Riotous show to rattle the fillings

The Japanese are staging their Tao Beat of the Globe show in the Auckland Town Hall until Thursday. Picture / Richard Robinson

If your cultural stereotype of the Japanese is of a meek and mild race then Tao Beat of the Globe will shake those ideas up while the young drummers will rattle your fillings with their impressive beats.

The show starts with the quiet sounds of crickets but these are soon taken over by drums of all sizes and tones. In the centre of the stage the women stand in single file and strike drums positioned around them. Just one face is visible while multiple arms holding silver drum sticks cut through the air bringing to mind a crazy, drumming octopus or the Indian deity with many arms.

This combination of musicianship and athleticism stays throughout the show and it's hard to know where to look at times, especially given the charisma of the performers.

While you are enjoying the music you also can't help wondering what would happen if a high-powered drum stick went flying. But there is no chance of that as both men and women of the troop have impressive control and precision. If this show doesn't make hundreds of Aucklanders take up drumming it is hard to know what will.

Over the performance's hour and 20 minutes there were a few slower numbers dominated by bamboo flutes and cymbals - too folky and pop-flavoured for my taste but they served as a nice counterpoint for faster group pieces.

Also it's easy to overlook these when there are two well-muscled young men playing a drum as big as a small car, or when the troupe of performers keep the beats going while managing to dance, and in some cases, play two large drums at the same time.

On opening night the young drummers redefined showmanship and earned two standing ovations with their exuberant musicianship. This could well be the show of AK05.

* What: Tao Beat of the Globe.

* Where: Great Hall, Auckland Town Hall, The Edge.

* When: March 7 to March 10.