Taro Hakase’s autumn tour ‘Taro Hakase Concert Tour 2024 TARO HAKASE & THE LADS VIBRANT’ has begun. This report covers the performance at the Sagamihara Women’s University Green Hall on the first day of the tour, September 7.
This tour offers a program that showcases attractions and performances by Taro Hakase that audiences have never seen before. For Hakase, this tour is mixed with a sense of exhilaration and tension unlike any previous ones.
One reason for this is that it is a tour with a band. After inviting the current tour members four years ago, it was decided they would continue as a band, which has officially been named “TARO HAKASE & THE LADS” this year. An unveiling live event was held at Blue Note Tokyo on February 6 and 7. They played new songs that mix various genres such as rock, jazz, funk, Latin, and country, captivating the audience of packed attendees with a sound they had never heard before. Hakase declared, “This year, we will focus on our band activities.” This tour, supported by the original album ‘VIBRANT’ released in August, serves as the nationwide unveiling performance for The Lads.
While visually there hasn’t been a big change, this live performance embodies Hakase’s desire for “all members to shine.” With an average age of 60, representative players of Japan participated in songwriting, breaking Hakase’s established format and showcasing “super sound” freely. Hakase also counters this with techniques he has never shown before. The thrilling performance, which seemed like a conversation through instruments at Blue Note, will be recreated nationwide in this tour.
Another factor was the announcement about his illness made the day before the tour’s first day. He developed Ramsay Hunt syndrome, causing facial paralysis on the left side in August. Although the family was concerned about the health of their vital pillar, it was announced that it would not hinder his performance, and Hakase reassured fans by stating, “I’m full of energy except for the left half.”
The opening performance at Sagamihara Women’s University Green Hall showed such excitement that it blew away any anxiety.
The concert was already sold out. As the audience waited for the start, the last song of ‘VIBRANT’, “Clouds,” began to play. Then the hall went dark, and the ten members quietly appeared. The stage was filled with equipment and instruments to the point where there was no room to move. The spacious concert hall transformed in an instant into a densely packed space reminiscent of Blue Note.
This concert was structured into two parts with an intermission, showcasing a wealth of numbers from ‘VIBRANT’ in the first half. As the count from Gota Yashiki (drums) began, Kiyotaka Amano (guitar) opened with the jazzy rock number “Moon Beams.” Standing in the center wearing sunglasses, Hakase played a cool melody, and during solo parts, each member was spotlighted, eliciting applause each time. Next came “Koto” composed by Yoshito Tanaka (guitar), which brought nostalgic Japanese landscapes to mind, followed by “VIDA FELIZ,” a pleasant samba rhythm penned by Hiroki Kashiwagi (cello) with light rhythms from Tanaka and Yashiki. The composition “I’ll Be There” by Hitoshi Watanabe (bass) transitioned from bossa nova rhythms to a fantastical world, and “The Vanished Velasquez,” written by Toshikazu Oshima (keyboard, saxophone, flute), offered a beautiful flute performance, captivating the audience with a variety of songs created by each member.
As the MC segment began and member introductions concluded, he started explaining his illness to the audience, “As has been in the news…” He assured fans, “From about a month ago, the left half of my face was paralyzed, but I’m slowly improving.” He continued, “Justin Bieber also seems to have had the same illness recently, and since the news came out, I’ve received emails and messages from many people. There was even a LINE from pianist Shinya Kiyozuka saying, ‘No wonder you’ve been looking like Justin Bieber lately!'” This drew a big laugh from the relieved audience. Hakase quipped, “Next time you see Kiyozuka on TV, please tell him, ‘You’re an idiot!’ (laughs)”
Additionally, the familiar goods introduction by Hakase added to the excitement. Clever merchandise was prepared for this tour as well. Starting with “Lads Berry Jam!!,” which plays on the band name, there were also towels designed with a significant pattern that Hakase always hangs in front of the dressing room, a keychain named “Piccolo Talontino,” and the usual “Hakasensu” available in three colors. The tour pamphlet featured long interviews with all the members in a chic design. At the entrance, a gacha (Tarogacha) was set up, creating a line for attendees eager to get 20 different acrylic charms.
After the goods introduction, the second half of the first part started. The hottest performance of the day from ‘VIBRANT’ unfolded again. The song “Cactus,” composed by Yashiki, allowed for the rare pleasure of enjoying the members’ harmonies as if traveling through Central and South America or Africa. During the member solos, Kashiwagi on cello and Hakase played in unison with a Mexican flair, with a jazzy solo from Takashi Hamada (piano) joining in, culminating in a cool solo from Amano on guitar. Yashiki’s signature dub sound added to the chaos as fans weaved into the eclectic soundscape. Following this, Hakase’s composition “WATUUSI!!” evoked the spirit of Carlos Santana, with passionate solos being exchanged sequentially by Hakase, Oshima, and Tanaka. After Hakase’s solo, he picked up a cowbell to keep the exciting rhythm going. As the song approached its climax, Yashiki’s drum solo began, seamlessly transitioning into “Lads in Town,” composed by Hamada. The mix of Yashiki’s funky rhythm with Hakase’s country-style violin created an addictive flavor. The jaw-dropping performance kept excitement high and the audience applauded enthusiastically, marking the end of the first part. During the intermission, many fans shared their first-time experiences with The Lads, saying things like “It feels like a live house,” and “These songs are easy to understand,” and “Everything was cool.”
After an intermission of about twenty minutes, the second part started. The members appeared on stage in fresh, colorful outfits, completely changing the atmosphere as they performed Hakase’s standard pieces along with songs they hadn’t played in a while. They played “Daichi no Uta,” from the 2003 album ‘Traveling Notes’, followed by the familiar NHK morning drama theme song “Himawari.” As Hakase’s violin painted vivid landscapes, the audience savored the moment. After finishing, Hakase laughed, saying, “You can relax now,” and added, “Some of you may have been a bit anxious during the first part. But wasn’t it fun?” The audience responded with enthusiastic applause. “There are many melodies that are usually sung, but I hope to convey that instruments can also do various amazing things. And I believe that those of you in the same age group—who understand this—share our admiration for the crossover music that had immense power in the 1960s and 70s. Even in the 21st century, we wish to continue to believe in and never forget that kind of musical power as we keep playing together as a band. Please continue to support us,” Hakase’s heartfelt words received warm applause. Next, they performed “Orchudoll,” a CM song for Tokai Tokyo Securities, followed by “Eternal.” Hakase explained about “Eternal,” saying, “I wrote this song when I was 30 years old. Originally it was for a female artist, but ultimately, she never made her debut, and the song was shelved until it became part of my violin repertoire. The original lyrics captured the bride’s feelings at a wedding… I’m not sure if we can express that well as a band over 60 years old (laughs),” bringing laughter and applause from the audience. “That initial freshness is our top theme. Let’s keep going,” nodded the members behind him.
The second part quickly jumped to the latter half. Amano’s flamenco guitar hinted at the intro to “Asian Roses.” Hakase’s emotional performance turned the venue’s ambiance into a rich crimson. Next, Oshima’s organ, along with Makoto Yamaki (manipulator) on synth, started to swirl, while Tanaka’s distorted guitar pierced the air as “ZERO HOUR” kicked off. Hakase’s violin sang to the rhythm of Yashiki’s 8-beat. The audience clapped along, unifying the entire venue. With Hamada’s familiar piano intro, the audience quickly got on their feet. The final number of the main set, as one might expect, was “Jounetsu Tairiku.” The audience swaying colorful “Hakasensu” in pink, orange, and blue showed a delightful sight, bringing a smile to Hakase’s face. He moved energetically across the stage, igniting the crowd with a powerful solo. The members also held up their “Hakasensu,” waving along with the audience. By the way, the currently airing TBS show “Jounetsu Tairiku” is celebrating its 1300th episode, and the opening performance has been revamped to The Lads’ version.
Behind the scenes of TVer: A new arrangement of Taro Hakase’s theme song was born:
Following the main performance, amidst loud applause for an encore, the members reappeared. Hakase began, “Though today marks the first day of a tour that continues until the end of the year, I was truly able to enjoy it thanks to all of you,” pausing for words. After a moment amid the warm applause, he bowed deeply and said, “I genuinely thank you from my heart.” He then declared, “Since we formed this band at this age, there’s no meaning in disbanding. So, we want to continue as long as no one drops out,” evoking smiles from his bandmates. The encore featured “Blue Eyes,” composed by Tanaka from the new album, and concluded the day’s performance. Hakase waved to the audience until the very end as he left the stage.
Until now, as a solo artist, Hakase wrote all the scripts, with the tour members faithfully reproducing them, enhancing the overall quality of the performance. However, with The Lads, it’s a band where all members share ideas, sensing the atmosphere and each other’s sensibilities, allowing for spontaneous changes. This embodies the ultimate craftsmanship. This day promises a stage experience unique to this venue and date, which will be seen across the nation in the future.
The autumn tour has 40 performances planned, including the opening show, as the youthful group (The Lads) with an average age of 60 traverses the country until the final show at the Tokyo Garden Theater on December 28.
Tokai Tokyo Financial Group presents
Taro Hakase Concert Tour 2024 TARO HAKASE & THE LADS VIBRANT
September 7 (Sat) Kanagawa: Sagamihara Women’s University Green Hall (Sagamihara City Cultural Hall)
September 8 (Sun) Chiba: Matsudo Forest Hall 21
September 13 (Fri) Okayama: Kurashiki Civic Hall
September 15 (Sun) Osaka: Festival Hall
September 16 (Mon, Holiday) Osaka: Festival Hall
September 20 (Fri) Hiroshima: Hiroshima Bunka Gakuen HBG Hall
September 21 (Sat) Hiroshima: Hiroshima Bunka Gakuen HBG Hall
September 23 (Mon, Holiday) Hyogo: Crie Himeji Grand Hall
September 27 (Fri) Kyoto: Roam Theatre Kyoto Main Hall
September 29 (Sun) Kagawa: Rexum Hall Grand Hall
October 4 (Fri) Shizuoka: Act City Hamamatsu Grand Hall
October 8 (Tue) Tokyo: Katsushika Symphony Hills Mozart Hall
October 11 (Fri) Kanagawa: Kanagawa Prefectural Hall Grand Hall
October 12 (Sat) Kanagawa: Kanagawa Prefectural Hall Grand Hall
October 14 (Mon, Holiday) Toyama: Toyama Overd Hall Grand Hall
October 15 (Tue) Gunma: Takasaki Arts Theater Grand Theater
October 18 (Fri) Ishikawa: Honda Forest North Electricity Hall
October 19 (Sat) Nagano: Hokuhto Bunka Hall (Nagano Prefectural Civic Cultural Hall)
October 23 (Wed) Niigata: Niigata Prefectural Hall
October 26 (Sat) Tokyo: Bunkamura Orchard Hall
October 27 (Sun) Tokyo: Bunkamura Orchard Hall
November 3 (Sun) Kumamoto: Kumamoto Castle Hall Main Hall
November 8 (Fri) Aichi: Aichi Prefectural Arts Theater Grand Hall
November 9 (Sat) Aichi: Aichi Prefectural Arts Theater Grand Hall
November 10 (Sat) Aichi: Aichi Prefectural Arts Theater Grand Hall
November 13 (Wed) Ibaraki: Mito Civic Hall Glovis Hall
November 16 (Sat) Hokkaido: Sapporo Cultural Arts Theater Hitaru
November 17 (Sun) Hokkaido: Sapporo Cultural Arts Theater Hitaru
November 21 (Thu) Osaka: Festival Hall
November 23 (Sat, Holiday) Hyogo: Kobe International Conference Center International Hall
November 28 (Thu) Miyagi: Sendai Sunplaza Hall
November 29 (Fri) Miyagi: Sendai Sunplaza Hall
December 1 (Sun) Saitama: Omiya Sonic City
December 6 (Fri) Tokyo: NHK Hall
December 7 (Sat) Tokyo: NHK Hall
December 13 (Fri) Osaka: Fenice Sakai Grand Hall
December 14 (Sat) Osaka: Fenice Sakai Grand Hall
December 21 (Sat) Fukuoka: Kitakyushu Soleil Hall
December 22 (Sun) Fukuoka: Fukuoka Sun Palace
December 28 (Sat) Tokyo: Tokyo Garden Theater
All tickets for performances are priced at [Presale] Reserved seats 11,000 yen (tax included) [Same day] 500 yen extra
*Admission age restriction: No entry for those under 4 years old
■Release date: August 7, 2024 (Wed)
■Artist: TARO HAKASE & THE LADS / Taro Hakase And The Lads
■Title: VIBRANT / ヴァイブラント
■Catalog number: HUCD-10330/B (Limited Edition) / HUCD-10329 (Regular Edition)
■Price: 5,500 yen (tax included) (Limited Edition) / 3,850 yen (tax included) (Regular Edition)
■Specification: 1 CD album & Blu-ray (Limited Edition) / 1 disc CD album (Regular Edition)
■Released by: HATS UNLIMITED Inc.
■Distributed by: Avex Music Creative Inc.
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