Plastic Tree Live in Paris

For the second time, the members of Plastic Tree came to France to play in Paris. After La Locomotive in 2006, this time they performed at La Maroquinerie.

The day had started badly, however. At the event Chibi Japan Expo where they would make an appearance, the fans were told that the band was very late in their schedule. So late, in fact, that they were still on the bus which had picked them up in Germany. The meeting and signing session for Jmusic distribution would therefore not take place at 1pm, but at 4pm instead. The fans who were waiting, some since that morning, were sitting between the barriers, apart from those curious few who stopped to see who would be coming to sign autographs.

Around 4pm, the band arrived and the path to the stand was cleared, where tables and chairs were waiting for them. There was a good atmosphere and they signed CDs and magazine pages. However, after twenty minutes, they stopped and left again, after staying for a few more people. They promised that they would come back after the concert and the fans were extremely happy that they would return later. Consequently, everyone packed up their things and headed towards La Maroquinerie.

Of course, the concert could not start at the pre-stated hour, but the doors were opened at 8:30pm all the same. The room was filled more than it had been expected to be. Admittedly, it was not completely full, but it was fuller than it had been for other groups who had performed there previously. The band could therefore not feel embarrassed, as the fans had come, even though it had been a difficult situation. The venue staff recommended that the crowd stay quiet and raise their arms should they want to leave the pit. Instead, everyone responded to this by raising their arms during the songs, not to leave the pit, but to express their joy in the music.

Several times, we got the impression that the band were about to make their appearance, but they were all false alarms. It was 9:30pm when they arrived on stage, under a powerful red light. Contrary to what one might think, the members of Plastic tree looked amazing and had a way of communicating with the audience that other Japanese groups could not be blamed for envying. Each member of the group was active; even Hiroshi often stood up behind his drum kit to address the crowd. If you thought he’d be asleep then you were mistaken!

Ryutaro, the vocalist, was adorable when he tried to speak to the crowd in French, his piece of paper in hand, holding it in the same fashion as the character L from the well-known manga Death Note (The similarities between his actions and hairstyle were remarkable!). The words were simple, but they were touching. He also spoke in Japanese, but in a manner so distinct that the audience understood and responded. It was a feeling all its own and at once the atmosphere became very relaxed and pleasant.

The songs which they played included Fujunbutsu, Melancholic, Kuuchuu buranko and finally, the very refreshing GHOST, during which Ryutaro very nearly slipped. Following the calmer moments, the band performed songs which were much more energetic when performed live than they seem on CD.

A little before 11pm, the band left for a break. Several cries of "encore!" and "Pura!" echoed around the venue and, barely ten minutes later, the band reappeared, wearing tour T-shirts, to perform four more songs. Ryutaro took from his pocket his now-famous piece of paper, but discovered, with humour, that it was rather badly torn. He let several pieces drop onto the stage and started to laugh, followed by the other members of the band and the audience. It was a great moment. He left the stage briefly and then immediately returned with a book for learning the French language and said a few words to us.

After this moment of general hilarity, they ended the concert beautifully with the sublime song Makka na Ito, which was utterly perfect for a final song. The members of the band remained on stage for a few moments to thank us and to distribute the usual picks, which were so greatly desired by the crowd. Akira was clearly very happy and moved, but it was Ryutaro who spent a long time with the audience, squeezing the hands of as many people as possible with a huge smile on his lips. The lights switched back on and the audience left the venue, apparently filled with wonder by this band, which was so close to its fans and visibly very happy to be there.

Forget your preconceptions about the band; they were completely worth the delay for the concert. The energy exhibited in videos that you see of performances at larger Japanese venues is nothing like what this band can actually produce in a smaller one.

Set list :
01 fujunbutsu
02 elegy
03 melancholic
04 fuyu no umi wa yuuei kinshi de
05 sonzai Riyuu
06 zaza furi, zaza nari
07 Kuuchuu buranko
08 orange
09 DANCE MACABRE
10 egg
11 ruisen Kairo
12 sabbath
13 Ghost
14 metamorphose

Encore
15 - Spica
16 - Hate Red, Dip It
17 - puppet talk
18 - Makka na Ito

We would like to thank Jmusic-live.