As much as I’ve seen of “Welcome to the NHK,” it’s the story of a ‘NEET’ in training, or what they call a hikikimori in Japan. Which is someone who stays home and doesn’t necessarily have a stable job or income. They are people who don’t leave the house for anything more than groceries or a comic or a DVD or something. You stay in your house and just do whatever the fuck you do, watch movies or just lay there and think of how much of a loser you are.

Andy Warpigs as a band is all about going out and having a good time.

They get whatever bandmembers they can and play whatever instruments work. It’s the complete opposite of the meaning of the song, as they provide an entertaining place for people to speak their minds. That’s clearly reflected in the video. You can see the extras going crazy and different punk symbolism. Going out, having people around and the act of playing guitar are all healthy interactions. You can go out and find a good time if you really want to.

“I want people to be aware of how fucked up and shitty and weird and awful life can be for other people. It’s easier to point fingers at each other and tear each other down than it is to look at yourself critically.” – Andy Warpigs

It may not happen every night but you’ll find your moments if you have the drive to get the fuck out of the house. That’s a big theme reflected in the video. It’s just A DIY set. Brandon Hibbert (Ichi Sound, Gran Tourismo) put a lot of work into making it cool, adding interesting effects to make it cohesive and really bring the project together. “It might seem like I’m just joking about strange topics but I am actually trying to underscore certain points,” Warpigs says. “I want people to be aware of how fucked up and shitty and weird and awful life can be for other people. It’s easier to point fingers at each other and tear each other down than it is to look at yourself critically. You have to do that before you can actually accomplish anything real. You have to know yourself before the bad times come, or you’ll just fall for the next line of bullshit.”

There’s definitely a lot of social commentary with a subject like this, people not feeling like they are worth anything in this world. You look at stuff like unemployment rates. Young people and people in general don’t feel like they can engage with society and go out and get a job. It’s depressing, and it’s a really dark side of life. These kids graduate and spend all this money on college and can’t get anything more than a minimum wage job. It’s discouraging to them and it’s a really shitty situation.

The whole ‘NEET wave’ is becoming more of a thing, and it’s not by choice. People are forced into these positions. They can’t get hired for one reason or another and it tears people down mentally. It effects their sense of self-worth. Having an outlet like music that people can go and listen to is essential. Human kind needs venues that people can be a part of and be more of a community instead of being forced to just stay home and be miserable.

Scott Mitting is a writer, musician, promoter, producer, and general Phoenix art scene enthusiast since 2015, though he became yet another midwest transplant to Phoenix in 2001. He currently curates the PHX SUX experimental noise event series Night of Neuralgia, the Chaos System’s Operation Noise Toaster experimental jam sessions, and various events for the Church of Crunkinology.

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