Chanpon

Last night the Polysics raged the Bottom of the Hill in San Francisco. Think Devo meets Tetsuo the Iron Man. Four kids wearing metal visors shielding their eyes. One girl talks to the crowd during songs like a robot through her synthesizer. One boy wails and rocks and guitars and twitches.

They seemed like two bands, jammed together - even robotic melodies executed with flawless timing and professional start-stop, and exploding boy-christ guitar sweat pomp. It was that tension that was so fun to watch.

You can also hear Polysics, offstage, on the last two Japan for Sale CD compilations. Their song "New Wave Jacket" from Japan for Sale volume 2 is totally propulsive - frantic melodies, impeccable timing, and something that sounds like metal but feels like a sock-hop. It's wild stuff.

Japan for Sale is an attempt by Sony Japan to launch a few of their acts abroad, including the United States. Now, the Polysics have been picked up by Asian Man records, who were selling their first album, "Hey Bob! My Friend." at the show for a delicious $5.

Why not have Sony music of America distribute their Japanese brother-company's bands here? Because the Polysics are likely to flounder at the bottom of a priority list that includes Celine Dion, AC/DC and George Clinton & The P-Funk All Stars. Flipping his floppy bangs, Mike from Asian Man tells me, "No all-Asian band has sold a gold record in the United States." No >500K record sales, "especially if they can't tour for six months" to build band awareness.

So instead, Sony Music is targeting micro-markets - indie record labels. It's a bit odd to see a professional band (the members don't have other jobs), with awesome equipment, polished effects-laden music videos, a support staff and a party with sushi, who are being released on a small indie label in the United States.

I was asking around in my broken Japanese, still excited by the show: "porisisikusu no mahou wa nandesuka?" Near the empty sushi platters backstage, Kaichiro Shirai, a translator and handler from Sony Music Japan standing with the drummer replied, "passion, and, technology." I can get with that.

Polysics.com - and Polysics in English, from Sony Music Japan