monobright in concert at Shibuya AX

Within the first few notes of the introduction, everyone in the room recognized the dance track that was SGS. The four members of monobright made their entrance from a raised dais at the rear of the stage. They dressed the same way that they had in their recent promotional photos, giving these rather classic clothes the allure of stage costumes. Their main vocalist and guitarist Momono Yo-suke, standing center stage, stood out in an outfit that was a little more extravagant: checkered shorts and a fuchsia shirt topped off with a very chic bow tie. All together and dressed in such a colorful and fresh manner, the band took their positions and the concert finally began.

Though first chords had barely started, the audience was already in the mood. The group played the titular song of their first single, Odoru nou, a song with an upbeat arrangement and energy from the rhythmic guitar. Passages of the song had a definite ska sound. The singer skipped along the front of the stage along to the infectious rhythm of the song and teased the crowd between shouts. The concert rolled on with a song that continued the rhythm. The guitars took on a more electronic sound, and the refrain was more relaxed. Yo-suke interpreted the lyrics as much with his voice as with his expressive gestures, so this time, it was guitarist Matsushita Sho-go's turn to skip around stage. The vocalist modified the song to have a more "Shibuya" flavor by dropping thanks around the room here and there and shaking his head at at the words "Friday night."

A short pause followed, during which the singer began to talk but then stuck out his bottom in the direction of the audience in a rather unexpected manner. Then the band went back to play the powerful song WARP. The song hurtled off with the guitar of Sho-go and made way for the rising enthusiasm. Everyone began to jump during the song, which offered an abundance of energy and was, without a doubt, one of the best monobright songs to see performed live.

They stopped again for a brief pause, during which the singer took the chance to give his many thanks to the audience while making several humorous faces; at one point, he held one stiff hand in front of him as if about to let out a cry of anguish - but instead, it was his imitation of a roaring motorcycle. Yo-suke, in addition to his talents as a singer and musician, pulled off a comedic act with brilliant panache.

The fourth track then began, and the bassist sank to his knees to the gentle rhythm of Ano toumei kan to shounen. In his enthusiasm, the singer backed away from his microphone before pulling it back swiftly to begin singing. During the chorus, the play of lights softened to correspond to the ambiance created by the melody. The drummer, Takitani Tsubasa, was visible from his raised set and played an energetic beat, while Sho-go let loose during his solos. Changing to an acoustic guitar, Yo-suke took on a more folksy air for the the first of the slower songs on the set list. As soon as the next song began, he took up another guitar. The guitarist was responsible for the chorus, and with the help of the bassist, they accompanied the singer during the refrain. The changing lights projected the reflection of Yo-suke onto the drummer's bass drums, which in turn acted as a kind of twisted mirror. The guitar adopted a heavier sound, and after playing the last few chords with grand pomp, Sho-go opened his arms out to the audience.

The room darkened, announcing another pause; Yo-suke went into his second speech in an exaggerated, out-of-breath voice. Following this bit, the group went into a skillful medley, letting fans listen to parts of their favorite songs. It started off with a solo by Sho-go. The rhythm accelerated and decelerated like a cardiogram of the group's different productions. Connected together by the beat of the drums or the notes of the guitarist, the chain of songs proved to be quite an interesting variety. The play of programmed projections was integrated perfectly with the different songs and corresponded to the different musical moods. As if in a small theatre, the lights attracted the audience's attention at the right moments; the song music number started off a cappella, with the guitar and drums gradually coming in underneath luminous white lights. Virtual snowflakes projected at the bottom of the stage accompanied the light ambiance of the ballad. The rest of the medley was more joyful and vigorous, concluding with the track that opened the dance: 20th Century Lover's Orchestra. The loop ended and was followed by a quick transition for conversation between the band members. Yo-suke, who definitely showed off his talent as a comedian, thanked the crowd and opened the floor for the guitarist. A short, joking exchange left Sho-go on the ground laughing.

The set continued with an ambiguous piece; at first, the song was very calm and alluring, but gradually the musicians loosened up and it became the catchy Betsu no umi. The singer took up his acoustic guitar to play this sublime ballade. Starting off by himself, illuminated on each side by lights, he was slowly joined by the other band members who added a rhythm to the floating melody. Grainy images projected near the ground further enhanced the nostalgic atmosphere of the song.

When the song finished, the singer started off another discourse, this time on how to dance, which he would demonstrate before going backstage. The interlude was a harbinger of the piece that would follow, which was much more energetic and had the whole of Shibuya AX rocking with energy. The guitarist climbed up onto the bass amp and the bassist rocked along to the chorus. The singer played with the guitarist in unison. Once again, the latter harassed the crowd by demanding a standing ovation. Here, the excellent track SGS returned: everyone clapped their hands and jumped along in every direction.

The feeling in the venue got hotter and hotter - a great transition to the very rhythmical atama no naka no SOS. As usual, the lights played a big part in the calmer passages, completely at odds with the unending energy and pace of the song. Yo-suke frolicked along one side of the stage and sang with frenzied gestures, while the bassist stomped his feet in his spot. The song drew to a close, and the singer expressed this by touching the tips of his forefingers together. They played to extend the tension, and he imitated this by pretending an external force was preventing him from joining his fingers - when he finally managed it, the audience was taken by surprise. The end of the concert approached with a continuation of good spirits. Anata MAGIC and music wonder revealed the key to the success of the show: the magical atmosphere created by the quartet and their music. When the group left the stage, the audience stayed, calling the members to come back and satisfy their musical appetites.

A few minutes later, monobright reappeared on the stage. The singer crossed to the front of the stage, greeting the fans with a wave. Afterward, the members all took microphones to give comments. Deguchi Hiroyuki held his bass like a gun before playing the first song of the encore. The last song of the night was Beniiro ver.2, and afterward, the concert was really over. The members walked off the stage one by one, but the guitarist strayed off to the left side to climb onto the platform and, with a small hop, disappeared behind the stage as if by magic.

In conclusion, monobright showed themselves to be a pop-rock group who knew how to create a charming atmosphere with their lively music. With the help of a slightly kooky singer whose humor and impressions are an undeniable asset, the band put on a great show!


Set list:

SE（SGS）
01. Odoru nou
02. Shuumatsu anthem
03. WARP
MC
04. Ano toumei kan to shounen
05. Monogatari
06. The 2
MC
medley :
07. 20th Century Lover's Orchestra
08. Butterflying Lips
09. Mahou no writer
10. Michisirube gawa soul
11. Shounen in the sun
12. Yasasisa ga oka no gaka
13. music number
14. 20th Century Lover's Orchestra
MC
15. Uta mo boku tono mousou
16. Namidairo Frustration
17. Betsu no umi
MC
18. Morning Starter
19. Hero Young
20. SGS
21. Atama no naka no SOS
22. Anata MAGIC
23. music wonder
ENCORE
EN1. Mikansei Riot
EN2. Beniiro ver.2