HOTEI gets the New York crowd to raise their beer bottles in the air.
HOTEI graced Highline Ballroom in New York City on July 15th, drawing a crowd of various ages. This performance marked the second US performance in his tour following the release of his first international debut album, Strangers.
Answering the crowd’s anticipation, the concert opened with HOTEI's tall, long-legged figure entering the stage and immediately commanding everyone’s attention, strumming away to New Chemical. His intense gaze and soulful playing enraptured the crowd. Groovy guitar riffs and the smooth bass rhythm filled the hall. This was then followed by the edgy rock tune How the Cookie Crumbles, heightening the energy of the crowd. Although Iggy Pop wasn’t there to sing the song, HOTEI performed it with enough grittiness to get the New York crowd to raise their beer bottles in the air.
He then greeted the audience after these first two songs were finished, “Time goes by so fast!” It has been three years since HOTEI has played in New York City. He followed with several more songs from the Strangers album, an eclectic mix of edgy heavy rock, electro, dance, and futuristic instrumental tracks. Although the album is a collaboration with other well known artists such as Iggy Pop and Richard Z. Kruspe from Rammstein, HOTEI proved he was more than able to carry his own with his three-piece band!
HOTEI's instrumental pieces, such as Black Ships, mesmerized the audience with its mix of groovy riffs and a beautiful guitar melody. Barrel of My Own Gun , written by both Noko and HOTEI, had a rhythmic hypnotic quality to it and the audience stood transfixed as Noko sang the main versus of the song. An eerie calm took over the cozy hall during this song.
In the small and intimate space, HOTEI connected with the audience every few songs. He promoted his new album, and reflected how he “felt like he was starting like new again”, performing in much smaller venues in the UK and US than in his native Japan. His skill and musicianship however is anything but new, and his passion and emotion were palpable with each song he played. It felt special seeing this legendary musician in this type of venue, where you can feel Noko's and Cliff's drums reverberating in your chest.
HOTEI also switched out guitars between different songs, bringing with them a different mood and character. With one he enraptured fans with his beautiful guitar melodies such as the Medusa. When he brought out his signature black and white patterned Zodiac TC-Hotei Telecaster, it brought on a loud cheer from the crowd, as well as excited fist pumping when he played crowd favorite vocal songs such as classics from his BOØWY days, BAD FEELING and Dreamin’.
The audience broke out laughing as he joked, “The world’s number one 'Kill Bill' cover!” in reference to the song popularly known as Battle without Honor or Humanity, which many don’t know is written by him. In the encore he played an amazing, crowd pumping cover of the Mission Impossible theme. Although they are older songs of his, it was great to end the live with familiar, high energy songs.
Overall it was a very impressive, energetic live and the set list had a diverse mix of old classics and new songs from Strangers. It definitely leaves one wanting to hear and see more from this talented artist.
Set List
01. New Chemical
02. How the Cookie Crumbles
03. Medusa
04. Sphinx
05. Blackships
06. Barrel of My Own Gun
07. Strangers
08. Materials
09. Into the Light
10. Battle Without Honor or Humanity
11. Bad Feeling
Encore
12. No New York
13. Dreamin'
14. Mission Impossible
