Softball: In To Bat.

Softball play the Waterloo Hotel on Friday night and Saturday afternoon (all ages), The Trocadero (ex Palladium) at Surfers Paradise Saturday night and the Sands Tavern, Maroochydore on Sunday.

    All girl Japanese punk trio are in Australia touring with Frenzal Rhomb. The band took some time to answer some translated questions via email.

    You girls are from Japan; tell me something amusing that people might not know about Japan.

    H: Energy drink sells like fun.

    R: Japanese are interested only enjoyment. They have no tension at all.

    M: No one knows that there are missiles against Japan in North Korea.

    Why the name Softball?

    M: We opened a dictionary at random, and chose this word by inspiration.

    R: And soft is the opposite of hard brain, so it means flexible brain and thought.

    What's the punk scene like in Japan?

    M: The bands that say "We are punk!" think nothing about society. They just hope to achieve.

    H: And their lies came out, and they disappeared.

    R: Japanese Punk Love Songs sell pretty well.

    M: Only imitation punk bands remain. There are about 500 thousands kids who like imitation punks in Japan.

    H: They are all stupid! It’s Funny!

    What are you most looking forward to doing in Australia?

    H: Now Japan is winter, but Australia is summer.

    R: Playing with Frenzal Rhomb!

    M: Seeing parents who bring up Aussie beef that Japanese really like. Aussie beef is good!

    R: Seeing Australian punk fans.

    What can people expect from your live show?

    H: Young Japanese girls.

    R: Beautiful Japanese songs?

    M: We'll betray your expectations and it will turn out amazing!

    For those who haven't heard of Softball, how would you describe yourselves?

    H: As the proverb goes, seeing is believing.

    R: See the real, and listen our music, then that image is Softball

    M: We can't speak English, but we also can't speak Japanese well.

    What's one of the biggest misconception people have of Softball?

    R: The common image people have of Japanese girls.

    H: We’re good at business.

    M: We’re famous in Japan.

    Why were you banned from playing in China?

    H: Because we came No.2 in the rock chart in China.

    R: My relative is famous for supporting independence of east Timor.

    M: Last year, we joined to the Taiwan independence event. And the scene of my singing with the head of the Anti China movement was broadcasted all over China.

    Do people make fun of you for being an all-girl band?

    R: We used to be teased.

    H: We told the names of who had teased us in an interview once. After that, they haven't approached us.

    M: And our friends went away all at once.

    Do you find being an all-girl band a hindrance or a help?

    M: We care nothing.

    R: It's a matter of views, so it depends on each other. If I order them, it may not change.

    H: We don't think it's a big advantage. So we also think that it's not a help.

    If you weren't in Softball what would you be doing right now?

    R: We can't talk about assumptions.

    H: It's an unknown quantity.

    M: Actually, we are in Softball

    What are you trying to achieve with Softball?

    Our goal is not to achieve.

    H: We just do whatever we wanna do. We just strike a chord with people, and they support us.

    M: Shampoo my hair every day.

    I've read articles that compare you to Shonen Knife or The Donnas, do you ever get sick of the comparisons?

    R: In fact, I scarcely read music articles, and I don't care what other bands do.

    M: We're more interested in news. We do different from others. So I can't compare.

    H: If you compare how many times we stand in dangerous situations, almost being killed by national power, Softball will not be beaten.

    M: How can you compare to being hated by China?

    I heard you girls are in school, is it hard to juggle touring with study etc?

    R: If I feel it's too hard, I may not be in Softball.

    15. In reviews I've read that your music has a unique Japanese sound, what's that? What makes it Japanese?

    M: There may be a complex about music, and they might compare us with it, and they might think unique. But we are at the base of Softball’s music.

    H: We make them like Softball music so much.