There were Mods, rockabillies, psychobillies, surf punks, indie rockers, metalheadz and Uniqlo/Gap kids. There were 12-year-old girls, 40-year-old salarymen, 18-year-old boys, young couples with toddlers and at least one very pregnant woman.

Decked out in Thee Michelle Gun garb, fans share the love.

Such is the draw of Thee Michelle Gun Elephant, who were kicking off the first show of their "Rodeo Tandem Beat Specter" tour Saturday at Tokyo's Akasaka Blitz.

For the past 10 years, this mongrel of a band has stood at the junction of all things "rock" -- a very busy crossroads, with a direct connection to the mainstream -- and there they have posted signs: "Route Sham 69/This Exit," "5 km to MC5."

Which is to say this band has influence -- equal and reciprocal to the influences they claim themselves. Their sound has attracted lovers of rock in its purest form, while introducing its precedents to another generation.

Misako Suzuki, a 24-year-old part-time worker, is typical of the band's converts.

"I'd never seriously listened to foreign bands until I read a magazine article where Michelle listed some of their influences," said Suzuki, the buttons on her military parka reading The Who, The Jam, etc.

"Given their knowledge of music, it's obvious Michelle are devoted music fans themselves, which makes them attractive to a wide range of people."

Which is why Blitz was packed to its capacity of 1,900 for both of its weekend shows and Suzuki was forced to wait outside, holding a sign begging for an extra ticket.

Inside, the veterans prepared for mayhem. It was what was expected, and the kids knew the drill. After changing into proper moshing gear, two 17-year-olds, fans "since age 12," double-knot their shoelaces before plunging into the crowd. Towels, many bearing the band's logo, are wrapped just so around necks.

With the cupped hands of friends and the shoulders of strangers serving as catapults, the faithful launched themselves, willing human bombs, at their target: the feet of their ax-slinging heroes.

Lucky for them this image of gig as war is just a metaphor. The gutter between band and masses was cushioned -- meaning the crowd-surfers could land square on the head, exit stage left and, in an instant, be back in the loop.

Over the course of the nearly 20-song set, there was an impressive give and take of energy between the band and fans, a call and response between an audience that knew all the lyrics by heart and a band that knew every trick.

Under a cloud of vaporized sweat, the many tribes of TMGE raised their fists as one.