What does the band name Thee Out Mods mean?
Yoshiki: When I first started my band, it was with completely different members, unfortunately we broke up. But about a year later I met the members I’m with right now and we formed Thee Out Mods! Back when I started, I was really influenced by this Japanese rock band called the Mods so for our band name we wanted to use the word ‘Mods’. But if it was the same it would be boring, so I wanted a word that would jump out and go over Mods so ‘Out Mods’, and ‘Thee’ sounds cool, so the name Thee Out Mods was born!

The best gig Thee Out Mods ever played – when, where, and why?
Ken: It was when we first released our debut album and did a San Francisco tour. We were really excited and when we played, we just didn’t care about anything. We just did it with full energy! When the show was over we thought, ‘That’s how it should be!’
Sana: Yeah, the show at the SF tour was great! But for me there still isn’t the ‘best’. Of course I always go for the best but when the show is over, I’m still not satisfied. I feel that I can do more.

What was the most embarrassing moment for the band so far?
Yoshiki: Well, it was me. It was when we did the Arizona tour, it was freakin’ hot! And at one show we played in somebody’s house in the basement, the heat was trapped and it was deadly! As we went on with our set, I just couldn’t concentrate and give out my full energy! The heat got me! I don’t know if the audience noticed, but it was embarrassing to my members because they noticed. Then when the show was over, the audience came to me with a cool look on their face – not even a sweat – and said please come back again! Yeah, that was an embarrassing moment!

Where do you get your costumes from?
Yoshiki: No! It’s not a costume! They are the clothes that we wear in normal life. Well, I wear the same clothes every day. I don’t care. We often shop at used clothing stores.

What was the last record you bought/downloaded/lagged? What do you think about that album?
Ken: We recently bought Good Evening Wonderful Fiend by a Japanese called Willard, Boogie People by George Thorogood and Boss Hog by Boss Hog! Boss Hog is a garage punk band in which the vocalist and the guitarist are a married couple. The band is really cool – it’s junk art. Their music is very original!

The last live show that totally blew you away – what show was it and what was so great about it?
Ken: International Noise Conspiracy! I saw them when I was still in LA. They totally blew me away! Not only them but a lot of bands in the US have a powerful vibration! Yeah, we need that vibration!

Describe your music in seven words.
Ken: We’re Rock’n’Roll Pirates from Japan!

TOM are Sana (vocals), Yoshiki (bass) and Ken (drums). They play Hidden Agenda (1A, Chun Yip Street, Choy Lee Industry Building, Kwun Tong) on August 1, 8:30pm. Supporting acts are Eccentric, Paranoid and Beaker. Advance tickets are $75 by calling 6335 6366 or pay $85 at door.