Es VOL.25 live report“Special Countdown Live 2011-2012”

At 9:00 p.m. on December 31, I cycled from Kita-Horie, where the GIZA Building stands, to Dojima River Forum. With the year drawing to a close, few people were out, and the office district we passed through was sparsely lit. At the riverside venue, only the area around it shone with a dazzling white light.

At 9:45 p.m., as the doors opened, spectators began arriving from every direction. At first they trickled in tentatively, but before long the venue was packed. The excitement of the fans waiting impatiently for the show to begin bounced off the huge disco ball overhead.

The opening began with a techno-style loop sound. One by one, the members appeared behind a translucent curtain, their silhouettes emerging into view. Each appearance drew a rumble from the audience. When the curtain was removed from the stage to the count of “1, 2, 3, 4,” there stood the four members alongside the familiar supporting rhythm section: six people in all. The first song was “Bokura dake no Mirai,” announcing the beginning of the celebration. Its powerful groove immediately drew both eyes and ears toward the stage. Vocalist Yuri Nakamura wore a glittering short jacket, a black short dress, garnet-colored long boots, and a matching hair ornament, giving her the radiant elegance of a European doll. AZUKI Nana, on stage right, wore a stylish glitter-accented outfit. Turning to stage left, there was the familiar sight of the “God Hand,” Hiroto Furui, in sunglasses and a suit, alongside the fashionable guitarist Hitoshi Okamoto in a perfectly matched hat. Lit by glittering backlights, they looked every bit the GARNET CROW we had hoped to see. Soon after the passionate number ended, they moved into the rock groove of “doubt,” then raced through three songs in succession with the upbeat “Issho ni Kurasou” from their latest album.

“Sorry to keep you waiting—this is GARNET CROW!” Yuri opened. Since this was the first time in about a year that the band had appeared together, she immediately began firing questions at the other members like an interviewer. The contrast between the startled AZUKI Nana, caught off guard by the sudden questions, and Okamoto, who replied “There’s a sense of tension, isn’t there?” while still radiating a relaxed air, was delightful. Then, accompanied by “Please enjoy yourselves until the very end today!”, they performed the bright-toned “nonsense.” The audience raised their hands in unison with the images on the screen, and the call-and-response handclaps created a warm, friendly atmosphere. They continued straight into the nostalgic yet unforgettable “Mysterious Eyes.” The live arrangement gave it a lighter, brisker rock feel, making it sound fresh again. After “Rainy Soul” came the classic “Mizu no Nai Hareta Umi e.” Blue lighting heightened the song’s mysterious GARNET quality, creating a beautiful effect. As the disco ball slowly began to turn, the staging seemed to draw the audience into the deep sea along with the music. AZUKI Nana’s piano playing was especially memorable.

During the second MC segment, the members shared episodes from the past year. According to Yuri, GARNET CROW concerts are a power spot for romance, and a remarkably high number of couples who meet at their shows end up together. For those couples, they offered plenty of happiness with “Hachigatsu no Yoru,” a song perfect for a quiet night and memorable for its romantic melody. It was followed by the dramatic standard “Timeless Sleep,” and the entire venue was completely dyed in the colors of the GARNET world.

At the midpoint of the show, after a brief pause, Hitoshi Okamoto was introduced. Yuri called him “Hitoshi Okamoto, also known as SUPER LIGHT, who has recently been told he looks a little like Jang Geun-suk—and doesn’t seem to mind it.” He performed “Uminari” from his solo album, adding color to the show with his rich, distinctive vocals. Next came the latest single, “Misty Mystery.” Its aggressive live arrangement and hard-edged performance were thrilling. In “Rhythm,” Yuri’s high register, ringing out as if from the heavens, heightened the drama.

The third MC turned to stories about the latest album, *Memories*, released on December 7 of the previous year. The four members continued with an entertaining conversation about their individual feelings toward the album and the differences in their personalities. Then they performed “Eiyu,” completed during the final stage of the album’s production and especially meaningful to them—the song sometimes jokingly called “Hiteo.” The lighting made it seem as if a starry sky were sparkling above the stage. The weighty sound and the double vocals of Yuri and Okamoto were deeply satisfying. “Mikansei na Neiro,” which began a cappella, sank deeply into the heart, its effect enhanced by its philosophical lyrics. Then, as the green lights that had created the atmosphere of silence began turning pink, the second half started with the glamorous “Namida no Yesterday.” Once again the venue filled with raised arms, cheers, and a swelling sense of excitement.

The conversation then turned to the coupling-song best album scheduled for release on February 29. After the members had thoroughly enjoyed discussing it, they performed “Mawarimichi,” the song that had received the most votes from the fans. Its beautiful voice, rich with alpha waves, was dazzling. As the song ended, the close of 2011 was drawing near. Yuri looked up at the screen and murmured, “It’s almost time for the countdown…”—only to realize that midnight was already 33 seconds away. In the ensuing rush, everyone began counting down together from 20 seconds before midnight, carrying the audience across into 2012. The moment they safely crossed into the new year, the words “A HAPPY NEW YEAR 2012” danced across the screen. “Smiley Nation” began with its glittering tones. As its bright sound filled the venue, several huge balloons were dropped, while Yuri filmed the entire audience with a video camera onstage. To heighten the celebratory mood of 2012 even further, they performed “Lonely Night,” the song on the latest album with the strongest digital-beat flavor. Audience members immediately raised the Lonely Lights sold at the merchandise booth high overhead. Though it was being performed live for the first time, it was clearly destined to become a concert staple.

“Have you still got the energy? Let’s keep this going!” Yuri called out. Without a moment’s pause, they pulled the audience in with a series of fast-paced numbers—“wish★” (the playful exchange of poses during the chorus was a delight!), “Futari no Rocket,” and “Koyoi Eden no Katasumi de”—and raced through four songs in succession to bring the main set to a thrilling close.

Amid the applause for the encore, the four returned in casual clothes: T-shirts and knitted caps. Their playful poses and mischievous behavior created an even more relaxed mood than during the main set. Then came a welcome surprise. Prompted by the fans, Yuri performed one chorus each of the Japanese and English versions of “JUDY” on the spot, even though it had not been scheduled. It left everyone hoping to hear the full song on the spring tour. In the joy and festive spirit of the new year, the three-song encore continued with “Kimi no Omoiegaita Yume Atsumeru HEAVEN” and “Fall in Life ~Hallelujah~.” They closed with the passionate “Argentina.”

The concert needed neither flashy staging nor special effects. By simply releasing the power of the songs and the members’ personalities just as they were, it created a warm experience that took firm root in the audience’s hearts. It made me realize that this sense of unity is precisely where the meaning and significance of a countdown concert lie. Since the whole year is said to be determined by New Year’s Day, this was a concert that left us eagerly anticipating GARNET CROW’s new challenges and further leaps forward in the year ahead.

　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　(TEXT BY SAI SAITA)

[SET LIST]
01. Bokura dake no Mirai
02. doubt
03. Issho ni Kurasou
04. nonsense
05. Mysterious Eyes
06. Rainy Soul
07. Mizu no Nai Hareta Umi e
08. Hachigatsu no Yoru
09. Timeless Sleep
10. Uminari
11. Misty Mystery
12. Rhythm
13. Eiyu
14. Mikansei na Neiro
15. Namida no Yesterday
16. Mawarimichi
17. Smiley Nation
18. Lonely Night
19. wish★
20. Futari no Rocket
21. Koyoi Eden no Katasumi de

(ENCORE)
EN1 Kimi no Omoiegaita Yume Atsumeru HEAVEN
EN2. Fall in Life ~Hallelujah~
EN3. Argentina