Opening the doors to his expansive colourful confectionary
London’s Candyman Patrick Wolf revels life’s infinite sweet connections
Duo Exchange, Shibuya, Tokyo
By: Michael Lara
“Hey kids, shake it loose together. The spot light’s hitting something. That’s been known to change the weather.” That delightful early 70’s jaunty romp of indulgence with playful piano peppering helps convey the vibrant rainbow connection between two famed Englishmen only separated by multiple generations. Fittingly, exactly one week after Patrick Wolf’s proper Japan debut, Sir Elton John brought it full circle in the famed Nippon Budokan with these artistic bookends and their numerous parallels excitingly evident. Prior to breathing life to his ‘The Magic Position’ inside the velvety-stylized Duo Exchange, Wolf shared a slice of his life thus far on his own yellow brick road. No electric boots or mohair suit on him this night, but impressive platforms and a wardrobe to match that would proudly serve live when ‘Bennie & The Jets’ first took flight decades ago.
Welcome to Tokyo Patrick… First time?
Patrick Wolf: Nah. Second-played in front of this big gigantic ferris wheel for about 15 minutes (Odaiba-an area off Tokyo Bay).
Well, fittingly, we got about 15 minutes, but never mind what Warhol said as you have gone far beyond that 15 minutes of fame. With 3 albums already under your belt, why you think?
PW: Cuz being famous for me has never been what I am about. I’ve always just striven to explore and push myself. And seeing what amazing artists like Joni Mitchell have accomplished by being honest to themselves’ makes all the difference. It’s nothing short-term with a clear end in sight.
(Showing him the cover art of Velvet Underground &Nico)
PW: That album has “I’ll be your mirror” on it right?
Yeah.
PW: I’ve had that album like since I was 12 (proudly beaming).
So if I was to say, “Mirror, mirror on the wall, who is the fairest one of all?”
PW: Me (with a huge, somewhat cheeky grin).
Ha-ha! Right on. So Patrick, I got a baggie of sweets, treats to help us along. The holidays are coming…
PW: Are they all gifts for me (eyebrows playfully up)?
No, but many are (smiling). Did Hiro (Universal A&R) tell you about this?
PW: Oh no.
That’s good. Don’t worry you’ll be plenty sorted. Now, given a choice to collaborate with either a Stereo Chorus or Classic Fuzz…
PW: (Instantly) Classic Fuzz hands down. Stereo Chorus is something horribly 80’s. It’s like, just because you run a violin through it, suddenly people think you have a whole string section. That’s ridiculous. Fuzz gives you way more. No comparison.
Noted man. Now Marc Bolan was the quintessential 20th century boy and I feel that you handily represent the 21st.
PW: Hmmm (eyes looking away and gushing slightly)…
So here I have Mampei 21st Century Extremely Low Sugar Strawberry Jam. What would be the one for you? And yes, this is gift.
PW: Ha! Oh good. Ah…hmmm… Well, um, actually I’m kind of a traditional blackberry jam kind of guy. I once was given this one strange jam and I was absolutely terrified by it.
Jigger…
PW: That’s not a jigger! That’s a shot glass. I used to be a cocktail waiter.
Ah, well, we call them that in the States and in seeing the two sides of this, what would be the taster’s choice for each side for you?
PW: The top bit would be Bailey’s and the bottom would be vodka. It’s a cheap Russian. I like a White Russian, but it’s a very expensive drink.
So with this album…
PW: Uh…(worriedly a bit) that’s not a gift for me right?
Ah no (both laughing in showing a ship’s whistle), but what makes you whistle while you work? You know that ode Disney made famous. This land is plenty famous for him and all with a launch of cell phones in its name for 2008.
PW: Hmmm…You know, I watched this horrible Disney movie flying over here, but in all seriousness, whistling is a really an underappreciated talent. I often think it would be cool to have a whistling symphony.
I’d definitely be for that. The only thing I can think where it was famous was in David Lean’s 1957 classic ‘Bridge On TheRiver Kwai’ with Sir Alec Guinness, William Holden and Sessue Hayakawa. You know that one? “Colonel Bogey March” which Guinness uses to lead the troops?
PW: No, can’t say I do.
Ah then, check it out, it won like 5 Oscars that year. Now here via Black Flag, a shop in nearby Aoyama in Shibuya, I’ve got some incense for you.
PW: Um (looking around the package), I can’t read this. What’s its name?
“To Be Real (pointing out the limited English labeling present).”
Really, well, give it a good sniff again, but in the meantime, if you had to say what the overall smell of ‘The Magic Position’ is, what is it?
PW: Smirnoff Ice (grinning widely). But honestly, I don’t really care much for incense. It does nothing for me. I much rather prefer to smell armpits and sweat (eyebrows up with a mischievous broad smile).
Yeah, that’s keeping it real and comfort food does the same universally and here in Japan, curry is one for sure and this is the famed one from Yokosuka, made famous from the Imperial Japanese Navy days and yes, this is for you.
PW: Ah, so it’s a military thing?
Well…No, but that’s where it all started. What about for yourself?
PW: It’d have to say fig rolls. Do you know them?
Oh yes.
PW: Back in my teenage years, I always ate them.
Ah, we’re nearly out of time. So lastly, here we have a Wrangler coin purse. Do you own a pair?
PW: Um I do have one. I had stolen a pair from a music festival. They were given them out free and there was one tied to the fence so I wrangled them off (smirking).
Well, they were a gift waiting for you now weren’t they?
PW: I use them as my days-off trousers. They’re like size 40 or something. I use them when I’m feeling fat and bloated (chuckling).
Okay, so imagine, in this coin purse, if you could have any sweet or treat inside, what would it be and why?
PW: I think it’d be a flying saucer and sherbert. It would be a nice experience at this moment of time. Do you know Flying Saucers?
Uh-um. Not the kind you’re talking about…
PW: Well, basically, they’re in the shape of a flying saucer and they’re made out of sugar paper and inside you have like a big sherbert. My dad used to design sweets for a living and he made the vampire teeth, he’s responsible for those.
Really?
PW: Yeah and the cherries (beaming grin).
Nice! Well, with the holidays coming, one last treat from California, where I’m from. You’re not going to be there ‘til next year right?
PW: Yeah, in fact I’m going to go to San Francisco for holiday, but ah wow, grandma’s peanut brittle (See’s Candies’ Peanut Brittle)! Fantastic! Look at her!?! Oh this reminds me… This is like when we stopped in our tour (happily surprised-eyes wide alive). We got to Eureka in California, you know, by the border, and we stopped at ‘Grandma’s House.’ Literally, the best restaurant in America (joyously excited)! Yeah, she looks like Grandma’s sister. We always asked, “Who Grandma was?” and they’d say, “Grandma’s lost it.”
(All giggling, including Victoria Sutherland, his violinist)
