‘It Feels Like Going Back Home’: Japanese-Australian Punk Rock Trio Mach Pelican Make Their Return

“It was very rare for Japanese kids to meet others and have the same interest in music,” says Kisuke Nakamura as he reflects on the humble beginnings of his band.

A Japanese-Australian punk rock trio, Mach Pelican comprises Nakamura (K-Rock) on vocals and guitar, Atsushi Omori (Atsu Longrun) on bass and vocals, and Toshi Maeda (Toshi-8Beat) on drums and vocals. Originally formed in 1996, the beloved Melbourne band are now returning with brand new songs in almost 20 years.

Mostly known for songs like Dance In Chicago and Born To Delivery, Mach Pelican’s fast-paced punk rock energy moved through Australia in the ‘90s and early noughties. Eventually, the band performed 800 shows worldwide, touring across Europe, Japan, Taiwan and South Korea.

Their legacy is well established, with fans often citing Mach Pelican as helping solidify the link between the Australian and Japanese underground punk scenes.

Despite the strong streak of three studio albums, the trio disbanded due to personal differences and immigration issues, concluding their farewell tour with a final show in Tokyo in September 2007. However, the band would often reunite during the 2010s, proving the enduring loyalty of their fanbase.

Their newest release, A Secret Session, is expected to capture everything that the fans love about Mach Pelican: their high-speed energy, the pop-soaked melodies, and the unmistakably catchy hooks. 

As a Cheersquad Records & Tapes offering, the 7-inch single (featuring the tracks Remember It? and Summer Sun) will be a limited physical release, with only 300 copies made in multiple colour variants. Not only that, but Mach Pelican will also be performing a launch party in the classic Melbourne venue, The Last Chance Rock & Roll Bar.

Despite the very warm long weekend in Melbourne, Nakamura was more than happy to call in and discuss A Secret Session and how Mach Pelican have offered a reflection of the punk rock scene over the years.

Nakamura remembers how he met his future band members at an English class in Perth in 1996. Meeting in their late teens, the group would bond over their love of music from bands like the Ramones and The Saints.

“It was very rare for Japanese kids to meet others and have the same interest in music,” Nakamura explains.

Being the second Japanese person that Nakamura met in Australia, Maeda and he would often busk during their lunch break at the University of WA. Eventually solidifying Mach Pelican, the group relocated to Melbourne in 1998, with the release of their self-titled first album following a year later.

Nakamura also points out how the location for their upcoming single launch party, The Last Chance, not only marked the band’s first performance of Dance In Chicago but also served as the backdrop for the accompanying music video.

“It feels like going back home,” he says of the venue, then known as The Public Bar.

Acting almost as a time capsule, the Dance In Chicago music video features the band rocking out to a crowd of extras with various camera angles that capture the song’s pacing. The video would also intercut with the trio running around and posing next to the historic bar.

“I remember it was a hot day, over 30 degrees, and we were stuck there with all the people wearing leather jackets,” says Nakamura.

Throughout the band’s decade of touring, they got to perform with a lot of notable local and international punk rockers, some of whom were among their early influences. “[It was] great to meet all the, you know, superstars,” says Nakamura.

Across their storied career, Mach Pelican found themselves touring with Aussie bands like Radio Birdman, The Hard-Ons, and Frenzal Rhomb, as well as international acts like Buzzcocks, Rancid, The Queers, Guitar Wolf, Teengenerate, and The 5.6.7.8s.

Nakamura also reflected on the punk rock scene across the last few decades, especially with having both the Australian and Japanese perspectives.

“In the ‘80s and ‘90s, there was a very big punk scene, even in Japan,” says Nakamura. “But now it’s slightly smaller, but there are still a lot of great bands.

“Toshi, my drummer, is currently a promoter, and he’s bringing lots of Japanese bands to Australia, while also bringing Australian bands to Japan.”

Across the band’s career, Mach Pelican has performed several benefit concerts for tragedies in Japan. In 2011, they performed in St Kilda to support victims of the Tōhoku earthquake and tsunami, as well as the 2024 Noto earthquake. 

“We were honoured to help raise money for both causes, and lots of people turned up,” Nakamura remembers. “It was a really good experience to be in both charity events.”

In the band’s return to performing more consistently, Nakamura mentioned how the number of gigs is smaller compared to their time in the ‘90s.

“We used to play like 100 shows per year as a full-time band,” says Nakamura. “But now, we usually do 10 shows per year, but we are looking to expand the tours outside of Melbourne.

“It feels the same on the stage, but there is a bit of a difference.”

Turning again to the band’s new single release, Nakamura mentioned how the B-side, Summer Sun, will be sung entirely in Japanese. “That’s something new that we did; we’ve never done that before,” he says.

Having previously included some Japanese lyrics in a previous song, Tokyo, it’s clear the band are experimenting while also tapping into the nostalgic sound in their revival.

Moving forward, Nakamura hints there are still more songs to come from Mach Pelican, as well as a planned tour across Japan in July of this year. For those in other Australian states, there’s also word the band might be bringing their punk rock energy across Australia soon. Stay tuned.

Mach Pelican’s A Secret Session is out today, Friday, January 30th. The group will launch the single on Saturday, January 31st with a sold-out show at Melbourne’s Last Chance Rock & Roll Bar.

Mach Pelican – A Secret Session Single Launch

With Loose Lips and Elvis II

Saturday, January 31 – The Last Chance Rock & Roll Bar, Melbourne, VIC (Sold Out)