【VG】LIVE REPORT｜defspiral 8th Anniversary Live –Dear Freaks-

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defspiral 8th Anniversary Live –Dear Freaks-

For their 8^th anniversary, defspiral held their annual anniversary live, “Dear Freaks”, at a sanctuary of rock, Meguro RockMayKan. This live was split in two parts on different days, May 25 and 26. Amazingly, they played a total of 48 songs between the 2 days. This magnificent project could not have been achieved without the band’s love of music, trust between the members, and gratitude to the fans. They summarized their history of 8 years in those 2 days by playing songs from their first and second albums for the first day, and songs from their third and fourth albums for the second day. Without a doubt, they showed their fans hot and exciting lives at Meguro RockMayKan.

(毎年恒例となっているdefspiralの周年ライブ「Dear Freaks」。8周年の今年はロックの殿堂、目黒鹿鳴館にて5月25日、26日の2デイズで行われ、2日間で演奏した楽曲はなんと48曲。彼らの音楽に対する愛、メンバー同士の信頼感、そしてファンへの感謝がなければ、これほどまでに壮大な企画を成しえることはなかっただろう。2日間で、defspiralの8年の歴史を集約し、初日は1st、2ndアルバムの全曲、2日目は3rd、4thアルバムの全曲を披露。とにかく熱く激しい2日間であったことは間違いない。)

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DAY 1

When the venue became dark and the opening music started, the floor became filled with tension and anticipation for what kind of songs the band would play for the first of the two days. As cheers sounded, the members appeared onto the stage one by one with a sense of determination. After a moment of stillness, the intro of their first single, “DIVE INTO THE MIRROR”, which the band has played for 8 years as their starting point for many lives, began to echo through the venue. RYO’s smooth bass rumbled on to MASAKI’s strong drumming, and MASATO’s guitars overlapped the rhythm spectacularly. TAKA attracted the fans with his intense stare and powerful voice. In the next song “READY OR NOT”, the fans headbanged with an intensity as if they were waiting for that moment, and abandoned themselves to the groove created by the band. For the guitar solo, MASATO created a sharp sound as if his guitar were showing its fangs, and then, the floor was filled with an air of excitement as the fans knew that they were about to get much more from the band.

(会場が暗転し、SEが流れ始めると、これから2日間のライブでどんな曲を披露してくれるのか、期待感と緊張感が会場を包み込む。歓声の響く中、登場したメンバーたちからはこの周年ライブへの決意が感じられる。一瞬の静寂の後、1stシングル「DIVE INTO THE MIRROR」のイントロが流れる。この8年間ずっと演奏してきた彼らの始まりの曲だ。MASAKIの骨太なドラムに、RYOの滑らかなベース音が唸り、MASATOの可憐なギターが重なる。TAKAは鋭い眼差しと力強い歌声で会場を魅了する。続く「READY OR NOT」では、この時を待っていたといわんばかりにファンは激しく頭を振り乱し、バンドが作り出すグルーヴにただただ身を委ねる。ギターソロでは、MASATOのギターが牙をむいたかのように鋭い音を放ち、会場はより一層熱気に満ちていく。)

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“Welcome to our 8^th anniversary show! Let’s make it the best memorial day together!” After TAKA’s shout, the time for the danceable number “MASQUERADE” came as the stage became lit with colorful lights and sparkles from the mirror ball. The venue transformed into a dance floor with the feeling of a luxurious live performance. After the lights changed to fascinating pink, the slapping bass added some spice to the soft guitars for “Hana to Libido”, and the audience swayed their bodies to the rhythm.

(「8^th Anniversaryへようこそ！最高の記念日にしようぜ！」とTAKAが叫ぶと、カラフルなライトにミラーボールがぴったりのダンスナンバー「MASQUERADE」の時間だ。会場は贅沢な生演奏のあるダンスフロアへと化す。そして妖艶なピンクのライトに変わり、柔らかいギター音にベースのスラップがスパイスを与えていく「花とリビドー」では、そのリズムに合わせて会場は体を揺らす。)

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“VOYAGE” completely changed the mood as if the band was signaling that the second half of the live would start. MASAKI showed off the complicated drumming with no difficulty, continuing to display his drumming skill in the speedy “STORM.” This is a fitting name for the number, as the powerful sound engulfed the floor like a storm. The band showed off their darker side in the next set of songs, using ”NIGHTMARE” to lead their followers into a dark world, “Misty” inviting those who dared continue to an even deeper world, and “VERMILLION” was used to express defspiral’s core identity.

(まるでここからが後半戦だと伝えるかのような、空気を一転させる「VOYAGE」では、複雑なドラミングを難なく披露するMASAKI。疾走感のある「STORM」ではバンドが作り出す音の嵐で会場を呑み込んでいく。そしてダークな世界へと引き込まれるスリリングな「NIGHTMARE」、更なる深みへと誘う「Misty」、defspiralの深い芯の部分を表現するかのような「VERMILLION」と立て続けにダークな側面を見せつけていく。)

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“Welcome to Dear Freaks. 8 years have passed without us realizing. We have so many songs to choose from to play so we won’t play any of the same songs between the two days [of Dear Freaks]. We will perform songs only for those who have gathered here today, so enjoy our show!” TAKA delivered these lines to get the crowd further pumped up before throwing himself back into singing as if to purely enjoy the music the band had created for a pleasant atmosphere during “RAINBOW”. Next, MASATO’s sensitive guitars created painful feelings in “GLARE”, the band’s messages in “MELODY” pierced the audience’s hearts, and in “Twilight” the melodious notes co-existed with a heavy atmosphere. For “RESISTANCE”, MASATO provocatively added his sounds to RYO’s bass slap solo. The last number of the main set was “PROGRESS” which was the crowning jewel in their first album. The members and the fans sang altogether in the light venue, and the main set concluded with this gentle yet powerful music.

(「Dear Freaksへようこそ。気が付けば8年経って、とてもたくさんの曲があります。2デイズ、同じ曲はやりません。今日集まった人だけに演奏するので楽しんでいってください」と語ると、TAKAが純粋に音楽を楽しみ、いい意味で音を弄んでいるかのように歌う「RAINBOW」、MASATOの繊細なギターが切なさを醸し出す「GLARE」、メッセージ性が強く心に響く「MELODY」、そしてメロディアスな旋律と激しさが共存する「トワイライト」と続き、「RESISTANCE」ではRYOのベースソロに挑発するかのようにMASATOが音を重ねていく。本編ラストは1stアルバムのラストを飾った「PROGRESS」。明るい会場でメンバーもファンも一緒に歌い、優しくも力強い1曲で本編を締めくくった。)

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As soon as the members came back to the stage for the encore, the band presented rock numbers, “REVOLVER”, “BREAK THE SILENCE”, and “SALVAGE” without any emcee. In contrast, once the members appeared for the double encore, they made the fans laugh with previously unknown stories of their 8th anniversary special goods, such as RYO’s candies, tape with their portraits drawn by MASAKI, and square mini towels with a cat mascot designed by TAKA. These were a contrast to defspiral’s image as a cool band. And lastly, before the last three songs, TAKA expressed, “Meguro RockMayKan is our special place where our fate started changing a lot. I am so glad that I could perform on this stage today.” The first day was impressively ended with “STORY”, “REASON”, and “LOTUS”.

(アンコールで登場すると、MCもなく「REVOLVER」「BREAK THE SILENCE」「SALVAGE」とロックな3曲で一気に駆け抜け、ダブルアンコールで再度登場すると、本来クールなイメージのバンドであるにもかかわらず、今回8周年記念グッズとして販売された、飴やメンバーの似顔絵のテープ、そしてゆるい猫がデザインされたタオルなど、その製作秘話で笑いが巻き起こる。そしてラスト3曲を前に、「目黒鹿鳴館は僕たちの運命が大きく変わり出した場所です。そこで今日ライブができてとても嬉しいです」と語り、「STORY」「REASON」「LOTUS」と見ごたえたっぷりな一日目が幕を閉じた。)

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DAY 2

Because TAKA had clearly stated that any of the songs they played last night would not be performed during the second day, the audience started speculating what songs they would hear and what would be different from yesterday’s setlist. They didn’t have to wait for long, as the band encouraged the fans to get riled up right from the beginning with the vigorous song “AURORA”, leading into more excitement with the wild song, “PULSE” right after. “Let me hear your voice!” cried TAKA, as MASATO got the audience fired up for more by raising his guitar. defspiral’s late-stage numbers were played one after another as if they were showing their evolution to a deeper sound.

(2日間、楽曲は一切被らないとTAKAが公言していたこともあり、前日とは違う曲がたくさん聴けるという期待感が膨らむ。1曲目からとにかくパワフルで勢いが炸裂する「AURORA」で飛ばし、ワイルドな「PULSE」で更なる熱気を導く。「みんなの声を聞かせてくれ！」と叫ぶTAKA、そしてギターを持ち上げ煽るMASATO。より重厚なサウンドへの進化を露呈するかのようにdefspiral後期の楽曲たちが次々に披露されていく。)

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“Today is the real anniversary for you and us! Are you ready?” After TAKA’s cry, MASAKI showed off even more impressive drumming followed by RYO’s and MASATO’s alternate shouts in the intro of “THANATOS”, as TAKA danced and sang sensually. And then, “Hollow” followed, the band using this as a starting point for presenting a succession of songs that heated the audience up in shows as if they were presenting a challenge to their fans. As the audience members’ excitement rose, so did the band members’.

(「今日が正真正銘の俺たちとお前たちにとっての記念日です。準備はいいか？」とTAKAが叫ぶと、RYOとMASATOの交互の煽りから、MASAKIの迫力満点のドラムが続き、始まった「THANATOS」では、TAKAは挑発的に淫らに踊り歌う。そして、ついてこられるかとファンに挑戦状を突き付けるかのように「Hollow」が続き、ライブで盛り上がりを見せる曲たちを立て続けにファンへ贈る。フロアからの熱気にメンバーもどんどん高揚していく。)

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Regarding the newest songs, “MOBIUS” had a bouncy rhythm which was reminiscent of their previous band, TRANSTIC NERVE, while “LABYRINTH” showed the dark side of defspiral to the fullest extent. “GHOST” then layered onto that, giving a sense that even more darkness was approaching, before the upright bass deeply echoed alongside the airy drumming in “Canary”. MASATO’s wistful melody was touching, and the audience listened in rapture to TAKA’s emotional vocals as if they were captivated.

(彼らの前身バンド、TRANSTIC NERVEを彷彿とさせるような軽快なリズムの「MOBIUS」、defspiralのダークな世界観が存分に吹き込まれた「LABYRINTH」、そして闇が迫りくるような「GHOST」といった最新の楽曲たちに続き、「カナリア」では軽やかなドラムにアップライトベースが深く響く。MASATOの切ないメロディーが胸に響き、TAKAのエモーショナルな歌声に心を奪われたかのように会場はうっとりと聴き入る。)

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“You are the leading part in shows! Play hard! Are you ready, Freaks?” “IN FLAMES” started just after TAKA’s cry, and the fans danced wildly. Responding to the madness, TAKA encouraged the frenzy to continue with sultry and provocative glances thrown out to the crowd. The whole venue was absorbed into the fascinating world. The next song “SILVER ARROW” grabbed the audience’s hearts with the heavy intro, so heavy that it seemed as if the sound waves were attacking the floor. In contrast, “SERENADE” entertained the fans with a gorgeous intro reminiscent of classical music. TAKA shouted many times on that day as if his unrestrained emotions were overflowing from his body and being impressively thrown against the sound as they grew. “Thank you for the wonderful time! Let’s enjoy our life that is only lived once! You guys showed us good expressions! Thank you very much indeed! Follow your hearts…” Lastly, TAKA unveiled his true feelings, and the main set ended with “METEOR” with touching lyrics representing TAKA’s previous words.

(「ライブはみんなが主役です。思いっきりやってください！いいかFreaks!」TAKAの煽りからスタートしたのは、「IN FLAMES」。踊り狂う会場、そしてそれに応えるかのようにTAKAはより一層セクシーに挑発する。会場全体が妖艶な世界へと溶け込んでいく。続く「SILVER ARROW」は、まさに音の波が襲いかかってくるような激しいイントロに心を掴まれる。そして「SERENADE」は、また違ったクラシック音楽のようなゴージャスなイントロで楽しませてくれる。この日のTAKAは抑えきれない感情が溢れだすかのように幾度となく叫び、高ぶる感情を音にぶつけていたのが印象的だった。「最高の時間をありがとう。一度きりの人生、楽しんでいきましょう！みんないい顔してたぞ！本当にどうもありがとう！心のままに。」とラストに想いを伝え、その言葉を象徴するかのような歌詞が胸を打つ「METEOR」でこの日の本編を終えた。)

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In the encore on that day, it was a surprise that defspiral presented their cover of hide’s song “DOUBT” to the fans. The cheers and excitement when the intro began surely reached the seat that was reserved for hide in the venue. All of the members’ feelings to hide might have been delivered to him by performing this number at this venue.

(この日のアンコールでは、hideのカバー曲「DOUBT」をサプライズでファンへプレゼント。イントロが始まった瞬間の歓声、そしてその盛り上がりは、会場に用意されていたhideの席にも確実に届いていた。この会場でこの曲を演奏することによって、彼らの想いのすべてをhideへ届けられたのではないだろうか。)

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After the members reappeared for the double encore, the members talked about the differences of each part between the early stage and the last stage. It seems that there were many loud songs with straight lyrics and music in the early stage, but many songs with more mature and attractive moods in the last stage. After the conversation, TAKA showed his silky and graceful vocals freely for “GALAXY” which was played in an acoustic style, an arrangement that was rare in lives. While the venue was filled with a warm atmosphere, the band announced their second nationwide tour for 2018 and a new CD release this autumn. The band finally performed “brilliant” and “CARNAVAL,” songs that express the bright future, and after 48 songs and double encores for both days, the 8^th anniversary live celebration came to an end.

(ダブルアンコールに登場すると、初期と後期のそれぞれのパートの違いなどを語り、基本的には、前期は派手でストレートに響く曲が多く、後期はアダルトな雰囲気の曲が多いそうだ。そんな告白の後、ライブで行うのは珍しいというアコースティックスタイルの「GALAXY」では、TAKAはその艶のある優美な歌声を惜しみなく披露。温かい空気に包まれたところで、2018年の活動として、今秋、今年2度目の全国ツアーと新しい音源をリリースすることを発表。今後の明るい未来を感じさせる「brilliant」と「CARNAVAL」を最後に演奏し、2日間ダブルアンコールを含む、全48曲という8周年記念ライブの幕が完全に閉じた。)

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There are those who feel 8 years is a short amount of time, but there are also those who feel 8 years is a long time. However, the members have performed in their previous band with the same dreams and goals since more than 8 years ago. Nevertheless, they are still evolving and the band has the power to overwhelm the audience. defspiral has gathered this power throughout their time as a band, and have projected to their audience that their evolution will not stop as they continue with their life in music. Let’s look forward to what evolution the band will show us as they progress towards their 9^th and 10^th anniversaries.

(8年という月日をあっという間に感じる人も、長いと感じる人もいるだろう。しかし彼らはその遥か前、前身バンドから同じ夢、目標を掲げ活動をしてきた。それでもなお進化し続けるその姿は観るものを圧倒するパワーがある。彼らの音楽人生のすべてが集約され、投影されているdefspiralは、まだまだ進化が止まらない。今後、9周年、そして10周年に向けて、どんな進化を見せてくれるのか期待したい。)

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