VOL.165 live report“GARNET CROW livescope 2008 〜Are you ready to lock on?!〜”2008.8.16 Tokyo JCB Hall

●○○From music freak magazine Vol.165

GARNET CROW

GARNET CROW livescope 2008
～Are you ready to lock on ?!～

2008.8.16＠Tokyo JCB Hall

GARNET CROW held their first summer live. As Yuri Nakamura said in last month’s interview, “There is no precedent for summer, so it is an unknown world.” With even the members and audience unable to predict how the stage would unfold, it must have become a memorable performance. In this issue, we report on the first day of “GARNET CROW livescope 2008 ～Are you ready to lock on ?!～,” held at Tokyo’s JCB Hall on August 16.

On August 16, in Tokyo, which was struck by the height of summer and a heat that brought a thin sheen of sweat to the skin, “GARNET CROW livescope 2008 ～Are you ready to lock on ?!～” was held. People who had been looking forward to the day packed into JCB Hall, and before long the seats were filled. Because this venue was designed so that the stage could be seen clearly even from the third-floor seats and the rear of the arena, many audience members were surprised by how close the stage felt from their seats. Looking across the venue, which was filled with anticipation for GARNET CROW’s first summer live, the eye was drawn to a white Crow ornament suspended above the center of the stage. A set in which 20 mini crows surrounded the ornament in a radial pattern made a powerful impression. The tour logo appeared on the screen below, and its target-shaped design matched perfectly with the jazz numbers playing as the venue BGM. As the scene spread out like something that had already “locked on” before the show began, the lights finally went down. Fantastical images appeared on the screen, and applause broke out as the support members came onto the stage; it grew even louder when the GARNET CROW members appeared.

The first song was “Saigo no Ritou,” also the opening number from the album 『LOCKS』. Illustrations from the album’s inner artwork appeared on the screen, and as the audience’s eyes turned toward the stage all at once, the warm sound transformed the venue into GARNET CROW’s sonic world. “Natsu no Maboroshi” followed in an arrangement with an even fresher feel, making it particularly special to hear live in this season. As Nakamura’s clear, strong voice spread to every corner of the venue while she sang with a tambourine, the other members’ happy expressions as they played and watched the audience were striking. After Nakamura declared, “We have been looking forward to our first summer live. Everyone, enjoy it too!!,” “Mou Ichido Waratte” sent an even fresher breeze through the hall. The audience then took in their deep sound through “call my name,” which featured an enjoyable guitar solo by Okamoto, and “Mizu no Nai Hareta Umi e,” whose lighting evoked the bottom of the sea and matched AZUKI’s dignified piano solo beautifully. The set moved into the middle with a well-balanced lineup that drew everyone in: the whole venue enjoyed a dance-hall atmosphere during “wish★,” followed by a solid finish with “Endless Desire.”

“It is a little early, but it is time for our customary break♪,” Nakamura announced, beginning an acoustic corner led by Okamoto. It has become a fixture of GARNET CROW’s live shows and a favorite part of the audience’s experience, but this time Furui joined on acoustic guitar and chorus, and the sudden appearance of “Wasurezak” brought cries of amazement from the seats. Okamoto sang with a slightly bashful expression, his gentle voice echoing through the venue while Nakamura’s chorus added a touch of color. Once everyone had settled down, the main set returned with “The first cry.” It was one of the songs the members especially liked among the tracks on 『LOCKS』, and it was also a favorite among fans. Strings and saxophone joined here, giving the performance an overwhelming presence. The images on the screen featured tanks and children from foreign lands, keeping the audience riveted with staging that emphasized the song’s message. After the popular coupling track “Mawari Michi” was performed, the latest single “Yume no Hitotsu” appeared. Since the concert took place just after the single’s release, it must have been a welcome song for the audience. The playing and vocals, each note delivered with care, amplified the song’s power and enveloped the venue.

The second break was a dancing corner. Everyone was invited to dance along to the choreography created for the chorus of “Mr. Holiday.” There had been songs with simple movements such as waving hands, but never choreography involving this much movement and jumping, so plenty of rehearsal time was set aside for Nakamura’s dance instruction. While Nakamura taught the moves, Okamoto took over the vocals in her place, and Furui and AZUKI danced along too. After several rounds of practice, the audience’s dancing began to synchronize, and there was even a moment when the members were surprised by how quickly everyone learned the moves. When the performance began with everyone fully prepared, the dance was perfectly synchronized, and during the jumps the members could feel the unity of the venue firsthand. Once the distance between stage and audience had shrunk and the heat had risen, they launched into “Namida no Yesterday (album ver.).” The strings heightened the dramatic development, and Nakamura’s soaring vocal rang out beautifully. After “Maboroshi,” the audience staged a surprise for the members during “Holy ground.” As soon as the song began, they lit the pink glow sticks that had been handed out in advance. The members’ gentle expressions as they looked across the venue, now colored pink, were unforgettable. As the bond in the hall grew stronger, the stage began to accelerate toward its finale. After Nakamura said, “As the red birds of happiness, we want to continue bringing you even better songs,” they performed “Love is a Bird,” the final track on 『LOCKS』. The sight of the audience waving their hands from side to side in response to Nakamura’s “Sing along with us!!” was beautiful, and became a scene that strongly conveyed the connection between the members and the audience. After a brief cool-down with “Yume mita ato de” and “Sekai wa mawaru to iu keredo,” the show prepared to race toward the main-set finale. The heat in the venue rose again as soon as “Futari no Rocket” began. Furui and AZUKI, illuminated by pin spots, played their melodies lightly, while Nakamura moved from one side of the stage to the other with a handheld microphone, singing happily. When Furui or Okamoto urged the audience to clap along, they responded immediately with loud applause. The lively exchange between members and audience continued through “Kimi no Omoi Egaita Yume Atsumeru HEAVEN.” In “Argentina,” the red-lit stage enhanced the passionate world of the song, and the audience heated up further as if they had been waiting for it. The momentum did not let up through the final main-set song, “Koyoi Eden no Katasumi de,” and as the members left the stage to cheers and applause, a GARNET call began immediately.

The members appeared for the encore in slightly more casual outfits than in the main set. The story behind the first song, “Himawari no Iro,” was memorable: they chose it to send to the audience, taking inspiration from the sunflower’s language of flowers, “I want to keep looking at you.” After “Futari,” which included introductions of the band members, they moved on to the final number, “Spiral.” Fitting for the last song, the members threw all the power they had at the audience. When Nakamura energetically asked, “Can you sing it one more time?”, the audience responded, and the final chorus was repeated three times that day. The many fists raised toward the stage conveyed the audience’s desire to carve the day’s live show firmly into their memories, and the heat born there remained even after the members had left the stage.

GARNET CROW are particular about every detail of their music and put creating better works first. Through their activities to date, it also feels as if they have built a better sense of distance with their audiences at live shows. The warm applause that rose from the seats after Nakamura said in the final MC, “We will continue delivering our songs with all our heart,” may have told the story of the relationship between GARNET CROW and their listeners. There is no doubt that their first summer live was a livelier, more commanding stage than any they had put on before.
（TEXT BY YUKI TACHIBANA）

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