The Tokyo Concert Experience

  “Majestic” is the word I’d use to describe the moment when, halfway through the show, standing in the middle of the stage just by himself, Gilberto Gil exchanged the acoustic guitar he’d used throughout the bossanova inspired first half of his set for an electric guitar that was handed to him by a stagehand. The impressive lighting design, some of the best I’ve seen for a concert, seemed to attempt to reproduce the dusty atmosphere of the Brazilian Sertao. Gil stood there glowing with that strong backlight behind him. Having been seated up to that point, the moment became even more intense. And then he strummed the opening chords of one of the most recognizable songs in the world which happens to be, arguably the best song ever written about the experience of living in a developing nation. It was No Woman, No Cry . In spite of the title, there were more than a pair of teary eyes in the audience. It was a magical moment. The kind of moment that highlights what’s special about a live