With the Typhoon in full rage mode outside, I left thoughts of my tent and its’ potential destruction to the background and came ready to party along with the Minyo Crusadors. The Japanese for Minyo translates into something like folk song. This group delivered classic Japanese folk songs but in a way that I think many haven’t heard before.

The Crusaders sound has many flavors to it. There are elements of ska, reggae, dub, gypsy, folk, groove, rock, enka and more. It’s a unique combination when combined with classic elements of Japanese folk music and folk singing. It’s also a combo that our late night crowd was was eating up.

Sure, crowds in the Palace of Wonder stage at 2am are usually some of the easier to please but that shouldn’t take anything anyway from the great set that Minyo Crusaders dropped tonight.

Their band contains traditional kimono clad singers, percussionists, drummers, a guitarist and a 2 piece horns section. Their music is highly danceable and works better than you’d expect as long as you come in with an open mind. Even though I was pretty haggard and beat down from the typhoon, coming into the set, within minutes I was up and bopping around with most others in the swelling crowd.

Near the end of the set they played plenty of sing-along tunes of classic Japanese folk songs. The crowd was singing every word to, no doubt, age-old ballads that were now being re-tuned with jump-up ska and reggae flavors.
They ended things with a kind of Buddhist chant of sorts which then transitioned into a dance party vibe.

Minyo Crusadors live is a unique experience and turned out to be one of my favorite sets of the fest. They’re a band I would jump at the chance to see again and I advise you to do the same.