KAMIJO invites for an epic evening, premiering his new single “mademoiselle”.
2017 has been a very active year for KAMIJO. It included a long-awaited reunion with Versailles, which resulted in a Europe tour and a grand finale at Nippon Budokan in Tokyo. As well as that, KAMIJO has kept his solo career running, releasing his latest single Castrato in May, and has announced a new single, mademoiselle, which will be released on September 27th.
In the evening of July 19th, fans gathered to a special kind of performance. The “Epic Rock Orchestra” concept was introduced as a way of enjoying KAMIJO’s music with, not just the regular band playing live, but also having the classical instrumentalists perform alongside.
The lights in Zepp DiverCity were turned off and the curtain was slowly raised, revealing a stage covered in red light. The dark silhouettes of all the band members, including KAMIJO, who was sitting on a throne, could be seen. The live house was lit up by the audience's light roses. KAMIJO announced that the concert fans were about to experience was an epic rock orchestra, mixing rock and classical music. On stage, his regular band was accompanied by a pianist, violinist and cellist.
This was the kind of opening fans could expect from a KAMIJO concert. It was all very dramatic and he skillfully created a fine line between reality and his world, a world filled with romance, vampires and roses.
KAMIJO stayed seated elegantly with legs crossed, showing the audience with graceful movements how they should move their arms to the grand sound of Epic Rock Orchestra -prologue-. The song felt somewhat familiar with its classical influences, and having Vive le Roix entwined made it a perfect opening, showing the audience exactly what they could expect from KAMIJO’s music.
The first five songs played all represented the typical KAMIJO sound: captivating songs with a strong melody and classical elements. However, KAMIJO greeted the audience with his characteristic “Bonjour!” and the set then took a turn to a more rock sound. As Dying-Table started, laser lights from the stage were turned on, and as a spectator it almost felt like some sort of awakening with the heavy contrast to the previous modernistic 18th century feeling. This is what makes KAMIJO such an interesting musician within the present visual kei scene. It’s a full performance, from his music to his costumes and stage settings, and it’s like you enter his universe which isn’t a past historical era, nor the present — it’s just KAMIJO’s world.
For Moulin Rouge KAMIJO grabbed a cane and swung it to the music, and Zepp DiverCity was lit up by a disco ball hanging from the ceiling. In the middle of the song, KAMIJO sat near the drum set and helped with the drumming by hitting the cymbal. After the song, KAMIJO admitted that his back had been a bit off after his fall from stage during the Versailles Europe tour. He explained that a couple of days ago he had to use a wheelchair during a visit in Yokohama. Despite this, KAMIJO gave it his all during -361-, jumping along to the song.
For Battle of the Tower -16-, there were some changes in the way it was performed. There was s strong focus on the violin, turning it into a fantastic and mighty performance. This continued on to Tsuioku no mon amour with great interplay between the guitars, violin and cello.
Then it was time for the evening’s first premier. Even though there were two months left until the release, KAMIJO performed his upcoming single mademoiselle. In contrast to his latest single Castrato, a powerful symphonic song, mademoiselle has a soft, pop sound with a very strong romantic feeling to it. Fans who are especially into KAMIJO’s LAREINE period will not be disappointed.
mademoiselle wasn’t the only unreleased song KAMIJO had to offer that evening. During the encore, fans also got to hear Nosferatu, a powerful song in typical KAMIJO style, with an especially strong chorus. Perhaps this is hinting at a second studio album?
KAMIJO then had some exciting news to share with the fans. He will go on a nationwide tour during 2018, including many cities he hasn’t visited for a while, and the tour final will take place at Zepp DiverCity. When later asked if he had plans on bringing this tour overseas, he announced that it hadn’t been decided yet.
The last song for the evening was the atmospheric Royal Blood. All members on stage grabbed a rose each, waving it in synchrony to the song, making the live house look like a sea of roses. Everyone took a good while to say goodbye to the fans, especially KAMIJO who excitedly left the stage last with a smile on his face.
On October 9th there will be two Epic Rock Orchestra performances at Tokyo Kinema Club — Epic Rock Orchestra -Chamber Music Ensemble- in the afternoon and Epic Rock Orchestra –Halloween Rock Party- in the evening. Don’t miss the chance to see this phenomenal performer if you happen to be in Tokyo at that time!
Set list
01. Epic Rock Orchestra -prologue-
02. Dai ichi gakushou 「Presto」
03. Dai ni gakushou「Sacrifice of Allegro」
04. Dai san gakushou「Royal Tercet」
05. Louis ~enketsu no la vie en rose~
06. Dai yon gakushou「Dying-Table」
07. BASTILLE
08. Moulin Rouge
09. -361-
10. Sanctuary
11. Battle of the Tower -16- (Violin Solo)
12. Tsuioku no mon amour
13. mademoiselle
14. Dai go gakushou「Sonata」
15. Dai roku gakushou「Mangetsu no adagio」
16. Dai nana gakushou「Throne」
17. Kono yo de ichiban utsukushii bara yo
18. Castrato
19. Epic Rock Orchestra -epilogue-
Encore
20. Yamiyo no lion
21. Nosferatu
22. Royal Blood
