miyavi live report

As we arrived at the concert hall, we could see a long line of fans already waiting to enter the venue. At 18:30 the doors opened and we could finally enter CLUB SONIC, a very small venue that looked more like a café than a concert hall. We instantly knew this was going to be a special and intimate concert. The hall was filled all the way to the back, but as miyavi entered onto the stage, everyone ran to the front.

The KAVKI BOIZ appeared on stage with miyavi, one of them following him around and holding a parasol above miyavi’s head. miyavi was carrying his guitar nonchalantly over his shoulder, and as well as wearing a zebraprint tanktop with a pink blouse he also introduced a new way of wearing caps; not on top or sideways, but dangling from the side, being held up by his hair. As they entered, music was playing and one of the KAVKI BOIZ was beatboxing. Suddenly miyavi screamed and the music became louder before he began to play a calm and laid-back version of Selfish Love. While they performed, one of the KAVKI BOIZ was spraying graffiti on a canvas on the stage.

As the next song started, the audience screamed "miyavi" and the bandmembers encouraged them to continue, while miyavi played guitar. After that a trumpet sounded and the audience responded by raising their hands and jumping. The graffiti painter now danced around on stage with the parasol, the keyboardplayer was also jumping around as miyavi half rapped, half sang. His rapping sounded good, and he danced a bit while he continued playing his guitar, the graffiti painter throwing flower petals around him.

During the MC miyavi asked if everyone was doing okay and after a positive response he babbled something which even the Japanese fans didn’t understand. The next song started with a guitar intro and the beatboxer made the fans repeat what he shouted. miyavi used different kind of voices as he repeatedly sang one line of the song, to which the audience also sang along. During the song that followed, the keyboardplayer started to tap dance in the Japanese style, miyavi setting the pace with his guitarplaying and the audience clapping along in encouragement. Later on miyavi also clacked his tongue in the same rhythm. The next song was much faster but the keyboardplayer was still tapdancing, and the tapping sound added something extra to the music. miyavi sang some high pitched parts, but it sounded very clear and his voice was strong.

By now the venue had become incredibly hot, and with no airconditioning the hall staff were making useless attempts between songs to cool the audience down by opening the doors and using large pieces of cardboard as makeshift fans. But the heat didn't phase the fans, who were still very enthusiastic and jumping and dancing around.

As miyavi started playing Itoshii hito, the KAVKI BOIZ moved a bit to the background. During the next song, the graffiti painter started on his work again. Everyone was clapping along and miyavi fell quiet for a moment and let the fans sing the lyrics for him. When the song ended, he disappeared off stage and the DJ and drummer played a short solo. The graffiti painter had now picked up a bell and was walking around with it and the beatboxer was rapping as miyavi entered the stage again, wearing a different tanktop. The beatboxer started to make a didgeridoo sound and it sounded just like the real instrument. After that he started rapping and miyavi joined him, the pair sounding good together.

Are you ready to rock? followed and it included a great guitarsolo. miyavi looked questioningly at his fans while singing the lyrics, leaning forward into the audience and everyone screamed in response. As the song finished, an introduction of the bandmembers started and as the graffiti painter got introduced he walked to the front and threw more petals into the audience. miyavi started a MC and asked if we liked visual kei, which was met with more screamng. He asked who had bought a towel at the merchandise stand, then the beatboxer told everyone to lift the towel in the air and everyone swung their towel around as the next song began. That day was also the birthday of the keyboardplayer, so there was a cake brought on stage by one of the staffmembers. After the short birthday celebration, a hip-hop version of Girls, be ambitious started. During Ashita, tenki ni naare everyone was clapping along, but after a few lines miyavi sang the wrong lyrics. The audience laughed and he started over, this time singing it perfectly and everyone sang along with him. The fans were also singing along to We love you and miyavi kept asking for more.

As the concert ended, the KAVKI BOIZ left the stage one by one, miyavi being the last one to disappear. Overall the concert felt more like a hip-hop concert than a visual kei one, but fans of miyavi’s amazing guitar skills will be pleased nonetheless. He also managed to create a new musical style; of course there was already metal with hip-hop influences, but miyavi definitely mixes rock and hip-hop in a completely new way. This is neo-visualism.