On December 30, 2013, KIYOHARU gave a shocking, never-before seen performance of an incredible nine hours, playing a total of 69 songs.
Surely, just to see that number in association with a concert is rare, but leaving even more of an impression is the grand spectacle created by KIYOHARU, his band members, and the fans; for this, we hope to express the beauty of the night through the following report.
Once again this year, the traditional live performance to mark the end of the year took place at Osaka's Nanba Hatch. With every new year, the length of the performance, the number of songs performed, and the stage itself is made even better than the previous year. Last year's concert also showed a formidable performance of 64 songs, for a total of seven hours of music.
Expectations were high that 2013's show, too, would surpass that of the previous year. More than anything, the year-end performance in Osaka would mark the tenth year of this tradition, and KIYOHARU had mentioned at the last show that “[he supposed] it would be a farewell to this stage of his career”, so there was the idea that this performance would be even more special than any of the ones before.
From the first song “JUDIE”, there was no indication that they intended to go easy for this performance. Even thinking that is normal for KIYOHARU, it was already clear that he intended to surpass the seven hour concert he gave last year. Even so, in his usual style, he wasn't even thinking of being kind to himself and holding back, being careful to preserve his strength or showing concern for the condition of his throat as he drove the audience to madness with a mixture of old and new songs one after the other: “Taihai Gallery”, “mellow”, “Samidare”.
Just as one would think that he was showing a seductive face, embracing the room with a kind voice, “Ilyd” and “devil” were next in the list, so dangerously violent that even those on the second floor of the venue were dripping with sweat from the heat coming from below.
Then, the first part ended at song #25, “LAW'S”. Though it would be equal to an average performance to end the show at this point, KIYOHARU just left briefly with the casual words, “See you a little later.”
The second part of the performance began with the powerful rising beats of “groover” bringing the whole crowd together once again. Though it was the second part, it was still just the opening gambit in a long set yet to come. The band members, too, introduced comfortable banter in the middle of a vast variety of songs: “Did you all eat a good dinner? There's still more to come!” The 38th song in total was a new song, introduced as a planned track for their next album. The venue erupted at the news that work on a new solo album was to begin in 2014.
Then from the 41st song, the show took off in a different direction from the band style showcased to that point, changing to the acoustic style that had been showcased several times in 2013 at shows at Tokyo's Mt.RAINIER HALL as part of the “MONTHLY PLUGLESS” series. With “UNDER THE SUN” and “Yami” coloring the venue with their beautiful guitar melodies, KIYOHARU's singing rang through the vast space. Reaching everywhere there was to reach, even after singing 40 songs, his voice still had resonance behind it. Then, with “Hikari”, the atmosphere changed to one of light overcoming darkness, clear upon the stage.
The crowd cheered warmly to the 45th song, KIYOHARU's cover of DEAD END's “The Godsend”. Showing his deep love and respect for the band, he showed yet another new aspect to his character through his own unique expression of the song's view.
Turning toward the middle of the second section of the set list, he continued with songs that showed his view of the world in varying approaches, ending the day's main set along with the voice of the audience on the 48th piece of the evening, “COME HOME”.
The encore, beginning with “Kaigansen”, brought the performance into a fourth dimension. It was unclear if a lot of his energy had just been taken away, but even though he sang from time to time sitting in a chair, his voice didn't falter. It was as if he was allowing us to see just how deeply profound of a voice he still had. “I can still sing,” KIYOHARU reassured the audience, nearly cracking a smile as they chanted his name, wanting to hear more. As if to answer them, he turned up the heat on the floor with “confusion”, and charmed the crowd with the vast expressions of “Rinne” and “MELODIES”.
Then came some very important information for the fans, as the MC began with the band's look back over the year but then turned to the scheduled KUROYUME concert to occur on Jan. 29 at Nippon Budokan.
KIYOHARU, who had until this point been evasive in regards to any information about a return to activity for KUROYUME, was clear when he expressed to the crowd, “The next show at Budokan will be the last performance at Budokan for me as KUROYUME.”
In an instant, the floor hummed. However, immediately after, he continued to express his true feelings: “Whether as KUROYUME, SADS, or as KIYOHARU the solo artist, nothing about me has or will change.” In him, there is KUROYUME, but SADS, as well. Surely, in the middle of all those performances is undoubtedly KIYOHARU himself. No matter the name under which he performs, he always is able to express his gratitude for the fans who look forward to his live concerts, and told them he would like them to come with him looking toward the future.
During the fourth encore, the 64th total song of the evening “HORIZON” put this concert at the same number of songs as last year's performance, but at that point he announced his intent to surpass even this large number, saying, “I'll do five more songs after this.” However, even though the original plans for the day scheduled the concert to end at 67 songs, he suddenly added performances of “ID POP” and “DEPRAVITY DAY”, saying that he still had some of his voice left, so he still wanted to sing.
Even if his body started looking tired, he wanted to sing until his voice reached its limit. He did not only express this in his singing, but also in his words, over and over again to the audience before him. One could feel the beauty in watching him up on stage, crying out again and again, “I love you”, “Thank you”.
Expressing his gratitude to his fans until the very end, he finally moved into the final song for the day, “Ano Uta wo Utatte”. The concert, a voice-breaking total of 69 songs, finally came to a close.
After the performance had ended, the crowd called out the names of those who had given them such a long show, and applauded loudly. Moreover, OSAKA UDO's Mr. Nakanishi, who has made these long Osaka shows possible over the last ten years, was then invited to the stage for a warm mutual embrace. “Without him, I wouldn't have been able to do this show,” KIYOHARU mentioned. It's very rare for an artist to invite any of the staff who work behind-the-scenes onto the stage. Even so, the audience clearly understood the fact that there are staff behind the scenes that also make performances possible. It is not just KIYOHARU who creates these performances, but also the band members, staff, and audience; for the star of the show to express this openly, even as they all left the stage, he kept waving to every last person, until he could no longer be seen.
As the final instrumental track that told the end of the show began to play, looking at one's watch, unbelievably, it was almost four in the morning. It was truly an amazing feat, a nine hour stage performance; a length often unseen even at large music festivals.
And, more than anything, the bright, earnest expressions of the fans who would never forget being a part of this unforgettable performance that took ten years to create, the satisfaction of being an eyewitness to KIYOHARU's stage that day, were most impressive of all.
