SID closed out their tenth anniversary year with the event "Visual BANG!~SID 10th Anniversary FINAL PARTY~" at Nippon Budokan on December 27. Along with SID, the event featured AYABIE, R-shitei, alice juban x steamgirls, Kameleo, ZORO, DIV, DaizyStripper, DOG inThe Parallel World Orchestra, ν[NEU], and Moran.
In honor of the tenth anniversary of their formation, SID put together various projects throughout the year. The live event "Visual BANG!~SID 10th Anniversary FINAL PARTY~" was the last project for SID's tenth anniversary year. SID and ten other artists performed at Nippon Budokan. These ten artists just simultaneously released ten cover singles, all of which were covers SID's famous song "Mousou Nikki." Naturally, the tickets for this live event sold out on the same day they went on sale. The eleven bands created an enthusiastic and passionate celebration for the audience who surrounded the stage on all sides.
As fans were entering the venue, the band EVE, who won the competition from the event "J-ROCK EXPLOSION 2013 Splendid Violent Emotion The Last Chapter" appeared onstage as the opening act. Because they won the fierce voting battle, they were able to appear as the opener for this large event, running through the gates with a brazen spirit and fresh power.
The first performer of the main event was DIV. They prefaced with the words, "Should we start? Let's do it in style!" As DIV began their performance with the cover song "Mousou Nikki," balls of flame rose from the stage and shouts of surprise burst forth from the audience. They enchanted the crowd with a technical performance that belied the fact that it has only been a year and a half since their formation. They shook the venue with "LOVE IS DEAD," which contains digital components characteristic of their style and attacked with the heavy song "ASTERIOS" before beginning their standard number, "Natsu no Yukue." Vocalist CHISA said, "It's the end of the year, but will you make it into summer inside the venue?" and in response the crowd simultaneously waved their towels, creating an invigorating summer wind. Their last song was "ZERO ONE," a magnificent track charged with a positive message, and they appealed to the audience with the momentum of their rising popularity using their heavy bass and magnificent staging.
The second performers, Kameleo, appeared onstage with a theme of a certain famous pro wrestler. Contrary to the expectation that they would make the audience laugh, they immediately jumped from guitarist Takashi's piano playing into their cover of "Mousou Nikki." During the second half of the song, it suddenly became a rock song to which fans can pump their fists, surprising the people who were watching. Then, during "Gomennasai!" all the members came to the front of the stage and stood in front of five microphone stands, dancing along with their dancers, a sensational sight. While they played "Kankei nai," which mixes headbanging and jumping, the five members held held their microphones in one hand and went out to the front of the stage. In "Dameo," vocalist HIKARU. waved a feathered fan as they put on a nonsensical performance. Kameleo is a band who has overcome the framework of a rock band, and they put together a bewildering stage performance in which "anything can happen," displaying a surreal presence. As is an established practice at their performances, drummer Takeshi ended their time onstage with a call of "Hanage!" ("Nose hairs!").
Undaunted, the next performers, ν[NEU], began with an unexpected song, a cover of SID's "Alibi." In the venue that was twinkling with rings of light, vocalist Mitsu's husky voice shined. When he asked, "Did we surprise you?" the audience had no choice but to take their hats off to the band's achievement. Guitar/vocalist KAYUU, who was wearing a sailor outfit, then asked "Can we make one event from 13,000 people?" He then explained the movements to the song "Mousou Seppun" and led the audience in doing them, creating a magnificent spectacle as the crowd became one. "Mousou Seppun" is a song that became a hot topic of conversation for the fact that the members dress in women's clothing and kiss in the music video. During their song "YES≒NO," during which the audience make a circle and an "x" with their hands and simultaneously jump, they also did a call-and-response with the audience that said, "Happy tenth anniversary SID!" leading the crowd's excitement to its climax. Lastly, they set off a feeling of happiness with the song, "The 25th Century Love," throughout which the audience swings their towels. They displayed their skill as performers in such a way that it was impossible to take one's eyes off of them.
As the event was progressing in an up-tempo way, Moran appeared onstage and swiftly diverted the event into a world of fleeting illusions. Vocalist Hitomi said, "We hope to make Moran's music soak into each and every person in this venue," and they performed the acoustic-type strong track, "Hika ni Nijimu." An atmosphere full of melancholy gently spread itself over Nippon Budokan. The next song, "Hollow Man," was a complete change, and all at once the audience raised their fists in the air. On the stage, the members interacted in a thrilling way, and even with such vehemence, they held an appeal that was something like tasting fine wine. After everyone congratulated SID on their tenth anniversary, they performed the song, "Bulbs," an invigorating tune that expresses a deep view of human life, following that up with the song "Fuyuubyou," a song that conceals red-hot fury beneath an air of gentleness. Along with Hitomi's poetic MCs, these profound feelings surely pierced into the depths of those who watched.
From the very start, DaizyStripper, who were dressed in Japanese-style clothing, dumbfounded the 13,000 people in the venue by performing SID's "Ao." The powerful and carefree a cappella from vocalist Yuugiri was overwhelming. They then launched into their cover of "Mousou Nikki," and the way that Yuugiri told the drag queen dancers, "Give me more!" was extremely erotic. With "MISSING," a love song told from a woman's point of view, and "STARGAZER," they freely demonstrated the catchy and melodic and aggressive world of DaizyStripper. During their last song, "STAY GOLD," guitarists Mayu and Nao stood back-to-back and performed an uplifting twin harmony, and Yuugiri declared, "We'll definitely bring you along when we hold a one-man performance here!" Finally, Nao collapsed onto the floor and played with all his might, and it was impossible to take one's eyes off of them.
ZORO began their performance in a unique way, with their electronic arranged, all-English cover of "Mousou Nikki." They were accompanied by white-clad dancers, and they created a mysterious atmosphere overflowing with the feeling of techno. At the same time, vocalist Ryuji was truly zealous, saying, "I'm standing here prepared to lose my voice." They then performed the new song "Hae," in which Tatsuhi's bass makes distinctive sounds while the fans wave their fists and their towels. ZORO followed this up Ryuji's roaring shouts in "Night Rider," and when Ryuji took off his outer outer wear, on his back was written "SID life." They joined their dancers again for the song "POLICE" before linking hands. And just as it seemed that their performance would come to an end, they announced, "We're going to do one more song!" and began the full-throttle headbanging number "Pest." The contrast between Tatsuhi coolly leaving the stage and Ryuji flopping down onto the floor was very interesting. It was a performance that was impossible to predict from beginning to end.
AYABIE brought the good points of their characteristic melodies to the forefront and put on a heart-warming performance. While whirling around, they began with their standard number, "Merry-go-round," and they followed it up with "Natsu, Yoru no Yume Hana to Chiru." The flow of the song between bass, guitar, and keyboard solos was magnificent. During the MC, vocalist Yumehito shared an unknown story, saying, "Mao has been very kind to me for a long time, and he always paid things for me." They then played, "Splash," with its overlay of powerful vocals on beautiful keyboard and a passionate band sound. "Splash" was followed by "Sakura Romance," bringing about a feeling of indescribable pain. AYABIE finished with the song "Niji," during which rainbow-colored lights illuminated the stage and everyone waved their hands. The crowd was happy to be enveloped in their aura of frank emotions.
Bathed in the light of laser beams, the members of the combined unit of alice juban and steamgirls took the stage wearing Jason masks and carrying chainsaws. As the sixteen members sang "Mousou Nikki," smoke burst out around the stage, and the gap between the the metal-pop sound of the song and their cute vocals stirred up a vague feeling of fear. Making a complete change, they performed the song "Daibouken☆," which features a rap, and the members occasionally revealed their faces beneath their masks. During the slightly dark song "AMATSUCHI," they shot laser beams out of their chainsaws, and while performing the final song, "Natsu da ne☆," they went down into the arena seats in inflatable boats. Overall, they surprised the rock-loving audience with their uninhibited performance that broke stereotypes of what an idol is.
At last, the event was reaching its finale. As it came time for R-shitei to take the stage, the Japanese national anthem "Kimigayo" played, the Japanese flags hanging inside Nippon Budokan matching perfectly with R-shitei's band concept. Continuing with their concept, they performed the song "Gyokusai Melancholy," full of salutes and raised hands. During "Mousou Nikki," vocalist Mamo asked the audience, "I'd be grateful if just right now, you'd call out 'Mamo-nyan' instead of 'Mao-nyan,'" and the venue was filled with shrill-voiced cheers. They rocked the audience with the song "Haran Banjou, Tsubaki Uta," which is overflowing with a Japanese feeling, and during "Aikoku Kakumei," the audience moshed back and forth in their rows of seats. R-shitei amplified the power of the thrumming, digital song with red lights and green laser beams, creating a feeling of madness in the blink of an eye.
The final band before SID was DOG inThe Parallel World Orchestra. They began with a special sound effect track mixing in the music of "Mousou Nikki," and then vocalist Haru sang "Mousou Nikki" while doing movements to the song. The audience all at once began to dance along while mimicking his movements. Next came the unprecedented song "Doggy's Party!!" in which all the members sing while playing their instruments. The members all came to the front of the stage, greeting the audience on all sides. They continued with "boomy boomy" which includes headbanging along with raised fists and hearts the audience make with their hands. Their sweet image continued to develop, but what really draws fans in to DOG's music is the way that a lethal dose of poison is stealthily mixed in with such dazzling pop music. The eccentric sound of "Halcion Candy" caused the audience to clap along with the beat, and DOG's out of the ordinary appearance was amazing.
The final performers of the day were of course the leading players, SID. As the four members appeared onstage, incredibly excited shouts shook the venue. When the first song, "Alibi," began 13,000 people jumped and rocked Nippon Budokan. SID continued with "Natsukoi" and "SENSE," the members moving all over the stage and exchanging smiles, their appearance relaxed and of course full of dignity. The feelings of grief and tension were palpable during the nostalgic number "Watashi wa Ame," and it was possible to feel the way that the band has evolved over ten years. They performed their new song "hug," which will be released on February 12 "as a thank you for so many people coming today." Their first performance of the song was melodic, and bassist Aki blew kisses at the audience before playing both new and old songs like "Dress Code" and "Noirowoze Party."
"We'll continue on like this, playing old songs and not abandoning 'SID.' What is 'old' to one person might be 'new' to another," said Mao.
A disco ball rotated during the newest single track, "ANNIVERSARY," and they shot gold and silver tape out to the audience, brilliantly celebrating their tenth anniversary. In a flash, the rhythm of Yuuya's drums began to sound, and they riled up the audience by introducing the members. As people began to realize what the next song would be, an excited call rose up in the audience. They performed "Junkan," in which the audience moved around in their seats and raised their hands up in the air, following it up with the song "Memai," in which Shinji's screeching guitar cut through the air. They also performed "Yoshigai manabu 17sai (mushoku)," which features Mao shouting in a crazy voice, and they turned the venue into chaos as they crazily performed a song from their early period. This special performance, comprised of everything from rare indies tracks to their newest single, was a perfect way to celebrate their tenth anniversary, and they enveloped Nippon Budokan in feelings of great joy. Following the performance, through a video they announced that following the single "hug," they will be releasing an album entitled "OUTSIDER" on March 12. And beginning in April, they will be holding a twenty-eight performance tour in twenty-one different cities including in Taiwan and Hong Kong. Aki's words of, "We'll continue to dash forward next year!" will certainly become a reality in 2014.
During the encore, they held a special session featuring the vocalists of all the groups. On the hectic stage, they performed "Mousou Nikki," and the vocalists crowded around Mao and highlighted his position in the center of the stage. Mao said, "Should we do one more song?" and Shinji stood on a platform and performed the intro to "Dear Tokyo." At that moment, the other members of the bands also joined the stage. They threw signed balls into the audience, everyone sharing in their joy at being present at such a place. Mao said, "This was the best! I want to do this next year, too!" and Yuuya said, "SID is really visual-kei. For the next fifteen years, I want to hear everyone say 'congratulations!'" The show was the end of their tenth anniversary, but it might also be the start of something new.
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