lightning bolt japan tour fucked
 

i couldnt find any mention of this on the forum, but if its been posted, forgive me, it was a few weeks ago now.

from laserbeast.com

Upon arriving at Narita Airport on the morning of may 29th 2006, lightning bolt was ushered into the grey windowless immigration offices. japanese immigration officers had inforemation on the band down to which brian played what instrument, amount of albums out, 10 day tour schedule, which shows were sold out, plus photos of the band. there was no hiding. they had been waiting for us. The internet, your best friend in researching everything had betrayed us. Beware. we were officially rejected from japan, we offically appealed. we spent 48 hours in the "rest hotel" on the mysterious sixth floor. our translator, the good humored "mister #47" delivered us to our quarters. the humid, stained room was no good companion. the phone was removed. the window didn't open. a revolving security guard was posted outside all the time. we could not leave. the lampshades in the room where graphittied in a wide range of languages. if a friend hadn't dropped my camera in a toilet i would have taken pictures of them. i love convience store ume plum triangles but you can only eat so many. if only there had been a mosburger. burdock root sandwich. we awaited the decision. we were re-rejected. the room cost us 750 american dollars a day. such hospitallity. we had no choice. pleasant, polite guards escorted us right to the doorway of the plane, we smiled and waved. one of them bought brian G a water. they wished us good luck in getting the process right next time. which we hope to do. 21 horribly uncomfortable hours later we arrived in boston. in a downpour. lightning bolts flashed in the distance as Load records ben drove us to Providence. he had bought us cookies.
we are very very sorry we did not make it to japan this time. really sad. no one was ready for the level of vigilance at the border. i miss japan, all the awesome toys i will not get to see. all the amazing friends. be nice to mucid cuspidor and his assistant while they are there. we'll be back.


gutted.
had tickets to two of the sold out shows

its shit, but i spose its fair anough, they should really get proper visa's. then again, being responsible for ruining hundreds of peoples weekend, they are fuckers (japanese immigration that is)
i doubt jp immigration see much action so they get bored and start closing in on small things like this.

japan has some of the strictest immigration policies, lightning bolt should really have sorted out visas before going.

true, but im pretty sure most bands of LB size never bother getting a proper visa. im sure most just go in on a tourist visa and get away with it 99% of the time. they were unlucky but they can only really blame themselves.

that's no good. sure, it's their own fault, but it still sucks.

Man, that sucks. I've never been to a LB show, but I've seen a few videos of them playing live and I'm sorry you've had to miss that!

the fuckers should come to mexico.

it's hard to get north the border but south of it is a cakewalk.

God bless America....bullllshit. I'm sorry the administration is putting you through so much bullshit. Trust me. We don't like them either.

Lighting Bolt sound absolutely amazing. I can only imagine what their live performances are like. Missing out on those must be like losing a child, only more dissapointing and sad.

:( That sucks. Although I might see one of them around providence or something. I think that shit is horrible.

The Ruins tipped off the immigration police about lightning bolt. It seems yoshida is mad about them ripping him off, and he does not want them in his territory.


By the way, before anybody gets mad at me I was just joking. I know the ruins and lightning bolt are two very different (but equally good) bands.

ive seen em loads of times already, but they are the only band who actualy get better everytime i see em live. anyway, they say theyll be back, lets hope its this year while im still here as i just missed the uk tour.

For anyone on the east coast, they have 3 awesome dates lined up, two with Boredoms (Vooredoms). Gonna be crazy.

sometimes you gotta pay the piper

Wow and they're huge in Japan too

but of course

as much as Lightning Bolt are bombastic & heavy, The Jesus Lizard would have devoured them. The only band on Earth whose cred survived a double-billing with The Jesus Lizard is Sonic Youth.

HAHA

that's crazy because I missed that post & I swear I almost mentioned Ruins in my last post...that Lightning Bolt were a lowest common denominator version in some ways, but I thought that would be going too far or somesuch & since I like LB somewhat, I didn't wish to offend their fans.

As much as I like Ruins, Lightning Bolt are better.