Hideki: Solo live in Ebisu Liquidroom

It was cold at night in the end of October when HIDEKI (ex. SIAM SHADE) had his solo live in Ebisu LIQUIDROOM. HIDEKI’s actions have always been shocking after SIAM SHADE’s sudden break up. Starting his solo career, he gathered unknown young musicians to make a brand new group ACID, and he gave the main vocal to a new member, Junpei, and left to start his solo career again, causing a storm among his many enthusiastic fans. HIDEKI hadn’t appeared on the stage for a while, so fans have been waiting for this special live for sometime. In the lobby, among T-shirts, towels, and CDs, 200 hand-written signs by HIDEKI himself with the words 'effort, perseverance and will-power' were sold as charity for Romanian AIDS children.

The live house was heated by the audience including many males. The sound effects, which HIDEKI made for the live, were mixed from the Japanese animation song 'DORAEMON!' The loop of the same part of this song irritated us more than we thought it was funny. The sound effects changed to cool music and the sound became loud, followed by complete darkness, after which members appeared on the stage. Masahide Sakuma, who produced HIDEKI’s new album, played guitar on the right side of the stage. Toshimitsu Nagai, who usually plays as a support member of the famous band GLAY and Kyosuke Himuro, played drums for HIDEKI. Yoshida played bass and Wakana played guitar on the left side of the stage.

The audience raised their fists up and shouted HIDEKI’s name. Next moment when HIDEKI appeared on the stage, we were lost for words. His appearance was so different from before; he had straight long hair dyed blue, complemented by make-up and an outfit similar to a visual rock group! HIDEKI looked so handsome as he looked dangerously at the audience. They became wild with joy to see HIDEKI and yelled! He was surprised at the big reaction at first, then couldn’t conceal his rapture.

The live started with The secret, Cosmic tourist, and Wonder wish, which is the hardest and loudest rock music in the Japanese rock scene. The live house heated up rapidly, with everyone jumping and singing together.

Then, came the songs of his new album. During Tokyo Souchi, which is a hard and progressive song, Toshi’s drums sounded powerful and heavy. This was followed by Mujun no PANORAMA and DNA, which had beautiful, impressive melodies. These songs were so dramatic that most of us had goose bumps.

The mood changed to a quiet ballad: Toki ga owaru made tada.... HIDEKI gave himself to this song. This ballad was excellent because his high voice spread well with vibration. We realized his great talent as a music composer and a vocalist.

Here came again his typical hard and heavy rock music with DIGITAL MASTER. The audience sang together with HIDEKI. Especially in the songs of Koe ni... and Shiny day, when he said "Let’s sing together", the audience sang louder than HIDEKI himself! They must have listened to his music again and again to be able to repeat from memory. It was so impressive to see a tight bond between the artist and fans in his live.
The melody of the next song, MARIA, was breathtaking and heartrending in rainbow light. The message of this song stabbed everyone in the heart.

In the song Taiyou ni te wo nobashite, we raised our hands up and sang loudly with HIDEKI as if his message was spreading from our hands to the universe. Next, SOSUS was a speedy and bright song that will surely stir the Japanese music scene from now.

The last 2 songs, Flight Adviser and OUTSIDER, were hardest and incredible! The drums and bass resounded low and heavy, shaking our bodies. HIDEKI shouted loudly, moving around on the stage and stirring the audience up. Here the live reached its climax. As HIDEKI always tries to break his limits, the audience also broke theirs, streaming with sweat and their throats throbbing from yelling and singing. Time went by so quickly and 15 songs had finished. The whole audience called HIDEKI’s name again and again for an encore.

HIDEKI appeared on the stage for an encore, put on black T-shirt with "World Peace" written on it, and started saying his first long MC in this live. He said "I’m lucky to be on this stage tonight! Now I realize I am needed by so many people!". He used to be so crooked not to accept love straightly. In that night, he performed great music and expressed his emotion honestly on the stage. The audience cheered and gave back big energy to him.

After the introduction of support members, the new song Sensou hantai started. HIDEKI made this song to wish that world peace would spread over from the live house. In this song, the audience joined, clapping their hands. HIDEKI joked, "I’m so happy to sing this song! Thank you ACID, because you kindly rejected to play this song!" He enjoyed this song more than the audience.

At the last song, Marmalade, his most beautiful ballad. He sang strongly, concentrating on his music, and showing his enthusiasm for this live. While saying "I’m a member of ACID!" he was a solo artist who was concentrating singing songs with excellent support members playing in the background on the stage that night. We hope to see him on a larger stage some day.

HIDEKI's music is loud, sharp, and heavy rock. While saying this, he makes heartrending, tender and beautiful melodies. His music is so original because HIDEKI has a pure fragile heart ardent in nature. What is better or worse, what is right or wrong, such standards are not working for him. He himself loses his way sometimes while we just keep watching him. As long as he is making music and singing to express his soul, we have the chance to see the miracles of his great works.

Set list:

1.The secret
2.Cosmic Tourists
3.Wonder Wish
4.Tokyo Souchi
5.Mujun no PANORAMA
6.DNA
7.Toki ga owaru made tada.......
8.DIGITAL MASTER
9.Koe ni...
10.Shiny day
11.MARIA
12.Taiyou ni te wo nobashite
13.SOSUS
14.Flight Advisor
15.OUTSIDER
member introduction & MC
16.Sensou hantai
17.Marmalade