kannivalism gave an emotional live after their two year hiatus.
On December 26, 2009, after a break of about two years, kannnivalism played their long awaited live in Zepp Tokyo. The live took place shortly after the release of their first single, life is, on November 18th.
When the lights turned off and the members appeared on the dark stage, the fans applauded excitedly. “Make me listen to your voices! Let’s go together!” Ryou called. Then suddenly fireworks blew up on the stage. The live started with bright pop numbers apple butter II, age., Domino party, and heated up quickly. Mitsuya played powerful and steady drums, Yuchii played roaring low bass, and Kei used various effectors and played guitar freely. Ryou sang with various expressions, alternating between rap vocals, whispering, and shouting in a death voice. The members moved around on the big stage, while the audience pumped their fists in the air and jumped all together.
In the riff raff which is the coupling song of their new single, the audience pulsed like waves to the complicated rhythms that rapidly changed from slow to upbeat, while the guitar sounds from Kei ripped though the air. In in a brown study, the audience raised their hands into the air and high-clapped in the main melodies. In slow ballads Buranko and Shiroi asa, Ryou played guitar and sang ardently, while Kei's guitar resounded beautifully. The images of casual daily scenes were projected on the screen one after another, and repeated melodies made us feel the everlasting and infinite impression of the music. The audience stood still and listened to the music carefully, and when the songs finished they clapped enthusiastically.
Ryou then addresed the crowd: “The other members and I have been looking forward to this moment. I can finally say what I couldn’t say until now…I’m coming back! kannivalism will start walking from today, again!” The audience welcomed him warmly with clapping and cheers. In Sugar rainy, Ryou was moved to tears and fell down on the stage involuntarily. Looking at him we could see how hard things had been, and he was rewarded for his difficult past with this moment. In Melancholic, Mitsuya hit the drums powerfully under the spot light, Yuchi played heavy bass, Kei played guitar like he was playing the blues, and the audience raised their fists all together. Ryou and Yuchi sang rap, and Kei moved around on the stage throughout the cheerful funky session.
Ryou announced the next song, saying, “Let's make the show together!” In Stoic boy, the audience raised their hands and waved side to side rhythmically, shouted together, and spun towels around in the air. “Let’s go more! Don’t hold back! Let’s make tonight the best!” Ryou urged them on. In Monochrome, the members walked around on the stage and looked out at the audience who were waving and calling “Hey! Hey!” to the pop melodies, wearing happy expressions on their faces. Ryou spurred them on, yelling, “Go wild!” In the heavy middle tune Hoshi no yoru, Ryou and Yuchi sang the chorus while the audience raised their hands and jumped. Ryou addressed them again: “We haven’t enjoyed ourselves enough yet! Let’s have even more fun!” In Kimi music, everyone pumped up their fists and jumped, really getting into the great music.
“I have to say that the live will finish with the next song. Please listen to the last song, which we chose just for you.” Although the audience kept cheering as they didn’t want the live to finish, Cry baby started. Ryou murmured, whispered and shouted as if spitting out everything he was thinking inside.
The members left, but calls for an encore didn't let up. Kei sat in front of the piano, and Tegami started with his beautiful piano playing and Yuchi’s acoustic guitar. Kei then changed his instrument to an electric guitar and Yuchi retrieved his bass, after which the music ran dramatically into the main melody. In the following small world, heartwarming images of animals from fairy tales were projected one after another onto a screen. Ryou sang without his microphone, and the audience sang in a big chorus together.
“You all have such wonderful faces," Ryou said. "I don’t want to go home yet. Let’s sing together!” The members answered calls for the second encore and performed lively numbers for the audience. In the bright pop song Ritori, the audience pumped their fists in the air while images of various flowers blooming were projected on the screen, and in Sekirara they jumped all together, making the live house floor shake. “I’m really happy to be here. We’ll start with four members from today. I’ll always love you guys!” Ryou shouted, and then Daisuki ("I really like you") started.
“Laugh, if you want to laugh! Cry, if you want to cry!” Ryou called out. In the last song, life is, silver tapes were fired into the air, the audience spun towels around, and all sang in a big chorus together to the guitar sounds. “I can only express myself by singing, but I will never give up you! See you again!” Ryou said and then left the stage, followed by his bandmates. When the BGM of Shiawase no ehon was played in the venue, the audience continued singing together to the gentle acoustic guitar sounds and whispering vocals of the song.
The music of kannivalism is free and impromptu as they don’t care about musical genres and styles. In this live you could really feel the warm hearts they have for their fans. They’ll release their long awaited second album on March 17th, and do their first hall-live in Nakano Sun Plaza on March 30th. So for those who can go see them, definitely do it, and for those who can’t, make sure you get their new album. They are a great band.
Set list:
1. apple butter II
2. age.
3. Domino party
4. the riff raff
5. in a brown study
6. Buranko
7. Shiroi asa
8. Sugar rainy
9. Melancholic
10. Stoic boy
11. Monochrome
12. Hoshi no yoru
13. Kimi music
14. Cry baby
En1. Tegami
En2. small world
En3. Ritori
En4. Sekirara
En5. Daisuki
En6. life is
