"In the beginning, I had no interest in touring abroad," says Yoko, guitarist and vocalist with indie-rock outfit Noodles, who have toured the United States nine times over the last seven years. "Then in 2003, we opened for The Breeders in Osaka, and they told us, 'You really should come to play in the States'. That was the first time we started to think about it seriously, and we've been every year since then."

It's no surprise. Noodles are cut from the fabric of U.S. college radio. Their music pays a clear homage to the late-1980s and early-'90s U.S. and U.K. bands that preceded their formation, most notably bands from independent label 4AD: the guitar hooks of The Breeders, the tight rhythm of Pixies and the dreamy vocals of Lush. But although Yoko sings over half her songs in English, her vocals retain a melodic sensibility that is distinctly Japanese.

Originally a four-piece, Noodles formed in 1991 when Yoko, bassist Ikuno, drummer Ayumi and second guitarist Junko (they each go professionally by one name) had part-time jobs at the same music venue in Yokohama — Ayumi was the sound engineer; the others worked the bar. All four women had a taste for Western music: Aside from the aforementioned influences, Ayumi was inspired to take up drums by her love for Echo & The Bunnymen, though Ikuno's major muse was long-running Japanese experimental-rock band dip, whom she insists have "never made a bad album."