ConcertReport NingenIsu August 22,2014 Japan

In the beginning

I went to the “Ningen Isu” one-man show.

It’s been about a year since I’ve been there.

In the light rain (it really rains most of the time at Ningen Isu’s concerts), I arrived at the venue before the doors opened.

There seemed to be about 300 people there.

The show was not sold out, because tickets were sold on the day of the show.

T-shirts… it looks like only “Ningen Isu” ones.

I saw one guy wearing a shirt from the “Summer Demons” show that just took place last month.

As usual, I exchanged my drink ticket for a beer.

A nice cold can of beer.

The lights went down and the show started.

Cheers and applause.

Shigan-Goeika

The familiar sound of the SE.

Shincho-Kyurakyukyu-Bushi

The mellow guitar sound was replaced by a riff that was filled with excitement.

The audience swayed up and down to the rhythm.

I see, that’s why it’s called “Tate-nori”.

Oh, this song is so exciting.

Jigoku-no-Ryorinin  Hell’s Chef

From the new album “Burai-Hojo,” Suzuki’s horror lyrical world explodes in this fine song.

The crunchy riffs and hooks are very comfortable.

banter

The audience laughed when Suzuki greeted with his usual word, “In the midst of bad weather…”.

Suzuki said he made a mistake in the lyrics of the song “Jigoku-no-Ryorinin (Hell’s Chef)”.

He laughed and said that in Sendai he had fried it twice, but today he had ground it twice with a mortar.

The audience laughed when Wajima responded, “If you grind it twice, there won’t be any left”.

Suzuki laughed when a magazine commented on ” Jigoku-no-Ryorinin (Hell’s Chef)” that “Suzuki’s brutality stands out”.

Wajima often teased him for “brutal Suzuki”.

Hyocho-no-Teikoku  L’Empire des signes

I’m finally starting to understand the intro beat.

It’s simple compared to the progressive songs like before.

In the middle part, the tempo changes and the part where he sings “hyo-cho-no” is really cool.

Mushi  Insects

This is a nostalgic song.

I haven’t listened to this song for a long time.

The catchy riffs keep me listening to it all the time.

When the guitar solo started, Suzuki took a few steps back, and I thought “Oh, he’s going to play a long solo as usual,” it was still a long solo.

However, I got the impression that Wajima was playing while worrying whether the audience was getting bored or not.

Perhaps he thought the audience looked bored, he suddenly played a solo with his teeth in the middle of the solo.

He usually plays a few phrases with his teeth at the end of the show, but this time he played for quite a long time.

The audience was naturally excited!

The riff development was relentless, as it was an old song.

It was amazing that another riff popped up at the end of the song where the current “Ningen Isu” would end the song.

banter

Suzuki said Wajima looked like a rakugo artist when he saw him take off his jacket and put on a tasuki (a cord used to tuck up the sleeves of a kimono) as usual.

Wajima said, “That’s a signal that Makura (In rakugo, to tell a story that fits the performance of rakugo before going into the main part of the story.) is over and he is going to start the main program”.

Suzuki then asked, “Can’t he keep his jackets on until the end because it’s cold?”

Wajima chided him, saying, “That’s against the rules”.

Suzuki said he was not confident about the next song.

He said that Wajima’s lyrics were so different from his own that he could not get into them.

The audience laughed when he said, “‘I realized there is no limit…’ There is a limit, isn’t there?”

With this one word, “limits” became the key word of today’s banter.

Umare-Izuru-Tamashi  Soul to be born

The audience laughed a little at the beginning of the song due to the banter, which was understandable.

It was another speedy and exciting song.

The key was high, and Suzuki seemed to be having a hard time.

Minashigo-no-Shuffle  Shuffle of the Begotten

Suzuki could not hide his fatigue, but the song started without a pause.

Wow, this song brings back memories.

And I love this song.

The atmospheric solo was excellent.

The shuffle beat was very lively and pleasant to listen to.

banter

Wajima said he hadn’t played “Minago-no-Shuffle” for about 10 years.

Wajima introduced the song, “I arranged Mendelssohn’s music in the style of Black Sabbath”.

Kekkon-Kyosokyoku  Wedding Rhapsody

It was exactly as Wajima introduced it.

I had no idea that the phrase often used at weddings could be so frightening.

The idea is brilliant.

A light pop song.

Jigoku-hen  Portrait of Hell

Well, I couldn’t remember the name of the song at the venue.

I wonder if I had heard it live?

banter

Wajima talked about “Fruits of Faith” quite eloquently.

Reiju-no-Sakebi  Scream of Slavery

A heavily composed song with riff after riff.

It is a satisfactory performance for the fans of “Ningen Isu” from long time ago.

The tempo change section in the middle part is super cool!

Taiyo-Kokuten  Sunspots

Oh, I haven’t heard this live in a while.

I remember hearing it during the “Hoochie Koo” tour.

It’s a slow and sturdy song, like early “Ningen Isu” at its best.

The crunchy riff after the tempo change is really cool.

Wajima’s lyrical sense is also brilliant, to the point of being kind of eerie.

Kuroi-Taiyo  Schwarze Sonne

This song seems to have been played a lot recently.

The riff of the main theme is simple but cool and catchy.

I wonder if it was selected because of the sun connection?

It was included at the end of the album, so it’s one of the songs with a strong ending feeling.

I had a hunch that it would be “Taiyo-no-Botsuraku” after this, but no luck.

banter

Here is Nobu’s talk corner.

I wonder where was the banter?

He mentioned that the front two were getting presbyopia and were planning to buy bifocals.

In response, Nobu said, “I already have bifocals!” to the audience.

“I’m the only person in the world who can get excited about bifocals!”

Nobu is on a roll today.

He was in high spirits today.

“The only limit is my eyesight!”

I was impressed by Wajima’s admonishment, “It’s too funny”.

Uchusen-Miroku  Spaceship Miroku

The song started with the customary “May I sing?” and the start of the show.

Therefore, the songs Nobu sings are always exciting.

Many of the songs sung by Nobu, such as “Aka-to-Kuro” and “Kumo-no-Ito,” are classic.

This new song is also one of the most exciting songs.

The line “Waku-Waku-Suru” is very impressive.

Meishin  Superstition

Starting with a thrash-like riff, this song is probably one of the most intense songs in the new album.

In my opinion, it was the most exciting song of the show.

The exciting lyrics like “oh oh oh” and “meishin!”.

I think it’s a masterpiece.

Jigoku  Hell

This is one song that makes I am finally approaching the end of the show.

All that’s left is the intense catharsis to go along with the promise, man!

Raise both arms and take a big jump.

Hari-no-Yama  Hell’s Needle Mountain

As you know, this song is always played at the end of the show.

It’s a must-have song for the crowd.

Wajima wrote the lyrics to the song of “Budgie,” and it’s a great lyric, but it’s a little late for that.

The lyrics “Inujini nekojini mudajini orewashini” are just too good to be true.

The main part ended here.

After a while, the three members appeared again for an encore.

Wajima wanted to play an acoustic guitar, but it didn’t fit in the main program, so he asked for an encore.

The next song must be “Ligeia”.

However, wajima, perhaps enjoying himselves with acoustic guitars in his hands, started to play “Crazy Little Thing Called Love” by “Queen.

I love this kind of free atmosphere.

After a light performance of the first part of the song, Suzuki gave Wajima a piece of advice by imitating Freddie strumming more vigorously.

Wajima regretted that he had not been able to feel like a gay man.

Ligeia

This is an acoustic song, and there are not many for the “Ningen Isu”.

The song was sung with so much passion that I doubted if this was Wajima’s voice.

I was so happy to hear this one because I really wanted to hear it live.

Jigoku-Hukei  Hellscape

It took me a while to get my engine going because I had just come off the heat from “Liguia,” but I was headbanging so hard my neck hurt!

After the guitar solo, Suzuki encouraged the audience to jump high in the air by saying “Please!” during the 3-3-7 beat.

Good atmosphere.

After the members left, the band encored again.

Namahage

Oh, they are going to perform “Namahage” in the last song?

But maybe it was surprisingly appropriate for the last song.

The stirring right before the solo was super, super, bloodthirsty.

It’s a great song, after all.

In the last part of the song, the two front members faced each other and plucked the strings of the other’s instrument.

It was very moving.

At the end

That was the end of the live show.

The power of “Ningen Isu” has been increasing recently.

As Wajima said, they are working energetically as if they were making their second debut.

As the band is gaining more and more attention, Wajima’s desire to entertain the audience is getting stronger.

In the past, I had an image of Wajima as a simple man who played in an unassuming manner.

This change in Wajima as a person is, of course, a good thing.

It’s so moving to watch.

Well, there were many other new songs I wanted to hear, though I had no choice.

I especially wanted to hear “Miss Android”.

I hope they will play it someday.

August 25,2014　Freakz

(Postscript)

This is a report from 2014 and there were tickets available on the day of the show.

I think it was just before the band’s popularity grew.

Nowadays, the Aomori Quarter gigs sell out in fan club advance.

I’m surprised that they played “Namahage” for the last show, so I guess it’s become a staple since then.

Unfortunately, I have never been able to hear “Miss Android” live.

I envy those who were able to hear it.

But it’s a good report with detailed banters.

Don’t brag on myself.

June 28,2023　Freakz