Saturday, February 1, 2014

Kameleo's Two-Year Anniversary Two-Day Performance


On January 11, Kameleo held a performance at Nippon Seinenkan entitled "Kameleo 2shuunen 2Days Kinen Live 'Mecha x2 Minasan no Okage Deshita! ~Kinensai~." On the previous day at Ikebukuro BlackHole, they performed "Mecha x2 Minasan no Okage Deshita! ~Shidoubi~" to a completely packed audience, creating a wild and enthusiastic atmosphere. On the first day, they returned to their origins before moving to the venue Nippon Seinenkan for the second day's performance. On the day of the performance, the members were worried about whether or not they could sell out the venue, but in the end, they received power from the audience in the totally packed venue and took on the challenge of doing their first-ever performance at a hall.


After screening a digest video looking back on the activities of their second year as well as comment videos from the members expressing their gratitude toward the fans and their enthusiasm about the day's performance, a sound effect track began to play. The curtain slowly opened and the lights flamboyantly began to flicker. As the tension gradually began to rise, the music changed abruptly to the intro of "↑Agete Ikou Uta↑" and vocalist HIKARU. took the stage alone.

Among a chorus of cheers, he began a call and response with the audience before guitarist Takashi and bassist Kouichi appeared on the left side of the stage and drummer Takeshi and guitarist Daisuke appeared on the right side of the stage. As the song began, the members rushed into the guest seating all at once, instantly raising the excitement in the room. The members and fans danced together and the floor whirled with wild enthusiasm as Kameleo began the performance in their usual unpredictable fashion.

The performance was ever changing, featuring a section in the middle of the show entitled "Member Solo Death Match." During this section, they performed songs from their newest mini-album "5/5," which features songs that are written and sung by each of the five members. Furthermore, the songs were not performed by the Kameleo members, but by a support band with one Kameleo member singing, making it a true solo performance for each member. According to Takeshi, it was the "Ill-Advised Corner."

Prior to the start of this portion of the show, they screened a video of them selves imitating joining a pro-wrestler's dressing room, and a reporter (Kameleo's manager) posed the question, "What should we do if the vocalist loses to the other members?" Vocalist HIKARU. appeared onstage again along with the famous line from Antonio Inoki, "Are there people who think about losing before they even start?!" Takeshi found himself unable to avoid a punch in the face from the reporter and Daisuke disguised himself as a mysterious foreign wrestler and babbled incoherently, getting close to their manager while getting angry with him for gaining more Twitter followers. Kouichi promised to kiss them in the fashion of a certain trio of performers, Takashi did impressions of Antonio Inoki, and the members generally did anything they wanted as much as they liked. They livened up the audience by showing their ability to be performers in a way uncharacteristic of a visual-kei band.

Following they roars of laughter, the first performer in the "Member Solo Death Match" corner was Takeshi. He performed the pop-punk up-tempo tune "Super☆Bones," using all of his stamina and hopping all over the stage. Next was Takashi with his electro-dance number "Uso Bakkari." Accompanied by sexy dancers, Takashi also danced magnificently, brilliantly completing a back handspring during the interlude and exciting the audience with a performance unexpected from a guitarist. Among the up-tempo songs, Kouchi appeared onstage to perform his medium ballad "Futekisetsu na Kankei," which he wrote about forbidden love. He sang beautifully, his voice full of emotion as he clung to the microphone stand. Following this was a performance of the song "Catharsis" by Daisuke, who changed the atmosphere back to one of aggressive rock. Calls of "Oi!" broke out in the audience in response to his rough shouts, completely riling up the crowd. The final performer of the "Member Solo Death Match" corner was vocalist HIKARU. During the middle of his four-on-the-floor, danceable, techno-pop song "(p´^`)σ Tsun Tsun," he stepped down from the stage and dashed through the guest seats. He successfully distinguished himself as the band's front man, showing a different character from that of the other members.

Among the varied contents of the performance, the venue was filled with feelings of happiness from beginning to end. But before the end of the show, the members began to speak about their current feelings. About the fact that they didn't think they could make it so far in just two years. About how they felt that, although the band had only been about the members in the past, it had become something that belonged to everyone through the influence of many people. About how they are becoming a completely different thing that the sort of band they idealized as children, but that what they are doing is enjoyable anyway. They addressed the crowed with their honest reflections on the band.

Prior to forming Kameleo, the same five members had been active under a different band name. That band was not very successful, and the atmosphere of the band became despondent, leading to their eventual breakup. But even though they had given up once, after a lot of worrying, they decided to try to chase their dream one more time with the same five members. Their last number of the night, "5/5," was a song that is about their feelings during that time and their hopes for the future. As the disco ball turned, the venue seemed to be enveloped in a storm of falling cherry blossoms. Some members of the band looked carefully through the guest seats while the eyes of some grew wet with tears, all the members feeling gratitude as they delivered their poignant last song to the audience.

"Kameleo isn't like other rock bands who say, 'Follow us!' Please help us make this band grow!" said vocalist HIKARU. following the end of the performance. His words were met by great applause and cheering, bringing and end to their approximately three-hour performance.

Kameleo, who brought their second year as a band to a close in a touching way, also announced their future schedule. First, they will be holding a performance on February 11 at Takadanobaba AREA entitled "HIKARU. Seitansai 'Ketsu Ago★NIGHT'." The live was secretly booked by the other members without saying anything to HIKARU, the surprise announcement coming as the song "NEET Hime" played. HIKARU. was unable to hide his surprise as leader Kouichi declared, "We have to earn a living!" with an amused expression. Also, on April 2, Kameleo will be releasing a double A-side single entitled "♪La la la♪/Jikyuu 850 yen." Following the release of the single, they will be going on a nationwide tour that consists of 23 performances in 22 different places. The long tour will be titled "Ai ni Iku Bandoman."

The first performance of the "Ai ni Iku Bandoman" tour will be held at Shinjuku BLAZE on April 11. On that day, Kameleo will be distributing a documentary DVD free of charge which includes backstage footage from "Mecha x2 Minasan no Okage Deshita!" They are also currently planning a project to go along with the tour. Kameleo's strength will only continue to grow as they enter their third year. 

The advance ticket reservation for the "Ai ni Iku Bandoman" tour began on January 12. Purchase details can be found at "BARKS x TICKET DELI."

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