MAN WITH A MISSION at Brooklyn Bowl, London

Since making their European debut at Japan Expo in Paris in 2012, MAN WITH A MISSION have become increasingly frequent visitors to the continent. However, it wasn’t until June this year that the lupine rockers ventured onto British soil for the first time, playing a set at flagship summer rock festival Download. The wolves have been quick to make up for lost time, though. After joining American bands Zebrahead and MXPX for a string of shows in Germany, they accompanied Zebrahead across the Channel for a series of dates around the UK.

The scene of MAN WITH A MISSION’s first ever London show was the Brooklyn Bowl, one of many venues housed under the enormous canvas dome of The O2 in Greenwich. The 800-capacity venue was well over half-full as MAN WITH A MISSION walked out in matching grey overalls. They were greeted by scattered cheers and a litany of smartphone camera lenses—frontwolf Tokyo Tanaka even posed for a couple of shots while his bandmates got sorted.

“We are MAN WITH A MISSION!” yelled guitarist-rapper Jean-Ken Johnny before leading off with distance. Tanaka and bassist Kamikaze Boy were up and down on their podiums throughout the dancey number, while in the far right corner of the stage, masked support guitarist E.D.Vedder proved an eerie presence under the red and yellow lights. On the ensuing database, the band’s 2013 hit single, Jean-Ken Johnny filled in for the absent takuma during the verses.

Turntablist DJ Santa Monica came out from behind his decks for the intro of Take What U Want, leading the crowd in clapping along with Spear Rib’s drumming. Not to be outdone, Tokyo Tanaka spent almost the entire song on his podium, like a preacher at his pulpit. As the feedback died away, Jean-Ken Johnny spoke for a second time: “The next song is a cover. Some of you will know it.”

The iconic opening riff of Nirvana’s Smells Like Teen Spirit was warmly received by the crowd, and while Jean-Ken’s rapping over the verses proved to be as jarring live as it is on the studio version, the chorus went down a storm. With each rendition, more and more of the audience joined in. This audience participation carried over into FLY AGAIN, during the chorus of which, Tanaka had the crowd stretch out their arms to left and right in a sort of rudimentary “para para” routine. At first, only the devotees down at the front partook, but by the end, a good portion of attendees had their arms in the air, albeit with wry smirks and a quintessentially British sense of irony.

“This is our first show in London, and we’ve got some very special guests for you guys: Ali and Matty from Zebrahead!” said Jean-Ken, introducing the co-vocalists of Zebrahead, who walked onstage to much cheering and the odd whoop. They then joined MAN WITH A MISSION in performing Out of Control. When not singing, these special guests wandered the stage, working the crowd and egging the wolves on—Ali seemed to take a particular interest in Spear Rib.

As the song ended, after much hugging and fistbumping, the Zebrahead duo left, and Jean-Ken announced they had time for one last song. In typical rock fashion, as the end of Get Off of My Way drew close, everyone went manic on their instruments—Kamikaze Boy going so far as to bite the neck of his bass guitar.

“We are MAN WITH A MISSION!” shouted the band’s spokeswolf for the final time as his fellow wolves left the stage. Drummer Spear Rib was the last to go, enjoying a small ovation of his own before tossing his sticks into the crowd.

Set List

01. distance
02. database
03. Take What U Want
04. Smells Like Teen Spirit (cover)
05. FLY AGAIN
06. Out of Control (w/ Ali & Matty from Zebrahead)
07. Get Off of My Way