LIVE REPORT ~ S.K.I.N.: June 29 2007
Anime Expo Long Beach, CA
S.K.I.N. Oh it stands for something all right. Something like, “Wake up!! We’re here to rock you!!” Long Beach Arena was definitely rocked. More than rocked, it was shaking, quaking, and vibrating with energy. The triumphant return of Yoshiki on drums, coupled with three of the most outstanding and legendary performers in the Japanese music industry were enough to resonate the soul of any fan, follower, or music lover.
The epic event began with a familiar video displaying one at a time four very familiar names. Yoshiki…Gackt…Sugizo…Miyavi… The entire arena was on edge, like a volcano about to erupt. As if the screaming for each name wasn’t loud enough, the white curtain shielding the audience from whatever mystery lied behind that stage dropped, revealing for the first time in history… S.K.I.N.
As soon as the curtain dropped, the band launched into their first song: GEI-SHA, a loud energy booster with roots digging deep into Japanese rock from the mid-nineties. Each member of the band displayed his own unique energy, the combination of which was contagious and addicting for the eager audience. The fast pace was only causing the atmosphere to get crazier…
The next song, Killing You Softly, started on a somber note but reached startling crescendos of high energy during the chorus, pumping the audience to scream loudly as Gackt's vocals crooned the haunting melody.
The moment Beneath Your Skin began, S.K.I.N. unfolded a new wave of emotion to the audience. Yes, many fans were moved to tears. It began like a rock opera, slowly picking up more energy until a lull left the stage quiet and dark, and the audience in wonderment. What was going on? A spotlight shone against the bare back of a man captivated by a force that reverberated deeply through his constantly moving fingers. This was Yoshiki, playing gracefully and at times ferociously on a grand piano. Not long after, a second spotlight revealed Gackt, looking somewhat like he was in a hypnotic trance, playing his own melody on a separate piano across from Yoshiki’s. The two melodies intertwined with each other, and the realization dawned that something extraordinary was unfolding. A violin joined the two pianos. This time it was Sugizo who had joined the ensemble, lost in his own world as he cast his own musical spell on the audience. The last member, Miyavi, was revealed, sitting down, strumming a Shamisen. The screen above the stage split into four bars, each displaying a member of S.K.I.N. as they serenaded the audience, overwhelming the arena to screams, tears, disbelief, shock… One thing was certain. The emotion was overpowering.
Violets, the last song, called out the audience to reach into themselves and pull out the last ounces of energy they had. “Get back!” Get back! “Get back!” Get back! Gackt would not let the audience stay quiet for even a millisecond! He was determined to have the most excess of energy for this last song, killing everyone’s vocal chords as he loudly proclaimed, “We are!!!” To which the audience responded, “S.K.I.N.!!!” “We are!!!!” “S.K.I.N.!”
He also summoned the energy of the other band members as he interrupted the song to introduce each band member. He first sauntered over to Miyavi, and described him as being like a brother. “Come on…! Come on…! MIYAVI!!” And of course, Miyavi went into an electrifying guitar solo with tons of youthful energy poured into it. Currently there is no permanent bassist for S.K.I.N. The bassist for their live debut was none other than GacktJOB’s Ju-Ken! Gackt described him as someone he has worked with for a long time… “Come on…! Come on…! JU-KEN!” Ju-Ken jammed away on his bass guitar, and then Miyavi, not wanting to miss out on the fun, jammed alongside him. Taking note of this, Gackt turned to the audience, “MIYAVI! JU-KEN! MIYAVI! JU-KEN!” The energy was on the verge of exploding.
Gackt slinked across the stage to Sugizo whom he put his arm over and then looked out into the audience wildly. “Two years ago… I hated this guy!” Cue audience shock. “But now he is my best friend! Come on…! Come on…! SUGIZO!!” Launching into a unique solo, Sugizo often times lifted his guitar into the air like a god wanting to showcase his instrument of power. Stepping up on the raised platform, Gackt approached the drumset. Everyone knew what was coming next… Gackt wasn’t about to hold out as he introduced, “the one, the only, the best drummer in Japan – Yoshiki!!” The arena exploded with cheers as Yoshiki launched into an epic drum solo so loud and so furious that it could’ve crumbled the walls of the arena and split the sky. When the drumming faded, Gackt asked the audience if they wanted more, and they very eagerly did. Yoshiki continued to drum out all that he had in him, pouring out wave after wave of energy as Gackt continued to prompt the overzealous audience. Gackt pointed to himself and asked the audience, “Who am I?!” “GACKT!” “Who am I?!” “GACKT!” After a few rounds of this, Gackt demanded of the audience, “WE ARE…!” “S.K.I.N.!!” “WE ARE!” “S.K.I.N.!!”
The entire arena was churning out as much energy as they could muster! Gackt would take swigs from his water bottle and then spray a gentle shower of water over the audience in front of him. He chucked the empty bottles out into the audience for lucky fans to catch. Miyavi and Ju-Ken were off in their own zone, dancing around each other in a cute, almost child-like circle. At one point Miyavi rushed over to Gackt and fell to his knees in front of him as if in defeat, or in a more sadistic manner, “Take me!” Gackt responded by taking a swig of his water and spitting it into the air, raining a shower over Miyavi. Sugizo was working his guitar with an insane amount of energy, unable to let it be in one position for very long. The master behind S.K.I.N., Yoshiki, drummed out the last remnants of energy he had in him, and at the end of the set… he trashed it. It was glorious to watch! He threw and kicked aside everything, mutilating it. Sugizo also joined in on the damage parade, and smashed his guitar to the ground, breaking it to pieces.
This signaled the end of S.K.I.N.’s first live, but the audience had no need to worry. Gackt put it bluntly, “We will be back!” The members embraced each other and threw out water bottles and Yoshiki threw out drum sticks. They sauntered off the stage one by one, leaving a bewildered audience staggering out of the arena in disbelief.
The one hour concert was so amazing that to many it seemed unreal. What was experienced in that arena was beyond remarkable. It was legendary, the type of concert that people will remember for months, years, and even decades from now. With their debut, S.K.I.N. had written themselves into JRock history.
set list
GEI-SHA
Killing you softly
Beneath The Skin
Violets
report by Sarah
Thank you to S.K.I.N. and Anime Expo for making this possible.
links
Gackt Official Website
Miyavi Official Website
Sugizo Official Website
Yoshiki Official Website
Anime Expo
BACK
