Rookie-a-Go-Go entrant Kanna brought a lot of confidence to their short 6-song set in Naeba. “We will see you guys next year on the Red Marquee as winners of this Rookie contest” they announced to fans.

This kind of attitude shown brightly throughout their appearance which was characterized by thrashing guitars that soundtracked MC Nouchi’s hip-hop verses.

Influenced heavily by 1990’s alternative music, Nouchi and guitarist Koshi were joined on stage by a supporting drummer and definitely dusted the cobwebs from Sunday morning audience members groggy morning brains by cranking up the volume as loud as it would go. Nouchi’s verses were peppered with English and sometimes imploded into full-on word salads and scatting.

Their influences (think Rage Against the Machine-type alternative rap/rock) are not unlike fellow rookie band Eiji who appeared Saturday on the same stage, but Kanna wanted audiences to know that they were a completely different band.

Active since 2001 in the Nagoya area of Japan, Kanna is definitely hoping their brand of heavy alternative rap rock resonated with fans enough to earn them a spot on a larger stage in the future.