Do not be deceived by your first glance of this band, as you will see and hear the intimidatingly passionate presence of Jack (AKA poet Leon the Pig Farmer). His words are powerful – take them in – but don’t miss the true essence of the band, as even Jack himself has said that The Dirt would be nothing without his wife and musical partner Sachiko Wakizaka, ‘without her, it’s just me shouting down a mic’, says Jack.
Watching The Dirt, I was reminded of a line from a book by Audrey Golden, which was a female focussed take on the Hacienda and Factory Records days called I Thought I Heard You Speak. I think it was Gillian Gilbert (New Order) who said something akin to, ‘whenever you turned up at a venue to play, it was assumed that you were a singer, because people didn’t think that women could play instruments’. The Dirt turn this perception completely on its head.
This was my first experience of the Mossley, Manchester based band. I knew to expect excellent spoken word and a charismatic performance from the front man, and of course I wasn’t disappointed. I didn’t know to expect the experimental (in a cool way), atmospheric riffs, creating a rhythm that builds and changes to carry you on a journey which completely matches the provocative lyrics being spat into the mic. Sachiko (guitarist and chief noise maker), unassuming in presence, with more pedals than any guitarist I’ve ever seen, knows how to create a vibe through music. It’s just her, the guitar and the pedals but the sound is big enough to fill a stadium. There was fuzz, distortion, wah wah and incredible use of feedback. It was clear that this woman drives the music in this band, even from my observation of her guiding Jack on the drum machine towards the end of the set. This is a force of a woman, and together they are a force of important words and sound. Don’t miss a chance to see them.
Amazingly, I managed to get in touch with Sachiko to ask her some questions about her experiences. Here’s what she had to say.
What attracted you to music, how did you get to where you are now?
Listening started my journey in the 1980s. I would listen to vinyl records before and after school, to bands like The Rolling Stones and The Beatles, who were well known in Japan. I then researched more music in record shops and found Led Zeppelin, King Crimson and Pink Floyd.
As a young girl in Japan listening to Johnny Winter, I was seen as different. I then wanted to play guitar and got my first one at 18 years old. I joined my first band in Japan at 19, my friend played bass and we covered Cream’s music. I played in bands in Japan for a long time on the local DIY scene as a hobby, which is as difficult as pay to play style. We played our own music and did some covers. I was playing in an alternative band called Single Man when I met Jack. We met in the UK six years ago and we became a couple. I moved to UK four years ago and we started combining his spoken word and my guitar.
I then bought a loop station and more pedals which now creates the sound we have now.
Can you tell me about The Dirt, how you create your sound?
I usually play with sounds on guitar and effects pedals. Jack introduces spoken word – poetry pieces he has written. We talk about the mood of words and the subject matter. Then I develop a music piece with space of noise, sounds and guitar pieces, as well as adding drum loops and the vocal section.
I then ask Jack to leave, which is funny, so I can enhance the guitar section with more fuzz, distortion and pedal use to create a bigger noise.
Once we are happy, we test songs live and look at reactions from crowds.
What’s your experience of the music industry?
It is better in the UK. As lead guitarist I found it difficult to get a role in Japan. Very sexist. Women were either playing keyboard, a singer or a girlfriend. It’s a bit better now than when I was young. But in the UK I am accepted as a guitarist. My style of loops, effects, pedals and using a Rickenbacker makes it different. People find it interesting because our sound and style is unusual.
The underground scene in psych and punk is very welcoming and I’ve made lots of friends – musicians and followers.
What’s next for The Dirt?
We have a new album ready to record which happens in December. We are going to release this next year around August.
Tour Dates:
- 22.11: Wolverhampton – Giffard arms
- 14.12: Darwin – Sunbird Records
- 28.11: Todmorden – Golden Lion
- 15.12: Newcastle – Trillians Rock Bar
- 07.12: Nottingham – Angel brewery
- 21.12: Manchester – Gullivers
- 03.01.25 – Rockaway Beach fest