Colorful Japanese art punks Peelander-Z formed in New York City 21 years ago, inspired by Japanese animation (the founding members are all natives of Japan), sci-fi and wrestling as much as The Ramones or any other melodic Punk band. Now based in Austin, Texas, the band has released eight albums in the current millennium, including 2013’s Metal effort, Metalander-Z (of course), and last year’s Go PZ Go.
The group was even the source of a critically acclaimed documentary, Mad Tiger, which peeled back the comic-book facade to spotlight some very real intra-band drama.
On stage is where the full context of Peelander-Z’s greatness emerges most vividly. The band’s immersive live show — a whirlwind of costumes, audience participation and ping-ponging energy — has been widely praised by the press, with Rolling Stone calling them “insanely entertaining,” and, more recently, San Antonio’s Current writing, “Seriously, if you haven’t experienced one of the band’s energetic performances, you can’t leave the planet without rectifying that situation.”
8 p.m. Tuesday (April 30). $10; $12 day of show. Southgate House Revival, 111 E. Sixth St., Newport, southgatehouse.com.
