LIVE REPORT ~ Mix Speaker's Inc: January 5 2008
Shibuya O-EAST, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo
The lights dim, but the electro-spectrum of multicolored lights keeps the stage illuminated and mysterious. A simple but eerie rhythm of mystifying beats welcomes the avant-garde six-member crew of Mix Speaker’s, Inc.: vocalists Miki and Yuki, guitarists AYA and keiji, drummer S, and bassist seek. After a small but cryptic intro by the very tall seek, clad in a monster turtle outfit that raised him above the stage by several feet, Mix Speaker’s, Inc. launched into their first song of the evening, JUNK STORY.
The band heavily involved the audience throughout the set with para para routines demonstrated by almost all the members, but steered mostly by AYA, the para para veteran of the group. Having routines for the songs served to pump the audience up and ensure that their sole attention was paid to the stage.
However, for anyone unfamiliar with a Mix Speaker’s, Inc live, it surely was a bit more unexpected than planned. Interweaving between songs was a well-thought out (and very funny) sketch utilizing all the members with the additions of an instructor, an angel, a demon, with tiny guest appearance by the egg (taking physical presence by a star-shaped plushie). Knowing Japanese wasn’t necessary in understanding the full breadth of the sketch.
To sum it up, the band is a monster family, with seek at the head as the perverted grandfather, AYA and keiji playing the mother and father roles respectfully, Yuki and Miki as the twins who are total opposites and constantly vying for attention, and one cannot wrap up the family atmosphere without a dog, and S “suits” that role perfectly with his purple fur and three heads. An egg shows up one day and they talk about raising it, but supernatural powers have to get in the way – the demon tries to crack the head open. The angel tries to put a stop to this, but alas, the demon kills him. Naturally, the monster family is shocked (AYA: “ANGEL-SAAAANN!!!!!”). Grandfather monster seek has his suspicions (apart from being a pervert, he also thinks he’s some kind of Sherlock Holmes). At some point a drinking contest and panties were involved. Also, the dog is secretly very clever. In the end, karma gets the demon back (well, Grandfather seek shows him who’s the boss around here) and they all live happily ever after (I think there was a moral spoken of by seek but since I don’t know Japanese fluently…).
The song that followed, If, was soft and gorgeous. Beautiful streams of light flowed over the audience and enveloped the concert venue in white, blue lights…
Miki and Yuki play off each other very well, not only in the sketch, but vocally. Their harmonies completely melt in sync with one another, perfectly balanced and complementary of the work of the other members. The members’ talents shined throughout each and every song. A unity connects the band which surmounts to flawlessly intangible playing, with no one overshadowing another. This connection brought a polished finish to every song.
Mix Speaker’s, Inc. has a style that’s not unfamiliar to the visual kei scene, but nor is it boring. The songs don’t stand out so much as the visual style and the live style that they accompany. However, some songs are given a more unique treatment such as the loopy sounding Space Hunter, a song that can turn spirals with peoples’ eyes, and the very fun and rousing number, Friday Night Hunters. Most of the songs were like this in that they didn’t take themselves too seriously, but still had pride in the fact that they have catchy melodies to offer and are easy to get devoured into!
Of course, they saved the best for last… The encore consisted of their latest single, My Wish[Horror] X’mas, and their debut single, MONSTIME! It was a delicious end to the Monster Party, which overall was a huge success.
Mix Speaker’s, Inc. is certainly one visual kei fans should be keeping an eye on, especially those who miss the zany, colorful world of Psycho Le Cèmu. Well, Psycho Le Cèmu may be gone, but Mix Speaker’s, Inc. mirrors many factions that Psycho Le Cèmu made famous. However they do so employing their own brand of monster-centric madness. And I got to hand it to them – playing on stage in those heavy costumes? The way they play, I’d think that those were their normal clothes!
set list
JUNK STORY
Space Hunter
wakannai
dekoboko chin douchuu
Digital Romance
MASK DE NIGHT
Friday Night Busters
DoDo&PaPa
Ghost Orchestra
pandora
If
GREEN
Monster
-ENCORE-
innocent world
My wish[Horror]X'mas
MONSTART Family
MONSTIME
report by Sarah
links
Mix Speaker's,Inc Official Website
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