THE MICRO HEAD 4N’S “A BEGINNING FROM THE END.”

THE MICRO HEAD 4N’S kicked off June with an electrifying one-man show on the 1st at Shibuya O-WEST to celebrate one year on the road. Despite being a first one-man, it sold out promptly and the heat of the show was palpable from the start.

Audience clapping to the opening intro, the screen behind the drums came to life, piano and electronics coming together to welcome kazuya (guitar), SHUN. (guitar), ZERO (bass), TSUKASA (drums) and Ricky (vocals). Determined drums dashed through the powerful “HELLO MY CLONE” and with the stage washed by red and white lights the instruments were set free, guitars combining in hot riffs that got kazuya and SHUN. swaying to the catchy beat.  As Ricky fired up the crowd for “GLORIOUS BLAZE,” four jets of white smoke flashed to the sky, creating a white mantle that seemed to materialize the heat level as the crowd pumped fists vigorously. Speeding up for an interesting rap, the song cleverly combined tender vocals with heavy bass and drums. The front-man moved constantly despite the relatively small stage and SHUN.’s braids danced wildly with his every move while ZERO twirled and jumped energetically.

“Let’s fire up this show!” the vocalist yelled, soon drowning in “WHITE SOUL.” ZERO took the lead with some hot notes, guitars and drums joining as the song grew heavier. The drums aided the transition from a sweeter mood to a heavier one, the crowd’s arms crossing mid-air as TSUKASA pounded the cymbals with vigor.  He then opened “BREAKING!! And SHOUT OUT!!” and got the audience jumping and rolling fists to shouts of “Oi!” The two guitarists converged around the drums where they battled with some clever riffs for one of the night’s most interesting numbers. Intoxicating green and red lights danced to the fast and lively beat that took the hall on a high-speed ride.

“Welcome! We are THE MICRO HEAD 4N’S!” Ricky greeted. “It’s our first one-man and after today’s show we will have an interview. I’m sure they will ask us about the show and it will be difficult to talk about it unless you give us all you’ve got!” he added teasingly. “We chose the title ‘A BEGINNING FROM THE END.’ because when our previous bands broke up we all thought it was over but a new hope appeared. That’s what this band represents!” To convey this message, the band embarked on an emotional and fierce ballad. “Yumeno tsuzuki” saw the screen coming to life once more, this time with distorted live footage and water bubbles overlapping. Kazuya swayed, completely lost in the tune, delivering passionate riffs that carried the guitar’s cries across the room.

The tone hardened for “Calling,” drums roaring confidently under red lights. ZERO and SHUN. headbanged through the number while Ricky worked the crowd with zeal. Fast and furious, “UN-CONTROLLED” featured a fierce rhythm section, the crowd moving constantly to the beat while the band made full use of the stage. ZERO and TSUKASA were left alone for a feisty drum and bass duet through which the crowd pumped fists to effusive shouts and cheers. With a teasing lick of his lips, TSUKASA pre-empted the return of the rest of the band for the powerful “MONSTER’S ROAR.” With sirens blasting under twirling red beams creeping smoke added to the prison-break atmosphere. Vocals echoed through the hall heavily distorted before Ricky rapped his way through some hot guitars, curled over for power.

The club-inspired intro to “I surrender” brought out twirling towels, the four men in front exemplifying the moves, twirling and jumping in unison. Lost in the beat, ZERO jumped and swirled dangerously across the stage in a wild, unruly dance. Cool and serene, kazuya let his fingers dance over the strings, displaying a constant smile. The vocalist kept his mischievous attitude, bringing out a hand mirror to check his hair while the crowd yelled. “There is no time to rest!” he complained, explaining his need to maintain his beauty right before the crowd’s very eyes.

“It’s our first live and we need to give it our all. You know, TSUKASA doesn’t even look at me during lives! Did you look at me at all today?” he asked the drummer hopefully. The drummer mimed playing as if to say, ‘I was playing.’ “Some of us were thinking of quitting this business so I’m very happy we decided to keep going and are able to play here today! I know some of you started following us because you like our previous bands or you like one of the members but I hope you come to like us as a band. Even if you don’t like me, please like us!” he begged before thanking leader kazuya for putting the band together.

The ballad “Kono saki zuto” seemed to express the vocalist’s words, the title translating to “From now on, forever” quite appropriate. Ricky shone through the number, his voice clear and sweet, mingling cleverly with the hopeful guitars. The mood changed as the vocalist announced “Photograph” with a loud “Last!” Cheerful and vibrant, the song got the band moving around and they interacted with the crowd, the hall coming together under the catchy tune and fun choreography.

“We even wrote a new song for today!” the vocalist explained once the band returned upon the exuberant encore demand. “The next song is a hot one! Not in the sense that gets fists pumping. We hope you like it!” A mirror ball twirled for “Hikari no sekai,” stars dancing to the lulling tune. With fewer effects, the vocals stood out, multiplying in a long echo before the hall joined voices and sang in unison.

For the next emcee it was SHUN.’s turn to thank the crowd and also to thank kazuya. “Thank you kazuya! I was surprised to see people with the tour t-shirts I designed.”

ZERO kept the chat short and cold, his slight grin betraying his bored look. “You know, you better all go home after the next cause we have no more songs to play. Go home!” he said bluntly and the crowd cheered.

“I was the last to join the band,” TSUKASA confessed. “I also want to thank kazuya for this great opportunity. I am happy today because I get to use my own drum set. It’s troublesome for events because it’s big so I don’t use it… It’s cool, right?” he asked proudly, the lights flashing dramatically on the kit.

“I did think about quitting,” leader kazuya explained. “I’m glad I didn’t. We are having a blast and I’m thankful to everyone who has supported us. We do it for ourselves and in our own way!” he continued before Ricky interrupted with a dramatic, “I follow you!”

“I’m Ricky!” the vocalist continued into a playful atmosphere. “There is nothing else to say so let’s move on to the next song. I don’t think we used the towels enough, so bring them out!”

“I surrender” ignited the atmosphere with its catchy beat and contagious dances. With SHUN.’s hair flying and Ricky shaking his hips, the band proceeded to “GLORIOUS BLAZE” in an ardent performance that got the hall moving. “One more time!” the crowd shouted, turning the phrase into a mantra for another encore call. THE MICRO HEAD 4N’S returned promptly, the vocalist assuring, “The interviews will surely be great! We want to save this moment forever with a picture!” he announced, inspiring the set’s final song, “Photograph.” The band worked the crowd into a party mood for the perfect finale song, silver tape falling from the sky in a beautiful scene that won’t easily be forgotten.

With the promise of another one-man and hot new tunes, the band bid farewell to the crowd, expectations high as to what surprises they will bring in future. One thing is for sure, THE MICRO HEAD 4N’S ride has just begun and it promises to be a feisty one.

Set list:

1. HELLO MY CLONE
2. GLORIOUS BLAZE
3. WHITE SOUL
4. BREAKING!! And SHOUT OUT!!
5. Yumeno tsuzuki
6. Calling
7. UN-CONTROLLED
8. MONSTER’S ROAR
9. I surrender
10. Kono saki zuto
11. Photograph

Encore

1. Hikari no sekai
2. I surrender
3. GLORIOUS BLAZE
4. Photograph

There are 37 photos in this visual kei exclusive.

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