music Preview: Mono @ Emo's [Friday]

Mono & Balmorhea
Friday, April 30
Emos (603 Red River St)
9 p.m. | Outside | $13 Advance; $15 At The Door
[info] | [tickets]

Throughout the history of modern pop music, Japan has been one of the few Asian countries to willingly welcome, and in turn, enjoy you-had-to-be-there type concerts by Western artists. The Beatles’ five night residency at Budokon in 1966 may never be topped, Bob Dylan and Cheap Trick recorded live albums at the same venue in the '70s, and surely, you’ve seen that footage of Anvil at the Super Rock festival from 1984, if not that scandalous clip of The Runaways from 1977. But it’s not all one way traffic. The Land of the Rising Sun has contributed the wares of a fair share of talented musicians to the rest of the world as well. And the city of Austin sure does get her own personal dose regularly. The annual Japan Nite during SXSW normally offers up some delightful acts and we’ve been fortunate enough to catch the likes of Melt Banana and Boris in town over the last few years.

Mono is another stellar band from Japan that never fails to include an Austin stop on its U.S. travels and the 2010 tour is no exception. The explosive post-rock outfit was here last October in support of 2009’s Hymn to the Immortal Wind and turned in a typically fiery set, garnering many new fans along the way, no doubt. Later last year, the band was joined on stage by an orchestra at its 10th Anniversary Show back home in Tokyo. Mono also celebrated the occasion while in New York during that 2009 tour, this time accompanied by Wordless Music Orchestra. The result is a brand new CD and DVD, Holy Ground: NYC Live with The Wordless Music Orchestra, released this past Tuesday on Temporary Residence Limited. Although the 24-piece orchestra won’t be in attendance this Friday, head down to Emo’s regardless and watch the gifted musicians from Mono meticulously conjure up the calm before the storm before delivering an aural assault that engulfs you in the storm itself. Doors open at 9 p.m. -- be sure to get there early for Balmorhea’s beautiful, euphonic compositions; check out our review of Constellations here.