“Shibuya Public! You're all here! This is the solo show of the year! Let's finish it out strong! Okay? Let's start and end today singing. Sing with those loud voices for me!!”
The performance on December 30 at Shibuya Public Hall would be the grand final performance of HERO's first major solo tour “Opening”, and their first solo performance in a large hall. Adding the bold subtitle “Live House Shibuya Public Hall e Yokoso!” caused a frankly surprising reaction of wonder as to just what kind of show they would put on, but the thing that should have been the most surprising of all was the four members's efforts to create an actual live house by, rather than using the chairs at the front of the venue, deciding to actually perform in the first half of the venue itself.
Though perhaps out of nervousness performing for the first time in a large hall, one can easily say that HERO caught on to the atmosphere of the venue from the start. From the very beginning, they played their freshly released second single “Eashi Uta”, during which vocalist JIN caused a huge chorus in the crowd by encouraging them with a “All of your voices, let me hear them!” Next, during “to you...”, everyone joined hands and jumped in the air together, and the band looked happy as well. Then came their hit anime theme song “Te no Hira”, where there was no sense of solidarity as the crowd dissolved into a mosh pit.
The lighting spread out as to make its own spectacle even in the second floor seating, but even more reliable was how the four members were standing their ground during their first hall performance below. JIN, showing leadership by saying confidently, “There's no need for us to be embarrassed here”, let the crowd hear his high-toned vocals; the band sound of guitarist SARSHI, bassist yu-ta, and drummer Yusuke rang out, and an overall solid performance gave an impression with no hint of disorder. The main focus became HERO's straightforward, soulful melodies. Certainly, the hurdles a group with even this much of a foundation had to clear in order to debut were surely high, but for this vocalist and three-piece ensemble to be here now after coming out of their indies period speaks to their true abilities.
Then, they excited the audience with their penchant for quick-witted abuse. Expressing their gratitude for so many people to have gathered on this day which also marked the day of HERO's first solo performance, they laughed saying, “We're getting really annoyed by you guys up on the second floor looking down on us,” and excited the crowd: “Today, our mothers and fathers have come to see us. It's the first time we've asked them to come!” From there, they were properly respectful by telling a story about when their parents took them out for a crab dinner, exposing the shy nature of their fathers in the restaurant in front of everyone. After relaxing the venue completely, they then excited everyone again: “We'll get the one person who hasn't lost themselves to do it. Don't you leave anyone all on their own, okay?!” From the stage where flames were shooting up on either side, SARSHI and yu-ta switched positions and launched into an upbeat tune. JIN's new song “Red String” uses the common concept of “the red string of fate”, highlighting the band ensemble with its message, and fitting in to the live performance perfectly; by following it with their debut single “Kotaeawase” and asking “Are you all ready for some headbanging?”, the show had totally given itself over to HERO's usual pace.
A set list that combined nostalgic numbers from their indies period and new songs showed the story of HERO's journey. Also, they weren't showing their growth or how far they had come, but the passionate style that they had in the moment, surrounding Shibuya Public Hall with it.
If one plans to go to HERO's concerts, they must prepare (?) for JIN, who, while he sings heart-wrenching love songs, also brandishes his MCs. That day, as well, was a hot-and-cold game of picking on a crowd tired from headbanging, then suddenly sitting. The members themselves are not exempt from these kinds of games either, as once when they appeared on the TV program “Music Station”, they were just as unpredictable, using the stairs to practice how to go on stage, not really knowing what they were going to say next. Amongst all of this, something that really left an impression was their kindness in checking on the audience, asking them over and over, “Everyone, you're not tired, are you?”
In the last half, everyone danced around to their early tune with a lot of shouting, “This is Live!!”, silver streamers shot out from the stage during “Soutaiseiriron” amidst a yell of “Don't let yourself regret not getting into it now!” The crowd turned into a surging wave as the band broke into the hard tune “Tsubasa ga Orete Meikyuu ni Mayoikonda Shikkoku no Tenshi”, with the last tune of the evening, “Soprano” being called in with a shout of “Last, let's all join together with our song!! Let's all share our song together!!” The live house—Shibuya Public Hall—rang with everyone's singing voices.
Then, during the encore, everyone erupted in laughter as photos looking back at the first half of SARSHI's life appeared on the big screen. Through pictures of an adorable infant, voices yelling “No talent!” rang out; there were photos of him laughing as a junior high school student, as a dyed-blonde high schooler, covered in makeup from the time when he first started a band—but when pictures taken more recently started to appear, JIN took his own shot, saying, “You've gone back to junior high, haven't you?”
“Are you really still able to be that loud? Get those fists in the air!!” began the band's call into “Tsumi to Batsu”, where the crowd's calls became one; and the storm of headbanging from “Ningen Teigi”...a true spectacle, even breaking out into a crowd of waving.
However, HERO still had some strength left, as did their audience. For their double encore, they played their signature song “Choukageki Ai Uta”, and JIN passed on his final thoughts.
“Did you have fun? People often say that they excite their fans. However, we'll only say goodbye to all of you when we break up. It bothers us to say goodbye to all of you, you see? After all, all we can do is sing for those who believe in what we want to do. Because I don't want to keep writing songs that only we think are good. But, we'll be giving it our best, so keep coming out to see us!”
Taking in the applause and cheers from the crowd, their last song “Kazoeuta” was sung with the happiness of being able to meet the fans, and with many “thank you”s. The fans, too, listened intently to the song that was revealed to them as “the song that is a promise to you”.
As the curtain closed on an incredibly passionate performance, the words “See you again” appeared on the screen, with the announcement of a nationwide tour to begin in May 2014, its final performance scheduled for August 23 at Hibiya Open-Air Concert Hall. Also, it was revealed that a new album will be released in May to coincide with the tour.
The final mission of 2013, to turn Shibuya Public Hall into a live house, turned out to be a great success. We hope that HERO will take their passionate enthusiasm and fresh new sound through 2014.
No comments:
Post a Comment