TOKYO SKA PARADISE ORCHESTRA Live in Amsterdam

On July 19th, TOKYO SKA PARADISE ORCHESTRA ended their summer 2009 tour with a concert in Amsterdam, the Netherlands. Compared to their extensive overseas touring that spanned several months in the past, this had been quite a short tour with barely a dozen concerts.

It had been a few years since the band had been in The Netherlands, and you could tell so by the audience that had gathered for the band. Half an hour after the doors opened, the rather big hall inside the Melkweg venue was mostly empty, but nearing eight o’clock, the hall was completely full, though it wasn’t too packed, leaving some space for people to dance. The crowd was very varied with a wide spread of different age groups, but hardly any teenagers. Surprisingly, quite a number of Japanese fans had gathered for the band’s unique Dutch show.

Half an hour later than planned, the lights went off and the intro music began to play. The nine members of TOKYO SKA PARADISE ORCHESTRA appeared on stage one by one, while the audience applauded and called out to them. They were dressed in their blue costumes, and by the time the intro music had died down, they had taken up their instruments and launched into the first song of the album, Like Jazz on Fire. The quick, chaotic jazz song got the mood going, with the people in the first few rows dancing.

The mood really erupted with the next song, 5 DAYS OF TEQUILA. Even though it is an older song of Ska Para, it is often played live and obviously a fan favorite as the crowd started to dance right away to the upbeat ska rhythm. The five members at the front of the stage, guitarist Kato Takashi, trumpeter Nargo, trombonist Kitahara Masahiko and the two saxophonists Gamo and Atsushi Yanaka, moved around energetically while playing their instruments. Their solos were alternated between the members, each of them giving a great show for the audience and cheering them on.

After another song, baritone saxophonist Atsushi Yanaka grabbed a microphone in order to address the audience. “We are TOKYO SKA PARADISE ORCHESTRA! Do you want to have fun? Are you ready to dance?!” he asked the audience, and received loud cheers in return. He introduced the next song, Heaven’s Door, then, saying that it was from their newest album, Paradise Blue.

Even though the nine members were dressed in similar outfits with only a few differences in their shirt or jacket style, each of them had their very own image and individuality, such as Kato Takashi’s boyish charms, Nargo’s geeky glasses, keyboardist Oki Yuichi’s stylish hat and the braids of Kitahara Masahiko. But together, the nine men made up a tight unit and were well accustomed to one another, having no problems in predicting each other’s next move.

During the newer song Witching Hour, percussionist Ohmori Hajime and keyboardist Oki Yuichi got the opportunity to be in the spotlight a little bit more, as the song started with mostly percussion only, and Oki Yuichi followed Nargo with a groovy solo. Although the solos of all of the members received plenty of cheering from the audience, the noises increased noticeably after Oki’s solo, and throughout the whole live, the audience applauded even louder when it was his turn for a solo.

Up next was a medley that consisted of four or five songs. The merry ska rhythm did not only make the audience dance, but also the band members on stage danced together. Playfully and with smiles on their faces, they tried some dancing moves and switched from one side of the stage to the other. Until then, the majority of the songs had been mostly instrumental with only some short chorusses, rhythmic shouting or yells to spur the audience on, but at that point, lead vocals joined in. Surprisingly, it was drummer Motegi Kin-ichi who sang behind his drum kit, never once losing concentration for his drumming as he sang powerfully. Soon, all the band members joined in and sang together.

At the end of the medley, the crowd erupted in deafening screams. They soon continued with another new song from the Paradise Blue album, Silent by your Side. Although it still featured the ska rhythm, it was a little less cheerful and had a much more serious feel to it. The song had a great melody which was alternated between the four horn instruments, but into the latter half of the song, the instruments were traded for voices as all of members sang again. At some point, the instruments had quieted down so much that they were singing mostly a cappella, which sounded great.

Ska Me Crazy was started by Nargo, who had switched his trumpet for a melodica. He played it expertly, starting out with a solo that changed into an incredibly fast Mary Has a Little Lamb, which was rewarded with laughter and loud clapping from the audience. Not only was the instrument funny on its own already, but the amusement of the audience heightened even more as colored lights started to flicker at the back of it. Nargo’s little show had succeeded in warming up the audience for Ska Me Crazy, and pretty much everyone in the audience, even in the far back, was dancing to the merry ska tune. The band was also in a terrific mood, and as trombonist Kitahara Masahiko spun around quickly while playing his instrument, the other band members ducked down playfully with big grins on their faces, acting as if they were afraid to be hit by his trombone.

When the roadies moved the microphones to the front of the stage again, the audience knew they were had come to another song with vocals. They were in for a surprise, as it turned out to be the song Pride of Lions, for which the band collaborated by former Kemuri vocalist Ito Fumio for the lead vocals. This time, Kato Takashi and Atsushi Yanaka sang the song and did an excellent job at it. The audience seemed to be having the time of their lives, especially when the smell of weed started to spread through the hall.

After two more songs, the band members moved to the front of the audience to thank the audience extensively. Before all of them had left the stage, the audience was already calling out: “We want more! We want more!” It seemed that the band was just as eager to continue as the fans were, so after a minute or so, they reappeared under loud yelling from the audience. Atsushi Yanaka took a microphone for another MC, telling the crowd that it was the sixth time they had played at De Melkweg, and that they really liked the venue. He thanked the audience again, and then proceeded with introducing the band members, who all received loud cheers.

The crowd was treated to an encore of two songs, amongst them their cover of You’ll Never Walk Alone which everyone sang along to. After the very final song, the band thanked the audience again and left the stage with the words: “See you next year!”

As always, TOKYO SKA PARADISE ORCHESTRA’s show had provided everyone a great time and had managed to get everyone on their feet and dance. It was their first European tour without alto saxophonist and “agitate man” Hiyamuta Tatsuyuki, who usually cheered the audience on, but the nine remaining members had no problems with filling this void and were able to get the mood going just fine.

It is a given that TOKYO SKA PARADISE ORCHESTRA live shows are great fun and will undoubtedly give everyone a good time, so be sure not to miss them when they are heading to your area. You will definitely not regret it!


Set list:

0. Fanfare
1. Like Jazz on Fire
2. 5 DAYS OF TEQUILA
3. A Song for Athletes
4. Heaven’s Door
5. Brave Eagle
6. Witching Hour
7. Tokyo Ska Medley
8. Silent by your side
9. Ska me Crazy
10. Sugar Fountain
11. Anya kouro
12. Pride of Lions
13. White Light
14. Down beat Stomp


Many thanks to Sony Music Japan and Mr. Kazutoshi Hanzawa.