ConcertReport NingenIsu September 28,2014 Japan

At the beginning

This is the third time this year that I have been to a live concert in Aomori Prefecture.

I went to a free concert at Mag-Net in Hirosaki (it was really free!!!).

The show started at 7:00 p.m., so I got there at around 6:45 p.m., and there were already quite a few people there.

To my surprise, there was no curtain on the stage, and the three members of “Ningen Isu” were setting up the stage by themselves.

This was a rare sight.

They played “Jigoku-no-Ryourinin (Hell’s Chef)” until the middle of the song, giving detailed instructions such as the guitars were too high, or the microphones for the two members should be higher, and so on.

Whenever they cut off the performance, Suzuki apologized in a small voice, saying, “I’m sorry we cut off halfway through”.

When it came time to adjust the microphone volume, the three of them sang a song to make the adjustment.

I wasn’t sure what Nobu was singing (some kind of popular song?), Suzuki sang “Taiyo-Kokuten(Sunspot)”, and Wajima sang “Namahage”.

After the three left the stage, the main performance began.

I had a cold today.

I will be able to watch the performance at the back of the stage.

Shigan-Goeika

The three appeared on stage to the usual SE.

Shincho-Kyurakyukyu-Bushi

This is one song that is definitely played at the beginning of the show these days.

The audience was already in the groove.

Neputa-no-Mondoriko

This year’s Hirosaki Neputa Festival was interrupted in the middle of the schedule due to an accident.

Because of that, they did not play at the last concert I saw in Aomori…but I was waiting for this!

This time it was in Hirosaki, so they couldn’t miss it.

Then the riff at the beginning was very exciting.

I got goosebumps when the riff exploded in the middle of the song after Suzuki’s laughter.

It’s a simple riff, but a prerequisite for a good riff is to be easily hummable.

banter

The weather was unusually fine today, so there was no “Sorry for the weather today…”.

They started off with a thank you for inviting us to the event.

Here are the members of the group.

“Wajima Shinji from Matsubara!” and “Suzuki Kenichi from Jumoku!”.

I was somewhat pleased to hear the names of places that I have been familiar with for a long time.

Only Nobu from in Kanto (or was it Koenji? I don’t remember).

Wajima said, “Everyone here is potential members of Buddha,” and the next song began.

Shitsu-Bussho

I was glad to hear this song, which was not played at the last concert, because I had wanted to hear it!

I still love the last part of the song.

The mix of stillness and movement really gets me fired up.

Maboroshi-Iro-no-Koto  Isolated Island of Phantom Color

I haven’t listened to it in a while.

After listening to it for the first time in a long time, I thought again that it is a ridiculously relentlessly composed progressive song.

The instrumental part that starts in the middle of the song is a lot of folding.

It is a maniacal song that I haven’t heard in recent works.

Ringo-no-Namida  Apple’s Tear

This song is from Hirosaki, so I couldn’t miss it.

It had been a long time since I heard this song, so it felt a little fresh.

The audience might have known this song, and they were in a groove.

banter

I heard that when they are touring, some of the songs gradually stop being played at live shows and are put into “storage”.

“Miss Android” from the new album “Burai-Hojo” is one of them, and it was performed only once during the tour.

It’s a pity, because it was one of the songs I wanted to hear.

They were originally going to play it today, but they cut it out and played “Apple’s Tear” instead.

Shinigami-no-Kyoen  Feast of the Grim Reaper

I haven’t heard this one in a while.

Suzuki’s vocals were more spirited and powerful than usual.

The song had a solid riff, a tempo change in the middle part, and the style that “Ningen Isu” is known for.

Shinen  The Abyss

Wow, this song is so cool.

I like the depressive guitar in the intro and the dramatic melody in the middle part.

It’s well composed and I never get tired of listening to it.

Wajima’s voice has also withered away, and it’s conversely very devilishly powerful.

Nobu’s banter

“Call me brother!” “May I sing?” and the customary call-and-response.

He was excited as usual.

Uchu-sen-Miroku-go  Spaceship Miroku

I guess “Kumo-no-Ito” didn’t come.

I prefer “Kumo-no-Ito”.

However, the high notes he produces in pain are as cool as ever.

Meishin  Superstition

Finally, the big end.

I love this song.

The riff is intense and cool, of course, but the strange structure is one of the charms of this song.

The “ooh-oh” part and the “Meishin!” part.

There are two different parts that the audience can shout out, and they are intricately intertwined.

It’s great.

The lyric, “I’ll make you the same tomorrow,” is also meaningful and scary.

Hari-no-Yama  Hell’s Mountain of Needles

The last part of the show, “Hari-no-Yama”.

The audience got excited as if everyone exploded.

The ending of the show was a big hit, with Wajima playing it with his teeth, holding it in his arms and playing it behind his heads.

This kind of acrobatic performance is a wonderful thing that anyone can enjoy.

Namahage

Encore song.

Wajima takes a pause before the guitar solo and plays.

I wonder if there has ever been such a guitar heroic solo in “Ningen Isu”.

This song is the lead track and has the power to attract even those who do not know “Ningen Isu”.

At the same time, I can feel Wajima’s bottomless talent, which has not aged a bit.

A great song!

At the end

This live concert was free of charge, and there were people who were not fans of the band.

In that sense, they might feel like a fish out of water than the tour, but “Ningen Isu” performed as usual.

Though the banter was a little less than usual.

Another best-of album will be released (I feel like it just came out recently…), a band score will be released, and the one-man show at Shibuya Kokaido has been scheduled…well, there is no choice but to go as far as they can!

I’ve been listening to the band since I was in elementary school, and I’m looking forward to seeing where “Ningen Isu” is going.

Wajima often says, “I will continue to play Ningen Isu until I die,” and I also want to go to “Ningen Isu” concert until I die.

If I were to die, I would be prepared to become a ghost and go to the live concert venue.

I am already looking forward to the next live performance.

September 30,2014　Freakz

(Postscript)

It was completely missing from my memory until I read it again.

It’s hard to believe now, but they had a free live concert.

It was at “Hirosaki Mag-Net,” which is no longer there.

It was nine years ago, so it was natural to forget.

But I have kept a precious record of it.

Fortunately, I have not turned into a ghost yet, and I am still going to “Ningen Isu” concerts in good health.

June 26,2023　Freakz