Es VOL.2 live report“Special Countdown Live 2009-2010”(second half)

●○○From music freak Es Vol.2

As GARNET CROW approached the major milestone of its tenth anniversary, the group held its first countdown live at NHK Osaka Hall on December 31, 2009. This report covers the event.

...with their whole bodies. As large balloons burst out into the venue, Nakamura sang while filming the crowd with a handheld camera. GARNET CROW possesses a quiet, refined musicality, and that may be precisely why they can enjoy the exuberant festival of a countdown with such heightened emotion.

The momentum did not let up, leading into the punk version of "Mysterious Eyes." The entire band leaped about as if flying freely through the open sky. AZUKI's piano, usually lyrical, was also literally jumping with phrases centered on quarter-note beats. Furuya continued to urge on the audience with his left hand more than usual while playing organ. Even amid all that excitement, however, it was important not to miss the way everyone remained focused on delivering the music properly—for instance, Karita quietly supported the backing just before Okamoto began preparing for his solo.

Then "Fall in Life 〜Hallelujah〜" exploded as the snare hammered out quarter-note beats. Its intro began with a descending bass line—do, ti, la, sol, fa, mi...—over a grand circular progression. The entire venue swayed with clapping. When the chord changes to B♭ at the start of the B section, the energy of every member seemed to change the scenery of the song. Then came the chorus with its grand circular chords, like visiting a beloved hometown and receiving new strength. Furuya began urging on the audience from the second B section, almost foreshadowing the chorus, and the entire venue heated up when it arrived. At the line "as my racing heart feels," I felt as if every pore in my body had opened, and tears of joy spilled over. It struck me perfectly—just as the lyric says, "until I feel happy about everything that was planned."

Nakamura then said, "Thanks to all of you, we have reached our tenth year. Thank you!" She asked the other members to reflect on the past decade, then introduced "Yume Mita Ato de" with the words, "I will sing it with ten years of gratitude." Nakamura and Okamoto began the chorus like a verse, accompanied only by their acoustic guitars. The familiar moving intro followed and the main song began, sending the venue into another wave of emotion.

Next came the shuffle of "Mr. Holiday." They normally teach the audience the choreography, but there was no particular instruction this time. Even so, everyone in the venue knew what to do, which was impressive. I feel GARNET CROW has a generous, welcoming atmosphere that embraces even people dancing for the first time. For me, it was a poppy and enjoyable moment.

The next song, "Secret Path," had a simple, wild instrumental arrangement in which Okamoto's heavy riff locked tightly with Ohashi's thick, grinding bass. "Koyoi Eden no Katasumi de" that followed was similarly muscular, built from drums, pounding eight-beat guitar, and bass. The triplet groove of AZUKI's piano in the B section was restrained but extremely cool. Furuya's organ grew heated, and when every player turned up the volume for the chorus, Nakamura launched into an exuberant call-and-response of "Chance!" and "Spark!" The stage and the audience became one as they rushed into the main-set finale, "Kimi no Omoiegaita Yume Atsumeru HEAVEN!" At the end, the house lights came up and Nakamura thanked everyone again and again.

Answering the unending encore, the members returned wearing tour T-shirts with the tenth-anniversary logo and red hoodies. "Sekai wa Mawaru to Iu Keredo" featured AZUKI's lyrical piano riff, Okamoto's tasteful fills, and Furuya's solemn organ, with a key change in the chorus. Even though I know the song, every chorus brings a fresh surprise and discovery, as if it catches me off guard—another song capable of bringing tears.

After introducing the support members, they talked about the tenth-anniversary best album and the 2010 best tour, and each member shared their goals for the year. They then performed "As The Dew," included on the best album. It was a cool, stylish sixteen-beat song, and its piano recalled "Mizu no Nai Hareta Umi e." Next came "Futari no Rocket," followed by the final song, "Spiral." It began slowly in half-time, then everyone piled into the chorus.

During the instrumental break, Furuya stood proudly onstage with a shoulder keyboard and played his solo. Okamoto took over for his own solo, then he, Nakamura, and Furuya raced from stage right to stage left and back again, as if acting out a grand fight scene, pressing right up to the edge of the stage. At the accents, everyone onstage and in the venue jumped at once, making the whole room shake. The final chorus was repeated several times. Nakamura deliberately pushed Furuya toward the audience, and he tumbled straight into the crowd, creating a surprise that brought the house down. The show ended with Nakamura's gratitude-filled voice—"Thank you! Let's have a great year!"—and the closing performance by everyone involved. Finally, when the members came to the front of the stage for their lineup, the venue continued to send them cheers and applause.

GARNET CROW was filled with energy that suited the start of 2010. They had become a reassuring presence, one that made it possible to imagine their success over the next ten years. For now, I want to continue following GARNET CROW throughout 2010.
(TEXT BY SHOTARO IRIE)

【SET LIST】
01. Elysium
02. call my name
03. Yuzukiyo
04. Maboroshi
05. Go For It
06. Timeless Sleep
07. Kimi no Ie ni Tsuku made Zutto Hashitte Yuku (indies Ver.)
08. Yofuke no Ryuuseitachi
09. Crystal Gauge
10. Yume no Hitotsu
11. Mizu no Nai Hareta Umi e
12. Naked Story
13. wish☆
14. Hana wa Saite Tada Yurete
15. Love Lone Star
16. Futari
17. Mysterious Eyes (Punk Ver.)
18. Fall in Life 〜Hallelujah〜
19. Yume Mita Ato de
20. Mr. Holiday
21. Secret Path
22. Koyoi Eden no Katasumi de
23. Kimi no Omoiegaita Yume Atsumeru HEAVEN
［ENCORE］
01. Sekai wa Mawaru to Iu Keredo
02. As The Dew (new song)
03. Futari no Rocket
04. Spiral