An explosive fifth anniversary celebration with sublime music and great fun.
On June 23rd Versailles gathered bands of bond for a fervent anniversary celebration at Ebisu’s own LIQUIDROOM. Matenrou Opera, Kaya, DaizyStripper and Lin proved to be an explosive line up with plenty of juicy MCs and songs for all tastes.
Matenrou Opera
A diverse crowd, dressed in their best attires, waited patiently for the start of the show, all voices silencing as the lights abruptly dimmed and the curtains moved. Blue lights made their way through the red tainted stage as an eerie gothic tune welcomed Matenrou Opera. With a yell of “Jump!” vocalist sono fired up the crowd for the heated alkaloid showcase. Pointing to the keyboardist, sono stepped back and all eyes fell on ayame as he elegantly attacked the white keys for a wicked solo.
“Hi Tokyo! Are you having fun?” the vocalist yelled cheerfully. “Versailles are celebrating their 5th anniversary and we would like to congratulate them! As you know, our drummer yu injured his left arm and won’t be able to play for a while. We were in a difficult situation but YUKI came to the rescue and promptly agreed to play with us! Don’t worry about yu though, he is fine!” he assured before adding as he glanced to the side of the stage. “He’s actually there air drumming!” Laughs from the audience set the engines for EVE. The blistering lights and guitar made the way for a heavy number, the venue effusively thrashing heads to the drums. Lured by the energetic audience, bassist yo took the forefront with a feisty riff, fingers flying unflaggingly over the strings while sono swayed sensuously, a powerful yell leaving his lips for the dramatic finale.
Wasting no time, Matenrou Opera dashed into the classic Hiai to Melancholy. Changing his gear to a portable keyboard, ayame joined yo in the front, both cheerful and energetic as they worked the crowd. The vocalist was unstoppable, punching the air between half sang and half growled verses to the crowd’s pumping fists while anzi let his fingers dance over the strings effortlessly. Twirling towels and head banging came together for the last song of the set, ANOMIE. The crowd followed the choreography zealously, jumping in unison while anzi and yo swung their instruments in a synchronized dance that wowed the hall. As the tune eased, bluish light sticks came to life, band and fans coming together in a stunning and memorable finale that got the whole venue singing in unison.
Set List:
01. alkaloid showcase
02. EVE
03. Hiai to melancholy
05. ANOMIE
Kaya
Kaya was next, his entrance dramatic, like Kaya himself. Blinding crimson illuminated his path as he slowly walked on stage, head covered by a black shawl. Revealing himself, he wowed the hall with the costume for his newly released single SALOME, kicking off the set with the title song. The crowd was swept away from the start with Kaya’s unswerving presence and undeniable charisma. “Let me hear your voices!” he demanded between Arabian-inspired dances and the audience complied, shouting his name with enthusiasm.
“Hello, I’m Kaya,” he greeted in a sweet tone before congratulating Versailles on their fifth anniversary. “We’re like family... you know, KAMIJO is my official number one lover!” The voice tone changed abruptly as Kaya let an obnoxious laugh escape his lips and the audience laughed. “The next song is SALOME’s coupling song, BABYLON.” Kaya conveyed through his performance the emotion contained in the lyrics, vocals and movement combining for a strong number where electronics and goth came together interestingly. The dark yet sensual song had the audience riveting on the performance, Kaya’s sensuous dances striking as he twirled across the stage, arms to the side, moving slowly like snakes.
With the stage dimly lit the vocalist approached the drums. Sitting, he slowly took his sandals off, a tragic opera going on in the back. As if devoured by insanity Kaya let out a frightful laugh, the laughter multiplying and dragging the hall to the world of Kairai. “Who am I!” he demanded like a mantra and shouts of “Kaya” came in reply, shaking the hall while the vocalist moved from one side to the other, reaching daringly for the crowd. The frantic performance showed another side of Kaya and once more proved the musician's versatility and showmanship. Rose Jail proceeded in the same fierce fashion and got the crowd moshing to the heavy beat, bodies dashing forward as the fans tried to reach the edge of the stage, fired up by Kaya’s frightful growls. Daring and contagious the performance set the bar high for the following acts.
Set List:
01. SALOME
02. BABYLON
03. Kairai
04. Rose Jail
DaizyStripper
DaizyStripper caused a sudden and drastic change in the atmosphere, the “black sheep” of the group, as Yugiri put it himself, dazzling LIQUIDROOM with their energy and bright performance. The curtain moved to reveal the band in position, bright lights washing over the stage. Awairo no yume got the audience jumping, Yugiri’s voice carried confidently through the hall as he worked the crowd. The guitars made their way through the heavy drums, Nao in the front for a feisty solo while Kazami moved arms in a wild dance, from cymbal to cymbal. Hundreds of hands flashed up for PSHYCHEDELIC HEAVEN, band and fans clapping in unison to the beat, the mix of heavy and bright cleverly accomplished. The song sent bodies thrashing right and left, the mosh and growling catching the newcomers off guard.
“We are also celebrating five years on the road!” the vocalist explained cheerfully after congratulating Versailles on their anniversary. The announcements followed, with a one-man show at the infamous ZEPP and the release of a new album. From the new album came the song Kanojyo wa emerald, Yugiri taking the lead with impeccable vocals while guitar, bass and drums took the hall on a fast ride that got hair flying between interesting hand movements.
“We all have dreams and in order to accomplish those dreams, we must cut our way through adversity. The next song is for all the dreamers!” Yugiri solemnly explained as he introduced Zetsubou no Freesia. Determined drums guided the song and set the tempo for the jumps and pumping fists, Kazami head banging fervently as he attacked the cymbals, hair covering his face in the process. Rei plucked some fierce notes from the bass and Nao entertained the fans with goofy faces and original moves while Mayu blew cool kisses to the crowd, throwing his head back lost in the tune as he sang.
A knowing grin lit Yugiri’s face as he yelled “Last!” With the vocalist shaking his hips to the tune all hell broke loose with the crowd dashing right and then left as they followed the vocalist’s commands. It was a unique sight that made decade the perfect finale for a very hot performance and made DaizyStripper score some points with the audience.
Set List:
01. Awairo no yume
02. PSYCHEDELIC HEAVEN
03. Kanojo wa emerald
04. Zetsubou no Freesia
05. decade
Lin
A loud yell announced Lin, glam visuals and intricate dances bringing a taste of Osaka to Ebisu. With vocalist RIKU and bassist KISAKI in the center, the band ignited the crowd for Metamorphose. The light bits of the song allowed the guitar and bass to shine with some feisty riffs, MIZUKI getting the crowd to wave while KANATA took the center with a fast riff, band and crowd swaying right and left in unison.
Red lights washed over the stage for Royal Blood and Lin took the hall on a vertiginous ride where heavy and light vocals mingled cleverly under fast riffs. “Tokyo, we are Lin! Let us hear your voices!” RIKU welcomed before congratulating Versailles on their anniversary. “We are trying to look elegant today!” he continued with a grin, referring to the band’s predominantly black outfits. “You know, KISAKI and KAMIJO have known each other for over fifteen years. I was surprised to hear them calling each other KI-chan and KA-kun!” he confessed with a joyful laugh before adding “Oh, and KANATA wanted to cosplay HIZAKI but we told him it would look strange. I don’t think it would go with our outfits.”
The casual MC got the hall in a great mood and ready for Flowers bloom. Heavy yet lively, the song was contagious with a choreography that got the venue clapping. Arms moved right and left in unison, the band exemplifying the dances between smiles, the number shocking those new to Lin, mainly due to the contrast between the band’s cold image and their friendly and warm attitude on stage. KANATA joined KISAKI in the forefront for a fiery battle, both men swaying to the beat while REIYA attacked the cymbals fiercely. All surrounded the drums for the set’s final song, Foolish. Lights flashed to the pacing rhythm and the audience thrashed heads with it between pumping fists. RIKU continuously demanded more, KISAKI surprising everyone as he left the stage, returning an instant later clad in a gold glittering gown. Throwing a rose into the moshing crowd he raced across the stage, firing up the audience as the song approached its final round. With a powerful blow, KISAKI hit the gong placed by the drums and with its sound still carrying across the hall the band bade farewell, surely to have left their mark on the capital.
Set List:
01. Metamorphose
02. Royal Blood
03. Flowers Bloom
04. Foolish
Versailles
Versailles made their entrance in a theatrical way, the pompous intro roaring fiercely in the back as the crowd chanted “We are Versailles!” Hands rose as KAMIJO took the center, all hell breaking loose for the fierce Aristocrat’s Symphony. The crowd bent forward to the heavy beat, hands gently fluttering to the harmonious twin guitars. “Let’s make this night bloom like a beautiful rose!” KAMIJO’s words carried sweet and mellow like the calm before the storm. Roaring drums and thunderous guitars accompanied the powerful Judicial Noir, lights flashing under the fast instrumentals.
“I can’t believe it’s been five years. Thank you for your support and for being here today. The bands we gathered here all have a deep connection with us. Matenrou Opera are like our younger brothers. We shared labels and have supported each other through difficult times. YUKI played for them today and yo played with us in the past. I’ve known Kaya for a long time, we have performed together many times and HIZAKI writes for him sometimes. DaizyStipper came as a surprise for some people, I’m sure. The truth is Kazami played the piano part for The Revenant Choir and The Love of Dead Orchestra while Yugiri recorded at our studio. Regarding Lin, you all know KISAKI and I have been friends for a long time. HIZAKI took part in KISAKI Project, and we also played with RIKU’s former band Chariots,” the vocalist explained.
With KAMIJO urging the audience to put their hands up and clap Versailles dashed to zombie. The song combined heavy growls with a cheerful tune in a fierce number that got the frontman thrashing his head with the crowd. While the venue head banged TERU took the forefront, fingers digging some hot notes from the strings in a fierce riff. The tone lightened with Illusion and the sweet After Cloudia. With catchy tunes and graceful choreographies the band had the crowd in their hands, the outfits making for a visually impressive performance. The vocalist seemed to be having a blast, his cheerful attitude contagious while he allowed his voice to rise and fall effortlessly with HIZAKI blowing the crowd away with some haunting solos.
The experimental ayakashi brought with it some Japanese sounds in what KAMIJO explained to be “Versailles most Japanese song.” The number mixed gothic, opera and gypsy-inspired influences with the bass standing out with some ardent riffs. Two favorites closed the set and got the hall rocking, The Red Carpet Day with its pumping fists and fast drums making the transition to MASQUERADE very smooth. HIZAKI moved forward, approaching the crowd who rushed forward and the others followed in a warm interaction with the fans.
The “We are Versailles!” call invaded the hall once more in the band’s trademark encore call. Versailles soon returned, thanking the fans for their support. “We all go through good and bad moments. As a band we are still young and we are only able to stand here today because of you, our staff and our friends. We wrote the next song to convey this feeling!” KAMIJO solemnly addressed the crowd, introducing PRINCE. The determined ballad with its sad piano and confident guitars brought the hall to tears, crowd and band clearly moved. Philia brought the festive mood back, hair flying wildly as crowd and band gave it all for the final song. It was, like Versailles, a fierce, warm and embracing performance that will forever remain in the memory of the lucky ones present.
Set List:
01. Aristocrat’s Symphony
02. Judicial Noir
03. zombie
04. Illusion
05. After Cloudia
06. ayakashi
07. The Red Carpet Day
08. MASQUERADE
Encore
01. PRINCE
02. Philia
Day two promises many more surprises and a completely different tone with a superb line up of the crème de la crème of visual goth with D, Moi dix Mois and Versailles in a show that promises to set Ebisu ablaze. Stay tuned for the second day of Tokyo Metropolis!
Sc: JaME World U.K.
