The Tokyo Concert Experience

“This dying world gasps its last breath as we turn off our minds. All hope is lost, there’ll be no new dawn and all of your dreams will die… Die”. That’s the chorus for See You in Hell from Electric Wizard’s latest album Wizard Bloody Wizard. On paper this misanthropic sentiment might look depressing, but actually on record, and especially performed live, it’s quite exhilarating. The bass and guitars that went in unison up to this part of the song, open up with different lines, inducing in the listener the unavoidable head banging motion. It’s paradoxical how sometimes in art and entertainment these moments that embrace humanity’s impending outcome end up being uplifting. This reminder of one’s inevitable fate is a source of pathos. Electric Wizard is full of these kind of moments. They’re not to be confused with cheesy power metal, their stuff lies deeper, it’s way sludgier, slower and darker. It resonates stronger. It was cool to prove that in a live setting, as I susp...

Yabai, やばい . That word in Japanese slang is used to express a reaction to something unique, unusual. It could be used for both positive or negative reactions. My Japanese is extremely limited, but I know I heard that word a lot at the end of this show. I arrived to the venue a bit after the doors opened. It was a colorful crowd, haven’t seen that many piercings and tattoos at a concert in Japan since I saw Napalm Death a couple of years ago. The foyer was packed, the concert sold out fairly quick. My ticket was number 700 and since here they use a number system similar to the one at hospitals or banks, I knew it was going to be a while before I could get inside the venue. Finally 700 got called and I stepped in. The place was dark already and the support act, DJ Andy Maddocks, was blasting some techno. I was able to get a second row spot right in front of Autechre’s deck, the place was a lot more comfortable than I expected. About 10 minutes before Maddocks hit the one...

According to a study by the Aalto University in Finland, shoebox shaped concert halls acoustics retain a wider range of dynamics allowing a more emotional response from the audience. The sidewalls reflect sound into the listeners’ ears taking advantage of their highest sensitivity points, making the louder sounds stronger without affecting the softer sounds. A a result, this wide sound dynamics spectrum evokes goosebumps and shivers during a performance. The Tokyo Opera City Concert Hall is a shoebox shaped concert hall and it’s a magnificent building. The wood side panels on the walls reach the top of the incredibly high ceiling in a way reminiscing of what it might look from inside a hallowed pyramid. We got lucky and got seats above the orchestra on the right. That point of view allowed us not only to hear the music of François-Xavier Roth conducting Les Siècles, but also to see it. In acoustic performances of that scale, with a full orchestra, the sound can be seen t...