Merry - TOUR09 under-world [BURST] at HEAVEN'S ROCK Saitama

The day after Merry's concert in Shinjuku LOFT, the band played another live, this time in Saitama. Like the previous night, the venue was packed full of fans, creating a stifling heat in the hall. And like the previous show, they started off with GI.GO, followed by Friction XXXX, which really woke everyone up. The next song was a surprise: Meisai no shinshi. For everyone who heard Merry first through their album nu Chemical rhetoric, this was a great delight and very moving to hear. No songs from that album were played at the live in Shinjuku, but they made up for it tonight.

They continued with another song from around the same period, Kimatteru taiyou from the album PEEP SHOW. One can see the evolution in Merry's style when when listening to this song and the one that followed, which was Enzetsu ~Surrealism, from their latest album. The difference was especially notable in the guitar playing, but the essence was still pure Merry. Even having seen them perform it the night before, it was still unusual to see a guy in a rabbit head yelling into a microphone. Then they continued with the easily recognizable human farm, a song that really made the fans move, jumping and doing hand choreography. The strangest song they performed was probably stupidxcupid, another one that had the fans going wild. Soon after, they played a song from the period when they went to France, the ballad Sayonara Rain, a song that's always full of charm.

The song that followed was a wonderful surprise: Tokyo Telephone! With this song you can close your eyes and be transported to a jazz bar, a drink in hand, as you listen to the music. It reminded of a song played in the Many Merry Days 5th Anniversary Special 2night ～Shiroi hitsuji ・Kuroi hitsuji～ concert where Gara, seated on a sofa enjoying a glass of whiskey, soulfully sang a jazz tune, as if the entire venue were regulars in his bar. The ambiance was less intimate in the live house, but feeling was still strong.

The band took a break before the second act, then made a strong return with the popular sweet powder. The third surprise of the evening was likely a personal favorite for many fans and one that allowed many to discover the group in the first place. It was mentioned in the first issue of the French alternative rock magazine ROCK ONE that featured Japan: Dekiai no suisou. Merry had performed the song while in France, but hearing it again here was a particularly moving treat.

Next was an old song that's always a pleasure to hear, Japanese Modernist, one of Merry's songs that cannot be ignored. After a second break, they played identity, a song that, like Japanese Modernist, is very easy to appreciate in concert. They finished with under-world, throwing out goodies as they left. A piece of the drum set fell into the crowd and a number of girls rushed to grab it, and they ended up playing rock-paper-scissors to decide who would take it home. It was a diplomatic solution compared to audiences in other countries, where blows would probably have been exchanged.

For those who went to both concerts in Shinjuku and Saitama, there were most likely no regrets. The second concert was full of surprises and older favorites, so many probably preferred it to the first. By going to both, however, one could experience the best of both worlds.

Now, overseas fans can only hope they'll return to France. The show in May was cancelled due to health reasons, but there's still hope a European tour can be organized.


Set list:

01. GI.GO
02. Friction xxxx
03. Meisai no Shinshi
04. c
05. Kimatteru Taiyou
06. Enzetsu ~Surrealism~
07. [human farm]
08. stupidxcupid
09. Oriental BL Circus
10. Kanaria
11. Lost Generation
12. Aikoku masurao ~BURST~


En-1

01. Sayonara Ame (Rain)
02. Tokyo Telephone


En-2
01. sweet powder
02. Dekiai no suisou
03. Japanese Modernist
04. identity
05. under-world