VISUAL JAPAN SUMMIT 2016 Day 2: Part 2

heidi. - VISUAL STAGE


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VISUAL JAPAN SUMMIT 2016 was only halfway through when the tenth performing band heidi. started to play their first song Utakata on the VISUAL STAGE. The crowd swayed along with the song’s catchy melody and groove. During Omaesan the band entertained fans with their skilful mixture of different styles of music. Vocalist YOSHIHIKO wowed fans by sometimes adopting a kobushi singing style, which is used in enka music, in the midst of this hard hitting and danceable track. The crowd really appreciated the catchy, cleverly constructed song structure which is easy to dance to.

DEZERT - JAPAN STAGE


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The next band on the JAPAN STAGE, DEZERT, changed the atmosphere in the venue by blasting the crowd with the ominous and aggressive song Satsui. “Come closer!” vocalist Chiaki shouted at crowd in the midst of stinging, heavy guitar sounds and pounding drum beats. The song of blood lust had the crowd moshing left and right. The band’s violent sound brought the crowd into the song’s disturbed mindscape during Houchou no tadasjii tsukaikata 〜shuusokuhen. The frenzied vocalist actually stepped off the stage during the song, leaning forward on the stage barrier to stir up the crowd.

hide with Spread Beaver - SUMMIT STAGE


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After enjoying the performances of two contrasting bands, the crowd moved to the SUMMIT STAGE to witness the return of the legendary hide with Spread Beaver. hide’s signature model guitar, with its yellow guitar body and headstock with small heart shapes, was placed at the centre of the stage. An ovation rose when footage of hide with Spread Beaver in the dressing room started to roll on the stage screen. The footage continued, showing the band members making their way to the stage. Bassist CHIROLYN, percussionist I.N.A., keyboardist DIE, guitarist K.A.Z, guitarist KIYOSHI and drummer JOE gathered together on the same stage again, eight years since the hide memorial summit in 2008. hide’s comrades are now all prominent figures in the Japanese music scene.

The show started out with ROCKET DIVE. hide’s voice and video played during the band’s performance. The zealous sound produced by each band member showed that hide with Spread Beaver were here to blow away the 35,000-strong crowd. The music and voice of a futuristic charisma with pink hair on the screen was met with enthusiastic applause at VISUAL JAPAN SUMMIT 2016. “We have not changed,” hide spoke to the crowd before BEAUTY & STUPID. This kinky rock ’n’ roll freak show shook the venue with its ecstatic melodic line of heavy guitar strokes and rhythmic drum beats. KIYOSHI making steps while playing the guitar reminded some fans of good, old memories they had with the band.

The crowd were awed when they saw YOSHIKI’s piano carried on to the stage near hide’s guitar. YOSHIKI was welcomed by a huge ovation as he sat on the piano chair. Sounds of YOSHIKI’s piano and hide’s voice met each other beyond time and space during GOOD BYE with hide’s images appearing on the stage screen. The song’s lyrics and hide’s voice gently encouraged listeners not to be afraid and to move on together with YOSHIKI’s piano accompaniment. The live performance by YOSHIKI and hide deeply resonated with everyone in the venue.

“Thank you for your long and unchanging support for hide,” YOSHIKI took time to speak after the song. YOSHIKI thanked hide’s family for carrying on his legacy and each member of Spread Beaver for playing music live as if hide was still alive. “Let’s do one more song. Are you ready!?” YOSHIKI asked, now taking a duplicate of hide’s signature guitar, and PINK SPIDER started to play. YOSHIKI joined hide, backing him during the chorus. YOSHIKI moved around the stage during the song and played the guitar next to each band member. Having said it all through his heartfelt performance, YOSHIKI left the stage.

Through his musical composition and guitar techniques like no other, hide created an explosive call and response during DOUBT. The band members’ powerful playing blew the capacity crowd away. “I know you guys want more. Let me play more!” hide’s shout stirred the crowd. ever free’s excitement was followed by another surprise. “I believe he is happy in heaven,” bassist CHIROLYN said, and he introduced guest guitarist PATA. hide and PATA, two of the best guitarists of all time, thrilled fans with a joint solo. PATA played next to hide’s guitar at centre stage. hide with Spread Beaver created a new legend at VISUAL JAPAN SUMMIT 2016.

Kameleo - JAPAN STAGE


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Later, Kameleo had their show on the JAPAN STAGE. The band immediately brightened up the crowd with their new song Unmei kaika Disco. The band actually brought two back-up dancers in costumes of Princess NEET and a pizza delivery man on stage during their popular song NEET Hime. In the middle of the song, the playful band made the crowd laugh by treating them with surprise presents. “We brought super spicy retort pouch curries for you guys. We attached pouches on beach balls so that we can throw them to you. Please don’t get angry with the spicy curry and go home!” vocalist HIKARU said. He was actually referring to one of the legends of YOSHIKI, who cancelled the rehearsal of a show and went home because the curry served to him that day was too hot. The crowd stayed until the last song Banzai Music!, in which the members took turns on vocals and danced around as if they were a boy band.

SID - SUMMIT STAGE


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The fourteenth band of the day, SID, emerged on the SUMMIT STAGE. The acoustic guitar intro by Shinji started Monochrome no Kiss, which was featured as the theme song of popular anime series "Kuroshitsuji". The ensemble of three instrumentalists and handsome vocalist Mao’s sweet voice enraptured the crowd. SID’s stylish sound had them swaying during cosmetic. Aki’s groovy bass line and Yuuya’s drum beat, the lilting cutting guitar sounds and seductive vocals made a sensual chemistry. The band continued to impress the crowd with their profound musical skills during jazzy song Toge to neko, in which Mao showed a sexy look of biting a little finger of his hand. “Visual kei would prevail if this summit succeeded. Are you ready?” Mao stirred the crowd before the last song Memai. Mao rocked the crowd with his passionate vocals during this hard rock number. The crowd’s voices joined Aki and Yuuya’s powerful shouts, while Shinji played a guitar solo on his knees. SID empowered the future of visual kei.

HYDE and YOSHIKI - SUMMIT STAGE


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Anticipation filled the venue before the start of a miraculous collaboration of two of the most beautiful and legendary figures in the visual kei scene: HYDE and YOSHIKI. Cheers reverberated throughout the venue when YOSHIKI started to play L'Arc~en~Ciel’s song MY HEART DRAWS A DREAM on the SUMMIT STAGE. HYDE asked the crowd to sing along with the chorus and 35,000 fans’ voices joined the dream duo. “Thank you for coming,” YOSHIKI said to HYDE. “Thank you for inviting me. It’s overwhelming to be on the same stage with YOSHIKI,” HYDE replied. “Why don’t we take some selfies?” YOSHIKI asked and held HYDE around the shoulders to take a selfie with the capacity crowd in the background. “Let’s do one more song,” YOSHIKI said, sitting on a piano chair again. The second and final song was X JAPAN’s Say Anything. A heavenly encounter of YOSHIKI’s piano melody with HYDE’s intoxicatingly glamorous falsetto voice mesmerised the capacity crowd.

“Does L'Arc~en~Ciel have a signature hand sign like 'X'?” YOSHIKI asked HYDE after the song. “Ah, I guess something like this?” HYDE made an “L” sign with his fingers. Then, the two beautiful men posed with “L” signs. Their unforgettable performance and photogenic posture of cuteness overload left the crowd stunned.

Read VISUAL JAPAN SUMMIT 2016 Day 2: Part 1 at http://www.jame-world.com/us/articles-123274-visual-japan-summit-2016-day-2-part-1.html.

Read VISUAL JAPAN SUMMIT 2016 Day 2: Part 3 at http://www.jame-world.com/us/articles-123483-visual-japan-summit-2016-day-2-part-3.html.