Right after I successfully released the official Buck-Tick cover (the full amazing story is HERE) I received an invitation from a good friend of mine, a Tokyo musician. I was asked to play a few shows in Tokyo. It was my second time to hit the Japanese stage and I had no doubt it’s gonna be great experience as it was for the first time.
The thing is that I used to work as a backstage manager with big rock musicians like Scorpions or Alice Cooper and The Offspring, so I know the “other side” of stage processes and how tough they could be.
What can I say?.. While in Europe, for example, there IS a big difference between being an A-list artist and a niche, rising one, in Japan you don’t experience such thing as a performer. The venue crew is great no matter if you are Buck-Tick or an unknown musician. You will get your personal manager, quite and clean dressing room. And timing for meet and greet with the audience… Basically anything you want in a technical and management way…
As for the show itself, I was happy to present an absolutely new era of mine, new music, new vibes. Two Japanese musicians, bass player a.k.a. Tsuyopon and keyboard a.k.a. Koura-san, joined me and my tour guitarist on stage. The audience was warm and welcoming, although I was a new face for them. There is a huge difference in temper of US, EU, Russian, etc audience and East Asian one. The don’t show the craziness or smth, but they more likely will come up with synchronised moves (a special one to each song). They don’t shout or scream, but definitely ready to buy your merch or photo. Which is great as well.
I played the first show at ReNY Akabane where lots of big j-rockers played as well. Which was an honour, of course. The closing song was Buck-Tick’s DRESS. And some people were in tears which was heartwarming. Later on during meet and greet a few longtime FishTankers came to me to say lots of nice words about the cover and my music in particular, which was vital for me to hear.
I also plan to play in Tokyo again this Fall possibly. As for now, I’m happy to share my Live at ReNY Akabane: watch HERE!
