Mix Speaker’s,Inc.2014-Summer Pandemonium ~Mix Speaker's,Inc.&2 Guest Vocal~ at Shibuya WWW

Visual kei band Mix Speaker’s,Inc. are at a crossroads in their career. Their unique musical style featuring two vocalists has made a strong impact on the visual music scene since their debut on 2006. However, the vocalist YUKI departed from the band after a live show at Tokyo’s Akasaka Blitz on April 19th. The question was how the band would carry on after losing one of their trademark twin vocalists. The answer was the announcement of the one-man tour Summer Pandemonium ~Mix Speaker’s,Inc.&2 Guest Vocal~ featuring two guest singers: BAKU (ex. Hana Shounen Baddies) and ANGEL-TAKA (UCHUSENTAI:NOIZ). This final at Tokyo’s Shibuya WWW was the fifth show of a tour that started July 30th. Despite the lack of clarity regarding Mix Speaker’s,Inc.’s future, the show was sold out, and Shibuya WWW was packed to capacity with fans hoping to support the next chapter of their beloved band.

Mix Speaker’s,Inc. stepped out onstage with guest vocalists ANGEL-TAKA and BAKU to rapturous applause. The seven musicians lined up on the stage, holding only hand mics and penlights. Right away, fans realized what the opening song must be: ONESTAR. All members sang in turn and danced with fans in unified choreography, cheerfully waving around their penlights. The colorful circles of lights created a fantastic atmosphere in the venue. During the song, bassist seek and drummer S, both decked out in cartoonish costumes, hit the floor with freestyle raps. Massively different from an ordinary rock band, Mix Speaker’s,Inc. showed their unique style from the very beginning. BAKU left the stage as the band members finally took up their instruments.

For the first part of the show, frontman MIKI, dressed in a pirate costume, was joined on vocals by the red-haired rock star ANGEL-TAKA. In the second song Death Parade, they sang in perfect harmony, sounding as if they’d been singing together for years. ANGEL-TAKA captured everyone’s attention so naturally as if he was the band’s lead singer – he looked to enjoy dancing together with the fans, even shaking his hips for them at one point. “Hello, everyone! It has been a great tour, and today is the final! By the way, I’m not some middle-aged AKB48 dude!” said ANGEL-TAKA, making everyone laugh, “And what about the message on the flowers the guys from my own band sent to this final!?” “Well, it thanked us for taking good care of Taka!” replied MIKI, and fans once again burst into laughter. However, MIKI made sure to thank ANGEL-TAKA, who‘d so generously agreed to support Mix Speaker’s,Inc., even though his own band UCHUSENTAI:NOIZ was in the middle of nationwide tour across all 47 prefectures of Japan. Then, the two vocalists had fans jump around left and right during the fifth song YOU♪AI♪MESSAGE.

For the second part of the show, ANGEL-TAKA departed, leaving MIKI as the only singer onstage. He confessed that out of habit, he unconsciously positioned himself as if another singer were standing beside him. However, his bandmates did not let their vocalist stand alone. seek, as if assuming the role of second lead singer, stirred fans with his deep backing vocals and powerful shouts during THIRTEEN and No,5 COASTER. Fans violently headbanged whilst guitarist AYA played a guitar solo at the center. His fellow guitarist keiji tightened the rhythm with his heavy guitar strokes. Despite the lack of a second singer, the band still shook the floor without any sense of awkwardness.

Later, second guest singer BAKU joined the band onstage. Like Mix Speaker’s,Inc., BAKU was also in search of the next step of his musical career as his band Hana Shounen Baddies, with whom he’d spent nearly a decade, went on an indefinite hiatus back in June. Yet, showing no hesitation, BAKU projected his sweet high tone voice from the first song Urameshi Yashiki as he danced with MIKI with Japanese folding fans. In response, the audience created a spectacular view on the floor by moving folding fans they brought for the show. Then, the band and BAKU gave the fans another treat by performing Moonlight Densetsu, the theme of the popular anime “Bishoujo Sensi Sailor Moon”. This hard rock version of the song, with a thunderous drum beat and breathtaking harmony, completely dazzled fans. “Thank you for accepting me so warmly. I have been able to become close with each member of the band, and I wish I could continue with the tour more”, BAKU showed his gratitude to Mix Speaker’s,Inc.’s fans, who could’ve had difficult feelings towards guest singers. The last song SCREAM go AROUND filled the venue with an explosive energy, and seek even stage dived. “Thank you!” BAKU shouted at the end of the song.

Shortly after, the band returned for the encore. Each member shared his feeling with fans. “I would like to thank all members and fans of UCHUSENTAI:NOIZ as well as BAKU. We will carry on with our band career, so please wait for our next move”, said keiji to fans. Then, seek said, “I really would like to call ANGEL-TAKA and BAKU as our own members, just for today. Although we have no announcement to make today, we are creating new songs at this moment. Of course, we will continue to treasure the songs we crafted over the last 7 years”. Finally, MIKI spoke to fans, “The whole tour was a great experience for us. We’ve been able to learn how to move on as a band of five.”

However, MIKI brightened the mood with his next announcement. “You know there’s actually another band called S with Mix Speaker’s,Inc. that only appears when someone is having a birthday”, he said with a teasing smile on his face. The band invited BAKU onstage, whose birthday is on August 15th. S with Mix Speaker’s,Inc. - literally Mix Speaker’s,Inc. featuring drummer S as a lead singer - performed a birthday song for BAKU and even celebrated by giving him a birthday cake. The overwhelmed birthday boy was a bit shaken with surprise: “I never saw this coming. I would like to return as your guys’ rival as soon as possible”. Shortly after, ANGEL-TAKA returned to the stage. A good senior of the band, Taka gave the fans a heartfelt message: “Only you guys can stand by Mix Speaker’s,Inc.’s side so please continue to support them.” With three singers onstage once more, the septet closed the show with the last number Shiny Tale. As if filled with a strong hope for the future, the band bade farewell to their fans with bright smiles.


Set List

〜TAKA & MIKI〜

1.ONESTAR
2.Death Parade
3.誘ワク星リズム - Yuuwakusei Rhythm
4.センチメンタルドロップキック- Sentimental Drop Kick
5.YOU♪愛♪メッセージ - YOU♪AI♪Message

〜MIKI solo〜

6.Secret No, 5
7.A devilish teacher MIKI Voice
8.THIRTEEN
9.No,5 COASTER

〜BAKU & MIKI〜

10.うらめし屋敷 - Urameshi Yashiki
11.ムーンライト伝説 - Moonlight Densetsu
12.Space Hunter
13.Pandora
14.SCREAM go AROUND

Encore

〜TAKA & BAKU & MIKI〜

15.MONSTIME
16.Shiny tale