Twelve (12) Girls Band Concert Review

So last night I attended the first American performance of the Twelve Girls Band (which at one point was reduced to 11) at the wonderful campus of UCLA and I must admit I was not disappointed. First these lovely young ladies (the look quite good in person, Jin and Yan get special mention and let me tell you the website photos do not do these ladies justice) are indeed quite talented and the "Eastern Energy" they bring to Western musical pieces is quite new and refreshing. They covered a wide range of music including Coldplay's song "Clocks" and Riverdance's "Reel Around the Sun" which were both highlights of the night.

I must admit that the erhu has now taken a place alongside the mournful cello as one of my favorite instruments (I'm a stings kinda guy). Who knew that a two stringed instrument was capable of such vibrant sounds? Listening to it reminded me of why I feel in love with the Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon soundtrack (in addition to Yo-Yo Ma's participation). 6 of the ladies used this instrument during the concert (with slight dance moves) and it is something to hear to say the least.

Overall I felt this group was at their strongest when they tackled less "poppy" tunes and went for more traditional (this time in the Western sense) music. They seemed more invigorated and into what they were playing at that point (or that could just be me who doesn't dig "poppy" as it is). And some technical difficulties notwithstanding the music was clear and easily defined. As it was the first of the American tour dates I assume you can only expect some issues to arise that will be fixed later.

Finally I believe the 12 Girls Band can indeed find success in America with their new album set to release here in the States on August 17th. I don't know how far they can go but the appeal of this band (along with curiosity) should be able to reach far and wide.

So if you get a chance, take yourself a listen to this group and make your own descision on whether you like it or not. I recommend them for what it's worth.

Alright, I'm done sucking up now....

Comments

[kenneth fong]

It is quite refreshing to mix slower classical Chinese melody with faster western beat. It makes terrific combination to a world increasingly tuned to fusion music.

[robert]

While I was impressed with the musicianship of these women, the cheesy, pre-recorded backing tracks really detracted from their live performance. Can't twelve musicians create a big enough sound on their own? I would have preferred a more natural sound, with many more solos on the unique instruments. Also, the lighting, sound and translating were not as professional as they should have been. I think the L.A. Times review was pretty right on.

[CTDeLude]

Is the LA Times review in the Culture section in which I cannot access? I'd like to see what they wrote...

[Rafik]

Hi,
I had that chance to see the Twelvegirlsband concert in Minneapolis (August 25th, 2004). Let me tell you ; I saw The Eagles, Simon and Garfunkel, but Twelvegirlsband is something OUTSTANDING!!! Very good music and very pretty girls. They have a brilliant future. I advice everybody who has an apportunity to see them not to miss that!! I already ordered their DVD and CD and I can't wait until I get them!!

Do not miss that and you'll not regret it!!

Thanks

[emarw]

My family attended the Minneapolis concert on Aug 25. We had heard about the band on the news and it sounded intriguing. Getting tickets the night before the concert, we ended up in the upper balcony. We brought binoculars and were glad to be able to see the instruments up close. The musicianship of these ladies is incredible. The loud and thumpy soundtrack played behind every piece was disappointing. I was hoping before each song that they would do something by themselves to showcase the beauty and novelty of their instruments, but unfortunately we weren't given the pleasure of hearing the band stand on its own.

We were impressed with the potential of this band, but until they mix up the format and include at least a few songs that don't sound like "Hooked on Chinese" we won't be buying the CD. And that's too bad. It's frustrating to spend $140 on a fine arts experience and feel that you haven't gotten value for it.

[xyankun]

There is a yahoo listserv group dedicated to 12 Girls Band. Check it out if you want to know more about these amazing musicians and read more reviews about their concerts:

http://launch.groups.yahoo.com/group/12girlsband/

[Scott]

Well, last night was the big night. The night Joshi Juuni Gakubo
played their only Chicago show on their promotional tour. It was a
night that I'd been looking forward to for many, many months, ever
since discovering the band on the 2003 Gold Disc Awards on Japanese
television. I had always hoped that I would get to see the group
perform live, and missed my chance in the spring when I visited
Japan, because their tour there was sold out long in advance of me
even knowing I could get tickets. When I found out they were coming
to the United States, I was ecstatic, but living in Chicago I didn't
think they'd come through here. I watched the site, and remained
hopeful, though, and purchased my tickets the day they went on sale.
What happened the night of the show, though, is something I'll never
forget.

Park West, the venue they played, is a very small venue, almost more
like a club than a concert hall. After watching all of their concerts
from Japan, with the huge venues with every seat filled, it almost
broke my heart to see the girls playing in such a small place. But,
this is a promotional tour, and here in the US the group is just
getting established, and getting themselves known, so seeing them
playing smaller places like Park West is expected. My seat was in the
very front row, on the right side of the stage, but almost all of the
seats in the place were good seats, and the smaller size made the
show feel a lot more personal.

The curtains opened a little bit after 8:00, and what happened
between then and the time they finished their encore was simply
magical. The girls played beautifully, and as always, looked very
happy to be doing what they love for a new and excited audience. For
the American tour, in between every few songs they let a couple of
the band members introduce themselves, and tell the audience a little
bit about their instrument. This, for an American audience, is a
brilliant idea, and even though I researched the instruments long
ago, i still learned a little bit myself because of their little
introductions. During the first half of the show, the band surprised
me very much by playing "Sekai ni Hitotsu Dake no Hana," which is by
far my favorite of the Japanese songs they cover, and one I really
did not expect to hear live because it's a Japanese pop song, and
because it's not on their American album. They played it, though, and
I was absolutely delighted, and most of the audience seemed to like
the song a lot, too. There weren't any costume changes or anything,
and production value seemed down a little bit from the shows they do
in Japan, but again this is to be expected on a promo tour in an
unestablished market. What matters most, though, is the music, and
that did not disappoint on any level whatsoever. At the end of the
night, the group left the stage to the roar of the crowd, only to
come back our for one more song, which is standard procedure for any
pop/rock group these days. They played "Freedom" for their encore,
which is a special song to me because it was the first song I ever
heard them perform, and from what I understand it's the song they
used in Japan to promote the group, and it's a very upbeat song that
the crowd always really gets into, and last night was no exception.
The crowd went crazy after that song, and the appluase was
thunderous. The group took their final bows for the night, and exited
the stage with waves and smiles. It was a beautiful show, and one
that I'll never forget, but for me the highlight of the night was yet
to come...

I took my copy of "Beautiful Energy" with me, as it was the first album of theirs that I ever bought, way back when it came out. I had hoped that I could get it signed, but after the show that looked like it wasn't going to happen. The girls were in a hurry to get on their bus, and I was very shy about bothering them for an autograph. Just as I was about to give up, though, their tour manager saved the day and took my CD from me to have them pass around on the bus to sign. I cannot thank her enough for doing that for me, and I cannot thank the 12 girls enough for taking the time they did to sign my CD booklet for me. They did a beautiful job signing it...I would have been happy with just one member's signature, but everyone signed it on the 2-page spread of the whole band, and it looks gorgeous. I cried as soon as I opened the book and saw it, and didn't stop for long time. The group has been a source of motivation and happiness for me ever since I discovered them, their music lifts my heart and just makes me feel good, no matter what I'm doing when I listen to it. I admire them more than any other artist I can think of, and hope that they do well in heir careers in every country their unique and beautiful music makes it to. I am thankful, truly thankful that they took the time to make one guy from Chicago's dreams about meeting them and having something remember it by come true.

[...]

Ok.... Well... I'm wondering if anyone here who has heard their remake of clocks know what the instrument is that plays right after the Flute in the very beginning of the song???

[Rafik]

Hi!!
It's me again! I posted a message about the Twelve Girls Band when they performed in Minneapolis. Guess what!! I just got from the mail the CD and DVD I ordered a couple of weeks ago and I listen to the CD every single day!!! No regret to purchase that.

By the way, the band is composed by 13 girls, not 12. Here is what is written on the booklet that came with the CD/DVD:
Twelve Girls Band is a music ensemble, with thirteen members who belong to different orchestras in mainlands China. The group appears as twelve at all times, with players' participation dependant on commitments in China.

Thanks again and do not miss it!! They're all soo pretty!!

[carlz]

Hi, Scott:

If I wasn't mistaken, ErHu(http://www.chineseculture.net/guqin/instruments/erhuist.html) is played right after flute. Permalink has already given a brief description of this unique string instrument in the very first post of this thread.:)

At the beginning of this musicpiece, Pipa, the cello like instrument, is played along with the flute as well.

[TONYA]

HI, I JUST WANTED TO SAY THAT I HAVE NOT SEEN THEM IN PERSON, BUT BY THE SOUND OF THEM, BY THE PREVIEW ON HERE, I CANT WAIT TO BUY THE CD THEY ARE AWSOME!!!!

[cary]

This lovely group will be featured at the 2008 Olympics held in Bejing.

[sarah long]

I have the journey to the silk road at home. There performances is growing bigger and stronger to what they have already done through the past years and note that i am also a student that learns the pipa. What woderful instruments they produce with modern music. I hope to get more of the DVDs and oneday go to their concerts!!!!