hide Film Alive! Part 2: PSYENCE A GO GO

The second part of the hide memorial event at Club Citta on May 2 focused on hide’s second solo tour, which took place in 1996. Footage of the infamous PSYENCE A GO GO tour from September 4 to October 20 appeared on the screen, taking the hall on a time travel trip. It was as if hide himself was looking over the hall, and the two giant photos of the musician hanging from the walls solidified this feeling. On the left side hung a dark figure with long, wild red hair from back in 1994, donning a long black robe with blue details.　On the right, spiky pink hair shouted loudly over an outrageously bright and baggy fluorescent outfit.

“How many of you were here for the first part?” the DJ asked as the crowd waited for the start of the show, moving to well-known songs like　“Pink Spider” and X’s “Sadistic Desire.” About half of the crowd seemed to have been to the first event and showed no signs of wanting to go home. The audience included men and women from all age groups, most cosplaying either hide or X. Mohawks and red hair were some of the most popular choices. It was quite a surprise to see an almost perfect copy of hide from the “Week End” PV.

“Are you ready? Welcome to hide’s 14^th memorial!” Shouting “hide!” the DJ announced the start of the show and the screens came to life with a blast. Footage of “POSE” from the DVD “PSYENCE A GO GO” invaded the screen and gained a life of its own, seeming to materialize in front of the cheerful audience. The crowd copied hide’s every move while the lights on stage shifted and changed colors to imitate the film. All arms flashed up for the chorus and in unison, the crowd shouted “Pose!” With his army-inspired outfit, hide moved restlessly around the stage throughout the smooth transition to “BACTERIA.”

The lights went down for “DAMAGE,” the rhythm gradually building up as the song continued in the same heavy fashion of the previous ones, giving way to the classic “BEAUTY & STUPID.” The song opened with an emcee, the hall freezing as, on the screen, hide addressed the audience, asking everyone to give it their all. The hall put their hands together, clapping to the joyful beat and the party transcended the screen. Dancers in bright outfits and sexy clothes moved wildly on the film while hide skipped dangerously across the stage. The song ended with the crowd clapping in a touching moment of union.

Guitars and bass jammed for the opening of the explosive “Genkai haretsu,” a stripper-nurse fought with another extra on the movie while, oblivious to it all, hide focused on the guitar and lyrics. The song ended with one of the girls being lifted by the wrists, balancing in the air from a thick brown rope, breasts exposed. The footage was daring and at CLUB CITTA, the fans moved to the familiar tune, swaying as the half-blurted-out words took the song home.

Getting ready for the next song, hide fixed his jacket and pretended to comb his hair with the mic. The footage skipped to “FLAME,”　the lights changing from green to a reddish-pink tone to materialize fire as the sad ballad took over the hall. The words “Warau tsuki no aoi hiraki” spread across the hall and the lights turned blue while  hide sang about the blue, laughing moon. The audience seemed moved, many standing still, eyes fixed on the screen, as the song reached its end.

The funky “Hi-Ho” came to the rescue and prevented the audience from sinking into a nostalgic stupor. Arms moved up in time to the shout of “Hi-Ho” and the crowd danced to the catchy chorus. Arms rose for PATA’s guitar solo while on the screen, hide teased the other guitarist. Back arched, hide demanded more from the crowd and called upon JOE for a drum solo. “One, ni, ichi, two, un, deux, trois!” he counted. It was fun to see not one, but two JOE’s on the screen, JOE within a film within a film challenging the “real” JOE to a fierce drum duet. The previous song soon resumed and moved smoothly to another amusing number, “LEMONed I Scream.” A man dressed in women’s clothes, wig and all, floated down from a swing, megaphone in hand to sing with hide. The sexy extras returned, surrounding hide from all sides in an exotic dance. The guitarist didn’t seem to mind or even acknowledge them as he moved slowly across the stage. The song ended with the “woman” planting a kiss on hide’s face and with a smile, the leading man exclaimed, “I’m looking for a dog! Let’s go! Let’s look for the dogs in our hearts!”

The fun “LASSIE” proceeded with hide howling and barking as he ran across the stage and fans throwing teddy bears at him as he threw them back with fake irritation. The song was followed by the sweet “MISERY.” The speakers blasted loudly and the song came to life, green and yellow balloons floating down from the ceiling of Club Citta. The fans let their eyes move away from the screen for a few seconds as they tried to catch the balloons and then, balloons in hand,　clapped to the drums and sang with zeal. “OEDO COWBOYS” and “ERASE” were next and kept up the cheerful atmosphere. The set was reaching the end and the crowd gave their best, on and offstage.

The tone grew angrier with another favorite, “DOUBT.” The footage was now from the “Alivest Perfect Stage” DVD and the ‘94 and ‘96 hides took turns on the screen.  The way the images of both hides were interspersed was very well accomplished and added a blazing force to the song. The word “usotsuki” (liar) traveled across the room as the vocals became more and more unsettled and demanding, fists flashing as the crowd joined the mantra. “Motto asobimashou!”(Let’s play more!) hide demanded for “OBLAAT” and the crowd complied.  The tone was again of a party and soon the infamous “D.O.D.” (Drink or Die) set the crowd on fire. Despite the controversial theme, the crowd drank down the tune and the nostalgic images of hide flashed in front of their eyes.

“DICE” was followed by the tragic “GOOD BYE.” “When I write a song, I don’t think about the live. I am in my room and I just write…” eyes down-cast,　hide thanked all the staff, friends and band for their support and without ever lifting his eyes, he confessed, “I don’t have any hobbies, you know. To me it’s just the music.” A white cloud of smoke surrounded the vocalist and CLUB CITTA was engulfed in gentle white lights. As if floating on a cloud, hide started singing, face blank as he repeated “Goodbye” over and over in a heart-melting prayer. The hall went dark and the beat slowed to a halt, shouts of “hide!” echoing through the room.

To lift commiserating spirits, the set ended with the cheerful beat of “TELL ME.”A blast of silver and pink tape came falling down for the grand finale. Holding the tape and balloons up, the fans sang in unison in a heartwarming ending that would have made hide proud.

Set List

1. POSE
2. BACTERIA
3. DAMAGE
4. BEAUTY & STUPID
5. Genkai haretsu
6. FLAME
7. Hi-Ho ~drum solo ~Hi-Ho
8. LEMONed I Scream
9. LASSIE
10. MISERY
11. OEDO COWBOYS
12. ERASE
13. DOUBT
14. OBLAAT
15. D.O.D.
16. DICE
17. GOOD BYE

Encore

1. TELL ME

【Guest LIVE:ZEPPET STORE】

It was hide himself who introduced ZEPPET STORE in a long ago recording, the screen showing pictures of him with the band as he explained how they met and how he created his label LEMONed to produce them. A long and heated cheer welcomed ZEPPET STORE onstage, their classic-rock style contrasting with hide’s sheer creativity even in their covers.

Blue lights shone for the intro of “FLAKE,” the slow beat hardening gradually. The vocals resembled hide’s at some points yet the style was very sober. “Are those guys Japanese?” hide’s voice had asked during the introductory video, and indeed, from a distance the band could be mistaken for a foreign rock band.  Seizi Kimura skillfully played the guitar in addition to singing, always interacting cheerfully with the audience. The guitarists, Kenji Akabane and Makoto Gomi delivered some powerful riffs while Eiki Yanagita pounded the drums fiercely. With a yell, Kimura announced “BLUE” and white lights embraced the hall, turning blue to match the title. Some of the balloons still dangling from the ceiling came floating down with the pure force of the instrumentals, loud and steady.

“Let’s do the next song with hide!” the vocalist said solemnly. “FLAME” turned out to be a great homage to the late musician. More than just a cover, the band successfully conveyed through the song the many feelings it carries both through the melody, the lyrics and the meaning it holds to the fans. The clear voice mingled with steady bass and fierce drums perfectly, red lights carrying the hall to a bloody night that turned sweet and blue for the song’s slower portions.  The vocals grew demanding by the end, a dry scream carrying to the skies and leaving the hall in absolute silence.

The night turned to day and the morning sun shone lightly for the ballad “Motto motto.” Yuichi Nakamura plucked some deep sounds from the bass while the vocals gained a more cheerful and determined fire. The song was catchy and strong, the guitar solo and strong drums adding to the performance. After a few announcements and a warm “Thank you,” to the fans who had waited seven years for the band’s return, ZEPPET STORE got back to business with the nights final two songs. The cheerful “PARANOID” with its cute routines that got fans and band clapping right and left to the beat was followed by “THE GAME.” The crowd pulsed, moving about with fists up as the tune became stronger and faster. The opening chords were reminiscent of “ROCKET DIVE” yet the song itself not so much. With the bassist singing harmony and the vocalist kicking the air, the five men took the song home among claps and loud cheers.

A closing speech was presented by Headwax staff. “Thank you all for being here today! We want hide and his music to remain alive and reach people everywhere. We thank you all for your trust and support and hope that more and more people around the world can have access to hide and his work!” However, the crowd wasn’t ready to go home yet and in one voice, they shouted for hide’s brother and Headwax president, Hiroshi Matsumoto. In response to the fans, he came down, thanking the crowd for their love and for supporting the memory of hide through all these years. It was a very emotional moment and with the crowd shouting “Thank you!” in one voice, the show ended. It was an evening which proved that hide’s flame is alive, now and forever.

Set List

1. FLAKE
2. BLUE
3. FLAME (hide cover)
4. Motto motto
5. PARANOID
6. THE GAME