#tour18 followers | Explore Tumblr Posts and Blogs

the-gazette-archive · 4 years

Text

Real Sound Interview (2020.03.02)

the GazettEが明かすライブ美学と、バンド活動への信念「“ヴィジュアル系のあり方”を示していきたい」

the GazettE reveals the aesthetics of their live performances and their belief in their band activities: "We want to show what 'Visual-kei' should be.”

The live aesthetic revealed by the GazettE and the belief of their band activities “we want to present the visual-kei how it should be”

The GazettE released their 9th album NINTH on the 13th of June 2019 and will release their DVD on the 4th of March. It will contain all footage of their LIVE TOUR 18-19 THE NINTH, which has been going on for over a year.

This time the DVD contains 61 lives and backstage material of Live Tour18 THE NINTH / PHASE #01-PHENOMENON-, Live Tour18 THE NINTH / PHASE # 02-ENHANCEMENT-, which took place in live houses, as well as LIVE TOUR18-19 THE NINTH PHASE #03 GEKIJŌ HA DŌMŌ which took place in small places for the first time in 12 years like Takadanobaba AREA and Meguro Rockmaykan, WORLD TOUR19 THE NINTH PHASE #4 -99.999-, LIVE TOUR18-19 THE NINTH PHASE #5 KONKETSU at Yokosuka Arts Theater and LIVE TOUR18-19 THE NINTH TOUR FINAL DAIKYŪ at Yokohama Arena.

This time we interviewed Kai (Dr.) and Reita (Ba.) and talked about the aesthetics of the lives and their thoughts of the fans, while reflecting their thoughts on the tour during that time.

Lives at small lives houses became possible through time and the improvement of technology

Interviewer: The LIVE TOUR18-19 THE NINTH which went on for over one year, was a long tour with 61 lives. If you look back on it, what kind of tour was it?

Kai: Usually we always moved from hall tours to live halls, therefore we didn’t include small clubs yet. So, the content was quite rich.

REITA: I think that amount of lives was necessary to completely sublimate NINTH. We wanted to proof that lives of the GazettE are enchanting at all kind of venues and I think we were able to make that clear.

Interviewer: Was the reason to include small capacity live houses for this tour also because NINTH is to discover the history of the GazettE and therefore you also had the intention to follow the path you have walked so far, with halls of smaller capacity?

Kai: That’s correct. As you said, because NINTH is an album that binds together the history of the GazettE, it was a natural flow to also visit several small live houses.

Interviewer: Based on the comments from each member, the Live Tour18 THE NINTH / Phase#01-PHENOMENON- (PHASE#1 hereafter) in halls was a great start. Is that because you created NINTH while thinking about lives?

Kai: Our previous work DOGMA was too special, and we felt like returning to our previous style, but beside that, this time we were able to start exactly as expected. Therefore, we were able to deepen the content from an early stage.

Interviewer: REITA also said the same on the DVD, correct?

REITA: Everyone was quick to catch the feeling and because the fans understood our intention to “shine at lives” and because they moved their bodies right from the first day, the start position was set high, and therefore you can reach even higher places.

Interviewer: PHASE#1 started as expected, but the documentary shows also detailed briefing sessions of the direction and sound settings, as well as the intervals between songs.

Kai: I remember that the parts between the songs were more difficult during the DOGMA tour. Because regarding the NINTH songs, we had various candidate songs, older songs included, but because it was quite easy to match and handle these songs, the intervals between the songs weren’t difficult. However, it was good that we were able to concentrate our efforts on that early and thanks to that the degree of perfection was high compared to previous tours.

Interviewer: That the previous songs match the NINTH ones, is not only because you unraveled your history, but also because you can feel the essence of your older songs, which leads to a compatibility, right?

Kai: The concept of DOGMA was too strong and there were many restrictions for the candidate songs of the previous tour. You can say, that those disappeared and went back to normal, but as you also mentioned, the NINTH songs feel closer to our older songs.

Interviewer: They also don’t feel out of place if you match the songs with the ones from DOGMA.

Kai: I wonder why, though? (laughs). That’s really strange.

Interviewer: The following Live Tour18 THE NINTH / PHASE #02-ENHANCEMENT- was a live house tour. How was it compared to PHASE#1?

REITA: The image was getting solid during the hall tour, but I think we were able to release that image during the live house tour and we were able to concentrate on the intervals between the songs, the set list and our stage presence rather than on the direction.

Kai: The NINTH songs itself had a great potential, that’s why we investigated the approach of each song. We updated the candidate songs for set list to make the songs of NINTH stand out even further and I think it was a section that enchanted the ideology of the album deeply.

Interviewer: So, the small club tour LIVE TOUR18-19 THE NINTH PHASE #03 GEKIJŌ HA DŌMŌ (hereafter: PHASE#3) attracted public attention. I remember that at the time of the announcement it caused quite a commotion.

REITA: I was looking forward the announcement (laugh). Like: how is that?!

All: (laugh).

Interviewer: I think it’s been nearly 12 years since you had lives at Takadanobaba AREA and Meguro Rockmaykan in 2007.

REITA: Accompanied by the improvement of our technology, we sometimes talked about playing in small clubs, but faced the problem that our equipment probably wouldn’t fit, but with the time we also grew up and could afford more compact equipment, which made it possible to fit on stage.

Interviewer: If the stage is too small, it happens that the equipment does not fit, right?

REITA: Kai finally made his drums more compact. Because so far he had been too stubborn to do so (laughs).

Kai: (laughs). Also, beside the equipment, the old the GazettE thought it wasn’t possible to present an ideology in small clubs. But we didn’t have to worry about that this time, because I think rather than the appearance, it’s thanks to the strength of the NINTH songs that they create an ideology.

Interviewer: So far, you have also talked about doing lives at small clubs, right?

Kai: Of course, I wanted to do it, but because we’re a band, if just one person is against it, then the conversation is over.

Interviewer: Does that mean there was someone who said ‘nah’? (laughs).

Kai: That’s not what I mean (laughs), but it’s the bands atmosphere. We actually also talked about it during DOGMA, but the reason for not doing it, was probably because of said atmosphere in the band.

Interviewer: In that sense, the previous SAITEIGI tour, the 15th anniversary show Dainippon Itan Geisha “GUDON NO SAKURA” and BURST INTO A BLAZE 3 where fans could decide the set list by voting, had the purpose of reflecting your past and that the album NINTH was the result of those lives means that it was necessary at that point, right?

Kai: That’s correct. I think it was a natural flow.

Interviewer: Is there a memorable place?

Kai: It was nostalgic everywhere.

REITA: Of course, Meguro Rockmaykan, where we had our first live and Takadanobaba AREA I think.

Interviewer: At AREA you had your first oneman live where you sold tickets to the fans, right?

REITA: That’s correct. I think there were around 220 people.

Interviewer: That’s half of the live house’s capacity, but the GazettE also had such days, right? Do you remember the latest live at AREA?

Kai: Surprisingly I have the impression that the fans were shyer.

REITA: Especially on the first day.

Kai: I was like: ‚Eh? What are you guys doing?’ (laughs). Maybe they were shy because the distance was too close. That happens, but the first day was really terrible, right?

REITA: It was terrible! They weren’t excited at all!

Interviewer: Personally, I was worried that AREA would be destroyed, but it was indeed an unexpected development.

REITA: It was also very unexpected for us, but just because you challenge them, doesn’t mean that the distance to the fans vanishes, right? It felt as if we met for the first time on a matchmaking party (laugh)!

Kai: Because RUKI addressed that matter directly in the MC the next day, it got better, but the first day had a strange atmosphere (laughs).

REITA: Even when I went to the railing during the live, no one was touching me. Back then they would pull of my electrical jack. Well, I think it’s because everyone grew up, but it was a little different from how I thought it would be.

Interviewer: Even though the live was as imagined, that only was unexpected.

REITA: It was (laughs).

Interviewer: I heard a story that the Rockmaykan staff labeled you as “won’t sell”.

REITA: Not only the Rockmaykan, many people said we “won’t sell”.

Kai: Because of that, we’re standing here now.

REITA: Only our manager told us we would sell (laughs).

Interviewer: But I think that the tour affirmed your past with your current form.

Kai: We certainly stopped caring about the people around us and what they said at one point.

Interviewer: At the MC during the final of PHASE #3 at TSUTAYA O-EAST you mentioned that “the bands philosophy and belief is that they do what they think is right” and I feel that the band’s core is unshaken and consistent, and the unflattering attitude is also typical for the GazettE.

Kai: That’s correct. We started to think that it’s irrelevant that we are like this, because our surroundings were like that.

Interviewer: We heard that during the section of the WORLD TOUR19 THE NINTH PHASE #4 -99.999- (hereafter PHASE#4), the bands belief was also firmly introduced to the foreign fans. I even feel that they watch the GazettE with the same sensibility as the Japanese fans, but is that something you experienced first-hand?

REITA: No matter in which country we played, I do think that we were able to give lives with the same feelings as in Japan. You could say that you don’t care about where you play as soon as the live starts

Interviewer: I have a feeling that this sensation is rare, but was it like that since the previous world tours?

REITA: No, at first I got carried away by how many fans we also have overseas! (laughs)

Interviewer: During SONO KOE HA MOROKU some fans were moved to tears, exactly like Japanese fans

REITA: I think that they maybe translated the lyrics, but I felt that they listened to it seriously.

Kai: Oversea fans are very eager in their studies, right?

Interviewer: On the contrary, I have the impression that the reaction to the handshake event after the performance was special overseas.

REITA: In Japan I don’t know whether they are happy, because they are so embarrassed that they won’t meet our eyes (laughs). In that regard, the oversea fans react honestly, and therefore it feels good for us, too

Interviewer: Furthermore, there are also some that got interested in Japanese culture because of the GazettE.

Kai: Because of us? Is that okay? (laugh)

REITA: I’m worried if they aren’t misunderstanding Japanese culture (laugh).

Interviewer: As a matter of course, there is the image of visual-kei = Japanese culture, right?

REITA: We can go overseas and do a live, but we can’t bring our set-up equipment and for this reason I want the oversea fans to see a live of us at a place with 10.000 people and with 100% of our set-up at least once and experience a thoroughly elaborated visual-kei performance.

Our proud fans who won’t be embarrassed no matter where they go.

Interviewer: You returned from the world tour and had the Asia tour final, as well as the Yokosuka Arts theater performance, LIVE TOUR18-19 THE NINTH PHASE #5 KONGETSU, which was like a pre-event to the tour final in Yokohama Arena, right?

Kai: During the long tour,we finished the hall tour section after one year and continued with the small club tour and the tour overseas in a different environment. If we would have done the tour final immediately, we would have done it without remembering sensual things, we would have felt insecure at the final and therefore we decided to add one live to take up on set-up preparations and feelings.

Interviewer: You did it because of those aspects, right?

Kai: Furthermore, if we’re going to do something, we want to add a meaning and therefore added the title KONGETSU (mixed blood), because we mixed the NINTH songs with older songs.

Interviewer: How did you try to “mix-blood” the current NINTH songs with the older songs?

REITA: We thought that they would support each other’s good points or that they would not feel out of place even during the main tour. But we do think it definitely would have felt out of place if we would have added them to PHASE #1.

Interviewer: Because with the process from PHASE#1 to PHASE#4, the songs of NINTH properly sank in.

REITA: That’s correct. I think because of that, we were more flexible with how we expressed the older songs.

Interviewer: And the LIVE TOUR18-19 THE NINTH TOUR FINAL DAIKYŪ was the 61st live of the tour. For the documentary you also recorded the nervous moments before the performance, but are you still nervous, even after so many tours?

Kai: I’m always nervous (laughs). Basically, for finals there are too many things to do, so I don’t have time to get nervous, but compared to previous finals, this time we were well-prepared and because there wasn’t anything left to do, I got nervous.

Interviewer: You were well-prepared especially because you managed to have so many lives, right?

REITA: I’m always anxious about finals, like: can I show a performance like this? But this time, to make sure that doesn’t happen, I prepared myself mentally and moved my body until right before the live. That’s why I was able to face the final calmer compared to previous ones.

Interviewer: Do you remember the feeling when you finished the 61 lives?

REITA: I felt relieved. Also, during tours we have the rule that after the live we decide the set list for the next live, no matter what. But because we don’t have to do that after a final, it’s like taking a bath, eat, going home (laughs). It’s a feeling of freedom. It’s super nice to go home without deciding on the set list, right?

Kai: Indeed (laughs).

Interviewer: Indeed, on the DVD we can also see you deciding the set list for the next live, but you decide it directly after the live, right?

Kai: We do it like that to reflect on the next live, because after we finished the live, the impressions of that live are still fresh. When I remember the tour now, we really finished 61 lives, right? It’s the first time for me to feel like this, but when I had time to immerse the aftertaste of the final, I wanted to do the next one quickly.

Interviewer: In the end, regarding the Yokohama Arena live, I think it was in RUKIS MC before UNFINISHED where he thanked the fans for “protecting the GazettE and this genre”, but is this the collective opinion of all members?

REITA: The fans of the GazettE are really awesome. They have passion and even come overseas. I don’t think there are many bands who are followed around like that. And you can also say that we are able to continue like this for over 10 years with lives around the same capacity, is because our fans are always tagging along.

Interviewer: I consider the GazettE lives to be “the GazettE lives” not only because of the musical performance and show on stage, but also because of the atmosphere created by the fans.

REITA: Same goes for festivals; I want others to see how our fans go wild. That’s also one of the reasons we take part in festivals.

Kai: Our proud fans who won’t be embarrassed no matter where they go.

Interviewer: The fans will be happy to hear that.

Kai: Please print it in bold.

REITA: Are you trying to get something? (laughs)

Interviewer: Reita also points at the fans in UNFINISHED during the part: “you are the light that illuminates the path we’re following” (susumu michi o terasu kimi wa hikari), aren’t you? The fans are the light, correct?

REITA: Ahaha (laughs). Of course. I feel gratitude towards the fans and also towards the members. But recently there are parts in RUKIS MC where he’s trying to move the members to tears now and then. Maybe he’s secretly watching us (laughs).

Interviewer: In MCs during tours RUKI also mentions his trust and gratitude towards the members and there are also scenes on the documentary where you can feel the good relationship here and there, but the relationship between the members is very good, isn’t it?

Kai: Well, it’s not bad, is it?!

REITA: Because we only did oneman lives after our 2nd year as the GazettE, I don’t know the atmosphere within other bands. Well, in general the relationships aren’t very good, though (laughs).

Kai: You smirk a little when you meet the members after two weeks, right?

REITA: You just can’t help wanting to talk about stories from your trip!

Kai: I personally maintain a more excited feeling when I’m together with the members. On the contrary, for example when I’m making songs alone all by yourself, I get extremely sensitive. That’s why tours are super fun. Being able to maintain your excitement is very important and that largely depends on the members.

Interviewer: During your most recent documentary, similar to what we already talked about, you can also clearly understand, the relationship of the members, side by side with the unwillingness to do compromises during the lives from different point of views and your belief of “wanting to do it well”. Why are you that particular about details?

REITA: Because at any rate, if you skip them, it will come back to you, right? In case of material arts, you would be beaten repeatedly. Just like that, it is a measure to keep winning. The more you do it, the more want to be particular about it. With that you also start to notice small details like you stage shoes for example and want to investigate such things further.

Kai: We can’t be careless, because we are honest people and if we’re careless we would also do a careless live. In addition, I think a lot about the fact that you don’t know when bands these days will stop its activities because of something, that’s why not wanting to have any regrets is important, right? If you think you did everything thoroughly, what remains are wonderful memories. If you’re careless, it will end up being a careless thing, and that’s why I can’t allow it.

Interviewer: To be able to see a combination of such close members, a documentary that shows the member’s determination and also the live footage that was born from that determination, highlights the amazing parts of the GazettE even more.

Kai: Thank you.

Interviewer: So,the GazettE will reach their 19th year soon, but what kind of the GazettE do you want to be in the future?

Kai: Because I love the GazettE which also includes the members and fans, I hope I will be able to continue to love the GazettE the way we are from now on too.

Interviewer: You’re your biggest fan.

Kai: That correct. That goes without saying, though.

REITA, Kai: Yaaaay (they bump fists).

All: (laughs).

Kai: It’s quite embarrassing, but it’s important that we can say that we like ourselves, right?

Interviewer: I think it’s important for artists. You notice if you watch the GazettE and I think the fans want you to be like that, too.

REITA: To be honest, when I’m going through magazines and the GazettE appear, I do think “it’s still different”.

Kai: That’s something you’re saying since way back then! (laughs)

REITA: But, from the appearance to the world view, the whole process of self-producing belongs to visual-kei. So far, we have done it this way and we can only do that, so I think we should continue like that.

Interviewer: The strength of self-producing, including the stories about your determination we heard today, is also typical for the GazettE and is very enchanting, right?

REITA: Because we’re visual-kei, we continuously want to demonstrate something like “visual-kei how it should be”. If I need to say that visual kei is something like this or that, then I would like to be in the band with the feeling that “visual kei is just the GazettE”.

Source: https://realsound.jp/2020/03/post-512576.html

Translation: https://wastelandtranslations.wordpress.com/2020/04/25/real-sound-kai-reita-march-2020/

#the GazettE #interview #Real Sound

1 note · View note

kyotakumrau · 5 years

Text

2018.12.19 Zepp Nagoya -a knot & mobile only-

My experience with Nagoya in winter is always awesome, but a pretty cold one 😂

This time the venue didn't offer goods sale tickets so fans had to queue. And this time actually a lot of people came early, when I arrived the line end was at the main road (other side of the train tracks). Despite the number of fans nothing got sold out until after the show (random key chains).

At the entry we received a small puzzle, I don't know how many pieces there are in total and what kind of picture they will create but just one thing - don't lose it! There will be some use for those!

The wait inside was the usual - when the 'big push' came many fans shifted to the front of the second barrier, who wasn't a fan of crazy squeeze stayed behind that barrier.

SE video was new but using some bits from the previous tour SE. But this time they focused on gladiators and games. The main colour scheme was red and black. There was a figure of an archer, Roman Empire-ish eagle statue, Babel tower, games. The tour title came last in red font.

Fans cheered when band members were coming on stage, but when the members were all ready to start, they went quiet. The tension, the wait for them to start, for the first song! The air was thick!

The red light continued as the band started with Keigaku no yoku, first notes belonging to Die together with a red spotlight on him. Kaoru joined next, Kyo, then Shinya and Toshiya. This song is so magical live. I mean when dir performs every song is magical, but Keigaku felt absolutely perfect as an opening song. The venue belonged to the band as we were listening quietly, only joining through hands in the air and dancing. The scene was soaked in red like a pool of blood.

There was silence when the song finished. But then, with Ningen wo kaburu the audience roared and joined in, hard. Kyo had us join any way we could, with 誰のために生きるのだろう？ parts and more.

Kaoru's hair was very straight and shiny. He still has half/half hair style, but it looks different with the sleek look. To me the light part looked light pink-ish? He wore a b&w jacket.

Toshiya had a 'fairytale prince' navy shirt. It had frilly bits and very loose sleeves. Plus skinny black denim.

I think Die had the outfit from the album shoot or something similar, shawl and shorts? Shinya... had something white. He dissapeared behind the drums too soon 😂

I hope parts of Kyo's outfit are next Madara collection, I'd kill for the skirt he wore. He wore all black, cropped shirt with loose sleeves, a fitted shirt underneath with suspenders or harness; pleated over the knee skirt with skinny denim underneath and tabi boots. On his left hand he wore Doll Face and 666 rings, two finger ring (was it Gucci?) on his right hand; Hamsa earring. A leather choker. He had smudgy eye make up and purple-ish lips. Smoky pink hair.

During Keibetsu I really missed the space I had in Europe 😂 there was no way I could jump the same way in the audience in Nagoya, but I could definitely still go crazy together with the people around me. Kyo was pointing at the fans while singing going from one side of his box to other. The audience joined screaming bits like 'Parasite!' but the new side of the song was Kyo having us to sing the last 俺さえ死ねばいい.

Next block of songs continued the fast pace and the rapport between the band and the audience. Kyo had us join a lot with もっと and かかってこい.

Before The Final started Kyo raised his hand and waited as we joined him. I've heard this song over 50 times live and it continues to stay powerful.

Devote my Life had us screaming 残酷な and after few times Kyo only encouraged us to continue.

When the main part finished fans started calling for encore as usual.

When the band came back for encore Kyo changed into a long sleeve white shirt but kept the bottom the same as during the main part, he also kept the choker.

Besides Kyo everyone wore tour t-shirts, Kaoru and Die with cut off sleeves, respectively black and white.Toshiya and Shinya wore black shirts with sleeves intact 😂

Followers had a simple video with phrases from the English translation of the lyrics on the screen.

No matter how cruel the world is

That is me / / this is me

The layered memories

The audience quietly listened. With this tour title it'd be strange if they didn't play this song, but it's not like you can prepare for it. It will gently crush you and then remake you.

The rest of encore went fast, hard and loud.

If they play Zomboid again in Osaka - I think Kyo changed the lyrics?

All band members started to travel on the stage, while they kept looking at fans in the audience.

Deeper or Lie had the live video of members on the screen?

Interaction before the last song

Kyo: Naaaaaa~gooooo~yaaaa!

Fans: Aaaa!!!!!

Kyo [silently looks at us with unimpressed face, then]: NAAAAAA~GOOO~YAAAAAA!

Fans: AAAA!!!!!!

Kyo [looks at us silently again then he raised his eyebrow looking askance]

Fans: 😶→🤣→ [went mad] AAAAAAAAA!!!!!!!!!

Kyo: Can you still go on?

Fans: AAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!!

Then Kyo seemed a bit more satisfied and he asked to become one and announced the last song.

Saku had all members walking up and down the stage. There was a moment when Toshiya stood with one foot on the drum stand facing Shinya. Die came to the middle, next Kaoru. Kyo finished standing on his stand. It was a very energetic end!

After that Kyo came to the edge of the scene and looked at fans faces and started pointing at each fan. He continued that for a bit and then started clapping and we clapped for him. He then waved and called 'bye-bye' without the mic, waved again and left.

The rest of the band continued with their picks and towels. Toshiya after walking alongside the stage edge and throwing a pick here and there, next threw a whole bunch of pics in the middle area (thank you for that! 😁)

When Die was leaving, fans started to call his name 'DieDieDieDieDieDieDie!!!!', many were hoping he would say something with his birthday the following day, but he waved to us smiling and left ;)

Kaoru was the last one left, he threw few more picks and left as well.

The lights came back but the audience started to shout for a second encore despite the announcements about the end of the show.

This time the band didn't come back, but we hope that the message and fans' feelings reached the band.

#dir en grey #tour18 followers #attempt at the live report #zepp nagoya #attempt at live report

94 notes · View notes