12012 rocked Shibuya AX with an aggressive, dark gig.
The stage at AX had a rather industrial feel, with metal hung in angular box shapes from the ceiling and the lights kept to a dark cold blue. As the lights went down and the screams went up, the stage came to life in rather grandiose SE with hints of electro that pulsed through the heavy core. Looking coolly assured, 12012 went straight into vomit with a roar from Miyawaki Wataru. The fans roared their response and went crazy with headbanging in the first of a very heavy set. It almost seemed as though the girls headbanged without catching a breath as vomit became the speedy rhythm of CRAZY THE CITY. Sakai Hiroaki performed the first of his many solos with great flamboyant gestures as he stood upon a podium to the far right. Miyawaki paused only long enough to rally the crowd a little. "Tokyo!" he shouted "Can you go further! Show us what you've got!"
The fans duly responded as they jumped along to the beat. Miyawaki's vocals suited the punkish edge of Breaking Metal Society, that at times verged on rap metal. Kawauchi's drumming was particularly strong too and together they gave a fun performance. In the darkness that followed, after the screams for the members had died down, Miyawaki Wataru's voice could be heard in the darkness, saying, "One by one, from your hearts, scream" as Sakai's powerful riff began. The fans continued to move their bodies violently, dancing, jumping or headbanging. Suga began to bounce along too while Miyawaki in the centre danced on his podium rather suggestively. It seamlessly became the aggressive tones of DISPUTE with headbanging that changed to a jumping that rocked the livehouse, followed by the creepiness of icy cold city. The screams were suitably hellish but the slow alternative picking of the verses with vocals that were quite richly sonorous but unnerving nonetheless gave the song real character.
It was fitting that an SE followed, with more notes of electro industrial as the members took a short break. The darkness was broken as Miyawaki's vocals carried a capella through the livehouse. The slow, mournful notes gave the impression of a ballad but soon the storm broke with thunderous drums that let loose another violent headbanger. The fans sang along passionately to the chorus and punched the air aggressively as the song reached a stirring climax that drifted out on gentle guitar notes into the alternative ballad, Deep Forest. The melancholic melody floated through AX. It was the sole note of gentleness even though the music turned a bit more positive with some fun from the infectious poppy side of 12012. As and Heavenly stirred into a frenzy before 6 Party got them really dancing. Both Suga and Sakai were wandering about the stage encouraging the fans to move. One girl was responded extra happily as she bounced up and down ceaselessly. The fans, clapping and jumping about, were fun to watch.
Miyawaki's vocals sometimes showed a sense of strain but in Sillhouette he found his voice. It was a very pretty piece with a powerful bassline and some rather lovely vocals. It was almost a shame that a loud roar broke the silence as the power came back with Shinshoku and the finale, Usubeni to ame, which broke out with heaviness for one last burst. Everyone was chanting along and dancing madly until the band had left the stage.
It did not take them long to return. Four of 12012 anyway. Kawauchi began a rousing beat that the audience soon began to chant along to and during this Miyawaki returned, he himself chanting along to the beat that became THE PAIN OF CATASTROPHE before their most powerful performance of the night, Hai furu karada. The stage was bathed in blue and the guitars rang out ominously. The performance verged on the theatrical; Miyawaki crouched behind his podium staring out maniacally before raising himself up to unleash a huge scream that sent the hair flying once again. It was a memorable end to the first encore.
They returned to much cheering. Miyawaki acted as though everything was a normal encore. "Are you ready to go again?" he asked the fans but when the music began, only Kawauchi played. Instead the band and the fans together sang Happy Birthday to Kawauchi and let off streamers in celebration. The drummer was taken aback and was hustled out from behind his drumkit to accept a cake and to say a few words. Each member said a few words to him.
"It always seems to be a live when it is your birthday," Sakai commented while Suga decided to confess. "Can I say it?" he asked. "I love you!" Miyawaki added, "Can you stay together with me always." Kawauchi looked a little embarrassed by the sudden outpouring of love. It was nothing compared to the next surprise the band had prepared. Over the audio system came the sound of a ringing telephone and suddenly Kawauchi's parents were on the phone. His dad kept asking if everyone could hear them, and thought it wasn't loud enough. The audience and band laughed good naturedly. It was a lovely touching gesture to the birthday boy.
Once Kawauchi had returned to his drums, the live finale began. It was a good energetic finish courtesy of Cyclone, with its choreographed dancing and the bright poppy notes of SHINE. With the audience all singing and punching along, Shine was a good note to end on, bringing everyone together one last time.
Set list:
01. vomit
02. CRAZY THE CITY
03. breaking the modern society
04. Wana
05. DISPUTE
06. icy~cold city~
07. TATTOO
08. deep forest
09. As
10. Heavenly
11. [6]party
12. Silhouette
13. Shinshoku
14. Usubeni to ame
En1:
01. no title(NEW SONG)
02. Hai furu karada
En2:
01. Cyclone
02. SHINE
