Recent innovations such as the toe flute and Namco's Professor Percussion Beat Blaster arcade cabinet have solidified Japan's place as the planet's #1 creator of alternative instruments. Learn to love their otherworldly acoustics with today's Groupon: for $19, you get a $39 main-section ticket that includes the $1 facility fee (for a $40 total value) to see Ōn Ensemble on Friday, May 28, 2010, at 7:30 p.m. at the Rialto Theater, part of the Broadway Center for the Performing Arts in downtown Tacoma. You can exchange your Groupon at the Pantages Theater box office Monday through Saturday or up to two hours prior to the show.

Building mind-bending music on a foundation of ancient Japanese taiko drums, Ōn Ensemble merges a deep, hypnotic form of percussion with everything from turntable-ism to electronica to Tuvan throat singing—creating the unique world-fusion sound that has kept fans on their toes, when they're not levitating just off them. Wired magazine's Underwire blog said that Ōn's 2009 effort, Ume in the Middle, "should appeal equally to fusion aficionados and left-fielders in search of something stranger." Despite their dauntless exploration in the realms of the avant-garde, the Ōn Ensemble has gained the ultimate stamp of approval in classical Japanese culture—an endorsement from Miyamoto Unosuke Shoten, instrument maker to the emperor of Japan—ensuring that Ōn doesn't fall victim to the public shaming that has torn apart so many promising avant-garde Japanese percussionists.

The historic Rialto Theater's eye-popping beaux-arts-style architecture provides a pleasing sensory counterpoint to the strange and wonderful sounds of the Ōn Ensemble. Besides making for a thought-provoking and refreshingly unconventional date option, today's Groupon is also a great proving ground for any friends who claim they like "all types of music except country."

Reviews

The Broadway Center for the Performing Arts has been featured on King 5's Inside Evening Magazine.

Ōn Ensemble's 2005 Dust and Sand debut album received a three-star review from ZoneMusicReporter.com's The Sounding Board, and the musicians have more than 450 Facebook fans:

• Their music incorporates the explosive drama of Japanesse taiko drums, dazzling percussion, bristling electronics and World music themes…we are fortunate that they came together to form their eclectic group that makes music to stir the blood and energizes the soul. – R J Lannan, ZoneMusicReporter.com
• My oldest is 9 and has become really interested in Percussion this year, and I was so glad she got to experience your incredible talent, and eclectic sound! What an incredible and memorable performance! – Diana P., Facebook