Karma spelled with a Z

Rock’n’roll has sent me on many adventures over the years.  Oh, they’re hardly Indy Jones calibre adventures…but I’m pretty easy to please, adventure-wise. 

The other day, I received some cool news – it pretty much made my week, if not my month – and it reminded me of one of my adventures that I thought I could share.

Japanese alternative act The Zoobombs (a play on the Japanese word for pans, “zubon”) are the reason I began Octopus Army, my Japanese music radio program on CFMU.  The music on the Japanese charts tends towards cheesy, overproduced pop, and my taste for it took a long time to develop.   Before it did, however, I was convinced Japanese music was, in general, asinine treacle.  Then one afternoon I sat cross-legged on the tatami and watched a black-and-white video for a crazy, slide guitar-playing band, which I’ve described as the Jon Spencer Blues Explosion, by way of Tokyo, in suits and bulbous silver space helmets.  It was the Zoobombs, performing “Black Ink Jive,” and to this day it’s the theme song for my program.

Over the years the Zoobombs came to Canada courtesy of Toronto promoter Dan Burke, a rabid fan whose enthusiasm far exceeded even my own.  I interviewed lead singer Don Matsuo on these occasions, and found him to be a genuine, thoughtful fellow, though I couldn’t have called us friends or even acquaintances. 

Last September, the Zoobombs were booked at The Underground, and I was excited that they were finally coming to my town.  The night before the show, however, I got a phone call from a dispirited and slightly edgy Dan Burke telling me that the ‘bombs had been refused re-entry into Canada at the Montreal border due to a mix up with their temporary work visa.  Could I drive to Buffalo and meet them at the Canadian Consulate? 

I thought about it briefly – certainly it would mean blowing out work, amongst other things – but in the end, the thought of five people (six counting Mifune, the three-year-old son of Don Matsuo and keyboardist Matta) coming all this way and spending thousands, only to not even make the money back because the tour is cancelled...it was just rotten.  I remember being lost in Japan once, without money or any language skills, and total strangers came to my aid.  It was time for me to make good on some karma payback. 

I was terrified at the prospect of heading across the border alone to try and convince The Establishment to let this band come into the country.  It was all on my shoulders, and I didn’t have a clue what I was doing.  If I couldn’t do it, the Zoobombs went home, severely in debt and probably severely unhappy.

The Canadian Consulate in Buffalo is absurdly secure.  It’s on the 30th floor, and you have to be accompanied up and down the elevator.  There are no phones, either, so you have to go 30 stories down to use a payphone.  Which I did about 30 times, trying in vain to get the info the consulate needed.  In the end, I schmoozed like a fiend, smiled, talked about what kind and stand-up individuals the band were how nice the band are, translated, schmoozed more, and chatted with the nervous-looking band members about hurricanes and earthquakes. 

To this day I don’t know the scientific (bureaucratic?) explanation, but somehow, we got those visas.  Then we had to make trips from the hostel to the border.  Then over the border.  Then, for reasons too long to explain, a trip on foot across the Peace Bridge, and then back again with most of the band in tow.  Let me tell you.  That’s a long bridge. 

Eventually we found ourselves back in Hamilton.  It was an 11-hour ordeal, but one filled with brilliant moments.  Walking across the bridge, checking out the amazing view with these cool cats.  Standing waiting for a taxi while Don holds Mifune, when the kid starting playing air guitar and out of the blue comes with perfect pitch, in English, "Sally take my hand...we'll travel south 'cross land...” And even shouts "We're all wasted!"  Then he comes with "Got a feelin' inside..." while Don and I hit the "can't explain!" part.  Add to that the fact that, in a silly, way, I got my fifteen minutes of fame by being “the guy who saved the Zoobombs show,” and I can’t deny that I enjoyed the feeling of having done something right. It was also safe to say that Don Matsuo, in a small but notable way, had become friends that day.  Karma payback was instantaneous. 

Or so I thought.  Don recently emailed me and referenced that sunny September day in Buffalo with fondness. Apparently, they’ve written a song about that day.  It’s on their new album.  It’s called “Jamie.”

Does anyone know how I can contact karma regarding an overpayment?

Comments

[Vanessa Crosbie Ramsay]

Jamie: I can't wait to hear your song! It's awesome that your good deed is being rewarded in such a cool and memorable way. (BTW - Don't think of it as an overpayment...what goes around comes around, kid!)