【VG】Live Report | Kra 15th Anniversary Live

【VG】Live Report | Kra 15th Anniversary Live

Kra 15^th Anniversary Live [ideal scheme～いまも、あの時も支えてくれた全ての人に～すべてうまくいくよ、大人も子供もみんなでメルヘン！]

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Kra, who create an original world of their own with ‘fairy tale rock,’ marked their 15^th anniversary with a show held at TSUTAYA O-EAST on September 11, 2016. Taking photos and recording video are usually prohibited during shows, but an exception was made during this particular one. However, it seemed that most of the fans wanted to enjoy the music rather than shoot photos or video while the band performed various songs, from early songs to some of the latest songs, as a compilation of their 15 years of activity. The fully-packed venue was buzzing with excitement from start to finish.

(メルヘンロックという独自の世界観を作り出すKraが結成15周年を迎え、そのアニバーサリーライブが2016年9月11日にTSUTAYA O-EASTにて行われた。通常、撮影や録音は禁止とされるものだが、この日は特別にライブ中通して撮影可というバンド側からのサービスがあったにもかかわらず、撮影するより音楽を楽しみたいというファンが多く、15年間の集大成として初期の曲から最新の曲まで演奏され、満員の会場は終始熱気に包まれていた。)

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The members, wearing new costumes created with the motif of astronauts, entered the stage one by one as fans clapped to the poppy opening music that transformed the venue into an amusement park attraction like those in Disneyland. The concert started off with their latest song “Uchuu Traveler” after Keiyuu shouted, “15^th anniversary show! Let out your voice!” It was the first time the song was performed as the single hadn’t yet been released at the time, but in spite of that, the audience helped jump-start the show by adapting some potential set choreography in a series of claps and call & responses. In “Samayoedo Yoru,” bassist Yuhra created energetic beats by skilled slaps, as drummer Yasuno got the audience fired up by a combination of sounds and gestures. Guitarist Taizo also engaged in a guitar battle against Yuhra, each impressing the audience with a number of improvised solos.

(まるでディズニーランドのアトラクションにでもいるかのような雰囲気で、ポップなSEに手拍子が始まると、宇宙飛行士をモチーフにした新衣装をまとったメンバーたちが次々に登場。「さあ15周年！声出して行こうか！」とヴォーカルの景夕が叫び、まずは最新曲の「宇宙トラベラー」を披露。発売前で初披露にもかかわらず大きな手拍子、コール＆レスポンスとファンはすぐに順応し、この日のライブは勢いよくスタートを切った。「彷徨えど夜」ではベースの結良がスラップで激しくリズムを刻むとドラムの靖乃は叩く間にも様々なアクションを加え、音だけではなく魅せるドラミングでアピール。間奏のタイゾのギターと結良のベース対決では、何度となく繰り返される中、まるですべてが即興であるかのようにすべて異なるサウンドで魅了した。)

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“Welcome to our show! Kra is now 15 years old, and it is our third year in junior high school. We are still naughty boys, but we will be calm when we are 20 years old, because 20 is the age of grown-ups. I want Yasuno to be calmer. Yuhra still has a childish mind.” Keiyuu said, but Yuhra responded in retaliation with, “Keiyuu has an adult mind, but your body is still…” Yuhra’s suggestive words triggered loud rounds of laughter from the fans. Kra is known for the long emcees, with all of the members joining in to share their thoughts with their fans, as well as to get their audience to laugh. Fans have come to appreciate the long time Kra take to entertain them with their often silly stories in addition to their musical performances.

(「ようこそいらっしゃいました。Kra15歳を迎えることができました。中学3年生です。まだやんちゃな盛りです。20年になったら大人なので落ち着きますよ。靖乃さんが一番落ち着いて欲しい。結良さんは心はまだ子どもだな。」と景夕がいうと結良は負けまいと「君は心は大人だけど体は・・・」と含みのある言い方で会場からは大きな笑いが沸き起こった。長いMCを特徴とするKraはメンバー全員がMCに加わり、そのやりとりは必ず笑いへとつながる。音楽だけでなくトークでも楽しませるファンにとって貴重な時間だ。)

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In the wistful and mysterious song “Ai no Wakusei”, Keiyuu’s emotional voice was reflected in the purple lights that lit the stage, before many colorful penlights were taken out to repaint it and the stage was illuminated by seven colors for the following “Niji wo Koete.” The audience swung their towels and shouted in accordance with the lyrics in the hyperactive song “Ah Tension Please.” The dark and heavy sounds were contrasted with the bright sounds in “artman, enticing a mosh fest to break out on the floor. The band gave their fans momentum with a consecutive number of heavy songs. “Ashitaya” brought the chain to an electrifying finish, mixing Kra-ish power and cuteness, with Keiyuu giving a round of applause to the fans for their effort and energy at the end.

(少し切なげでミステリアスな「愛の惑星」では紫のライトに照らされる中、景夕の想いのこもった歌声が響き、ステージが七色に照らされた「虹を越えて」ではたくさんのペンライトが会場を彩る。初披露のハイテンションな「あーテンションプリーズ」ではタオルを振り回し、歌詞に合わせ叫ぶファン。「artman」では明るさとダークな激しさが対比され、モッシュが巻き起こる。激しい曲続きでさらに会場を熱くし、Kraならではの激しさとキュートな雰囲気がミックスされた「明日屋」ではこの日最大の盛り上がりを見せ、景夕からファンへ賞賛の拍手が贈られた。)

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“We are going to perform as Kra until our bodies cannot move, so please support us until then. We would like to present this song to you for always supporting us.” With those words, Keiyuu started singing “Buriki no Hata,” accompanied only by Taizo’s guitar, as the last song of the main set. As the rest of the instruments joined in, so did notes of sweetness and happiness, and from the floor, the audience added their voices to the melody as a large choir. The members took time to listen to the fans’ vocals, Keiyuu eventually responding to the fans’ feelings by serenading them in a-cappella. It was at that time that the importance of 15 years and the bond between the band and the fans were made clear.

(「この先メンバーの体が動かなくなるまでがんばっていくのでその支えをよろしくお願いします。その支えである君たちにこの曲を贈りたいと思います。」タイゾのギター伴奏のみで景夕が歌い始めた本編ラストの「ブリキの旗」。全楽器が加わり、優しさと幸せが詰め込まれたようなこの曲に、会場では大合唱が巻き起こる。メンバーはファンの歌声を聴き続け、景夕はファンの想いに応え、アカペラを披露。15年という歳月の重み、そしてファンとの絆が証明された瞬間だった。)

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When the members came back to the stage after the long encore call, “Ryuusei Signal” restarted things with no emcee. Keiyuu’s gentle and smooth voice echoed in the venue that was illuminated by penlights like a night sky. The danceable number “Circus” and fresh and bright tune “Tatoe” followed, “I no naka no…Ari?” then prompting both band members and audience alike to run about wildly with its upbeat tempo as all were able to enjoy Kra’s world freely. Finally, silver streamers flew through the venue in “Extra Kingdom”, ending the show on a cheerful note. And so begins Kra moving towards their 16^th year. “Let’s continue forward! Follow us at your own pace, fast or slow, as we won’t leave anyone back! Thank you very much!” Keiyuu delivered his gratitude, and Kra’s story for 15 years was closed.

(長いアンコールコールの後、再度メンバーが登場するとそのまま始まった「流星シグナル」。まるで夜空のようにペンライトが会場に光る中、景夕の優しく滑らかな歌声が響き渡る。そしてダンサブルな「サァカス」、爽やかで明るい「例え」と続き、会場全員で暴れ楽しむアップテンポな「井の中の・・・アリ？」とKraの世界を存分に楽しみ、最後には「エキストラキングダム」でシルバーテープが舞い、明るくフィナーレを迎えた。そして16年目をまた突き進んでいくKra。「もっと行こうぜ！誰も置いていかないから安心して行ってみようか！ありがとう！」と景夕から感謝の言葉が伝えられ、Kra15年間の物語は締めくくられた。)

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