Tokyo party series Gan-Ban Night returns to Taipei tonight with its second installment, this time featuring Japanese electro-pop outfit the Dexpistols.
Maar (real name Kawano Masataka) and Daruma (real name Kitamura Norihisa) make up the Dexpistols. Before they combined forces both were widely known for their street fashion credentials. Daruma once headed the defunct fashion brand Roc Star, and now works as a fashion brand director. Besides deejaying, Maar is the in-store music director for the UK brand Topshop.
The two got together, dabbled in the music scene and before long they were playing Japan’s renowned Fuji Rock Festival.
Photo Ccourtesy of The Wall
“It was memorable to see the audience 100m away from the stage, jumping and screaming as hard as those in the front,” said Daruma.
The Dexpistols, whose name was inspired by the 1970s London punk rock band the Sex Pistols, have released four albums to date and are currently working on a fifth. They have also released a handful of remixes for illustrious international electro artists like Justice and Boys Noize.
“Our biggest accomplishment thus far was [our remix] for Sebastien Tellier called Divine,” said Maar. “The music was produced by Guy-Manuel from Daft Punk and then we collaborated indirectly on it.”
“It was especially memorable because we [later] shared a stage” with Daft Punk, added Daruma. The pair have also played alongside the renowned Parisian Ed Banger crew.
“We also did a remix of Grenade by Bruno Mars,” Maar said. “It’s going to be released at the end of May, but will be available exclusively in Japan.”
Outside of the studio, the Dexpistols are known for bringing a tremendous amount of energy to a gig, and sometimes spin six-hour sets.
“If you ever wanted to organize a DJ duo, you had better come check out the Dexpistols DJ set to see what are the characteristics of good chemistry between two people,” said Taipei native Mykal (林哲儀).
“A Dexpistols DJ set always inspires me because they know how to absorb brand new musical elements and combine them with old but good influences and music they really love to create an awesome party groove,” he said.
The Dexpistols were also the inspiration for a venture by another local favorite, Spykee Fat (金弘杰).
“[The] Dexpistols inspired me in many ways,” said Spykee. “In their early days, they did amazing combinations between rock and dance, and that’s one of the reasons I formed the duo Tomodachi in 2007.”
The Dexpistols play tonight at The Wall, B1, 200, Roosevelt Rd Sec 4, Taipei City (台北市羅斯福路四段200號B1). Tickets are available in advance for NT$900 at The Wall, but admission at the door will run you NT$1,100. Mykal, FunkStar, Bounce Girlz, Discoattack, Freaky Squeaker and Swing Child are also on the bill.
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