by Lauren Means | photos courtesy Drum Tao
Drum Tao’s performance is nothing to take lightly. They combine music, dance, comedy, and costumes to put on a show you won’t soon forget. Consisting of “Wadaiko-drums” and Japanese flutes and harps, Drum Tao’s modern, high-energy performances showcasing the ancient art of Japanese drumming took the stage at Tennessee Performing Art Center’s Polk Theather on Tuesday, January 28, 2020. By the end of the night, there was not one person left sitting.
Combining highly physical, large-scale drumming with contemporary costumes, precise choreography, and innovative visuals, the performers of DRUM TAO 2020 gave Middle Tennesseans a taste of Japanese culture. It should be described as a drum-opera as the performance both evoked emotion and told stories throughout the evening.
Also of note is the incredible physical strength it takes for the performers to not only play the instruments but also move them about the stage. No matter where your seats were, you can just see the abs and arm muscles they all have as they work up a sweat during performances.
If you did not have a chance to catch this one night only performance in Nashville, they have several shows remaining in North America. They may also return to Music City in the future as they have previously been in town in 2018.
