Unlike a lot of their peers in the aging J-rock population, Unicorn’s music still sounds fresh, vibrant and surprisingly far from dated. Not even the rain could keep away a truly impressive White Stage crowd from their show early evening on Saturday.

Legendary musician and producer Okuda Tamio’s band is considered to be amongst the pantheon of big daddy rock bands in Japan. Formed in 1986 in Hiroshima, with a long hiatus from 1994-2009, Unicorn set the standard for compelling, witty, experimental and hard-rocking bands for Japan in their early days. Singer and bassist Tamio is well known outside the band for his solo work and producing, penning tracks for artists like Puffy and many others.

Tamio’s songs sound like they were written by a true rock and roll musician and not a focus group. His stage presence also doesn’t have much personality polish, and in the best way. He didn’t strut across the stage, he sauntered. Like a man with very little to prove.

For the most part the band’s songs landed firmly between blues rock and pop, with enough movement in the structure of the songs to keep you interested. The choruses had solid hooks that didn’t seem overused, the songs structures were fresh and the guys could really rock when it was time to. It was the kind of music your dad might like. And that you kind of do to, but feel a little uncomfortable admitting to

The crowd was overwhelmingly Japanese, which is a shame because the band should have more universal appeal. The made their way through their set like veteran musicians just messing about in a rehearsal space. And in Japan, Unicorn is one of the few bands that can treat Fuji Rock as casually as they would treat any other place to plug in the amps and jam..