AUBE at Ikebukuro Edge, March 30

The new live house, Ikebukuro Edge, was jam-packed for a one-man performance by AUBE. Lights flashed green and blue as the band immediately started the show with vocalist Kaito growling heavily to “River of Destiny～Aoki Ginga～” as the audience responded by breaking out into full headbanging mode. When the rock song reached the chorus, it became more poppy in melody as everyone started jumping along to the beat.

“Stare Into the Void” also started out with the audience headbanging but then suddenly changed into a rock ballad with a magenta spotlight on Kaito as he sang with passion. By “JOKER’S JUDGEMENT” AUBE had amped up the crowd so much with their enthusiastic spirit that the entire front row leaned onto the stage while the row behind them jumped and landed on the back of the person in front of them. It became so intense that one girl slid onstage but was caught by security guards. In “Ware, utakata mugen no hana ni nari,” AUBE showed off their happier side with a pop number that enticed side to side rushes with intense furitsuke (choreography). Bassist Akiya signaled to the audience when to jump with Sae headbanging and rocking out on his guitar.

The emcee started with Kaito saying “Welcome, this is a fan appreciation show,” and holding up a stuffed bear.  He then demonstrated to the audience the furitsuke for the next song, “Russian Roulette,” by holding up his hand in the shape of a gun and saying, “3-2-1 BANG!” followed by Michael Jackon’s ‘Thriller’ hands. While it took a couple of examples from Kaito, once the audience caught on there was no stopping all of those hand-guns! Shuu showed off with an intense drum solo as audience members followed along with the hand-gun and ‘Thriller’ actions.

With the following number, “ZERO ~Fuck the fake moralist~,” the band and audience interaction reached a climax as guitarist Yu-ichi reached out his hand and pulled audience members one by one against the stage barrier. Then Sae and Yu-ichi stood back-to-back center stage and everyone stopped, sat down, and jumped up once the song reached the chorus again.

When the band left the stage, everyone was still pumped and as the energy in the room insatioable, the audience called AUBE back with cries of “Encore!”  Once AUBE finally came back onstage, Yu-ichi squirted water onto the audience and Akiya returned shirtless and glistening with sweat. Akiya and Yu-ichi were both assisting audience members by grabbing their hands so that they could jump against the stage barrier over and over as the intensity of the live reached an ultimate high to the sounds of “THE FARTHEST GATE.” Just when you thought the energy could not be beat, everyone brought out their AUBE towels and shook them to the beat in another round of one of their more famous songs, “PLASTIC INSPIRE.”

AUBE thanked the audience for their participation and as they left the stage, the feeling of excitement and energetic atmosphere stayed strong as shouts of ‘encore’ echoed throughout Ikebukuro Edge. Unfortunately, AUBE had already given their all and the audience were doomed to wait in avid anticipation of their next meeting.

Set List

1.River of Destiny～Aoki Ginga～
2.Stare Into the Void
3.Drastic XVirginX Boogie
4.Gekijou
-MC-
5.JOKER’S JUDGEMENT
6.Ware, utakata mugen no hana ni nari
7.Russian Roulette
8.Hyakka ryouran
-MC-
9.Butterfly
10.ZERO ~Fuck the fake moralist~
11.PLASTIC INSPIRE
12.Dear

-En-
1.THE FARTHEST GATE
2.PLASTIC INSPIRE
3.Koisouka