The Boston Sushi Fiesta was a performance-art funk rock band that was active at Brown University from 1989 - 1992.
The band's gigs were full-out multimedia events!​ In addition to putting on a rock opera about Christopher Columbus, the group explored the "World of Nutrition", drank toxic waste on Earth Day and took a musical and visual journey through Dutchess County, NY. For a campus-wide battle of the bands, the Sushi Fiesta "pressed the button" and launched a replica of an nuclear ICBM so as to assure that there would be no winners!​
The music scene at Brown University in the early 1990s was insanely vibrant. There were countless acts, including The Young Hegelians, Angry Salad, Blowbot, Slow Children, Will Oldham, Liz Mitchell and Lisa Loeb, Bucci and God. ​ The caliber of musicianship at Brown at the time was extremely high -- as many had played in rock bands in high school prior to coming to Brown.​​
The many bands on campus would practice in the dorm basements -- which led to noise complaints. When word circulated that the groups might be kicked out, the artists formed the "Coalition of Bands at Brown" to sound-proof the practice spaces and manage their use (see article to left).
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The Boston Sushi Fiesta originally consisted of Colin Gagon on trombone and synths, Mike Corwin on bass and vocals, Joshua Cohen on guitar, Lara Gordon on trumpet and Andy Abramowitz on drums. Eventually Colin and Andy moved on to other pursuits and Jason Toft came in as the band's drummer -- bringing the group to a whole new level of tightness!​​​​ ​​​​​
Josh Cohen and Mike Corwin started Brown a semester late, assuring they would face a a lot of competition trying to find musicians.
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"Guernica"
Music Video.
A music video recently put together for the mExpats project, using the Guernica track from the "Power of Bob" EP, and live video footage of the band's "World of Nutrition" performance.
"International Agriculture" Music Video.
A music video produced by friend Josh Brown in 1992, after he had graduated Brown and started studying at NYU film school.
Brown Daily Herald Weekend Magazine, Nov. 1991
The Fishbone Concert
When the Sushi Fiesta got wind that the nationally acclaimed band Fishbone would be performing at Brown in the winter of 1991, they got in touch with with group's management and were able to procure a slot as the opening act!
As Fishbone was one for the group's idols, you can imagine how excited they were!
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World of Nutrition Gig
The Sushi Fiesta put on a multi-media extravaganza called the "World of Nutrition" at The Underground ​​​-- the campus' main bar/live music venue. They covered the stage with huge paper mache fruits and vegetables, handed out menus at the door, and sang songs about good nutrition. The full gig was captured on videotape -- and thus represents the only existing documentation of the Sushi Fiesta's live performances.
Josh baked chocolate chip cookies for the "World of Nutrition" gig and friend Jason McKinney sold them for 5 cents each​​​ -- while the band performed the song "We're Selling Cookies." They sold out the cookies before the song ended (see video above).
"The Power of Bob" EP
During the Boston Sushi Fiesta's final semester, on Elvis' birthday in 1992, the group traveled to Rockland County, NY to record an 5 song EP entitled "The Power of Bob."
The EP existed only as a casette that they had quickly mixed down the same day that they had made the recording (so as to save money on the session). The original 16-track tape was recently discovered at Josh's folks place in Fishkill, NY and digitized for the mExpats project.
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While in New York, the band crashed at Josh's parents' house in Dutchess County. They took the opportunity to put on a live show at a bar in the Village of Fishkill -- performing with local trumpeter Andy Wisdow (see photos below).
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Four guys and videotape
Josh Cohen, Mike Corwin and Colin Gagon met at the freshmen dorms at Brown. Gagon and Cohen started their creative collaboration with a project entitled "A Musical Journey Through Time" which they recorded on 4-track tape. They performed "Musical Journey" live at the Underground bar (see poster to right).
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From there the trio, including Corwin recorded other 4-track musical projects, eventually going on to form the Boston Sushi Fiesta.
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Corwin, Gagon and Cohen went on to produce a live call-in variety TV show called "Four guys and videotape" for Brown Television (BTV) along with friends Danny Horn, Josh Brown and Lara Gordon.
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BTV was pumped into all the dorm rooms via coaxial cable, though few folks actually connected it. However, before going live, the crew would run over to the "Gate," a late-night snack bar, and tune the televisions into BTV, assuring themselves an audience.
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BTV had been established just 3 years prior by Doug Liman and Dave Bartis (now filmmaker/producers). Though the TV station was originally subject to much oversight, by the time "Four, guys and videotape" when into production, all the rules went out the window!​​​​
The compilation of exerpts from "Four guys" here, is perhaps the last remaining original footage from the years that BTV was active:
The Boston Sushi Fiesta as well as Four guys and videotape are highlighted in the "Missing Out" episode of mExpats. Watch it here!