MAYOHK - Let's Teck!!

 I'm so happy and at the same time so sad because I came home from the Mayohk Osaka gig. Happy because they're awesome and sad because I don't know when I'll be able to see them again.

I can say it a million times but Közi and Hora together is a match made in heaven. The more I listen to them the more I love it. Seriously, ドゥエンデ and PLANETA they're so good! I usually complain about the Hora remixes but I really feel like they've used Hora's original songs well and really changed them instead of just adding vocals like they usually do when Schwarz Stein uses Hora solo songs.

I haven't been to a mixed live in ages, I completely missed that they posted their time slot on twitter so I went to the club when they opened the doors just to be sure I'd get a good spot. Someone tried to sneak a bag to the front of the stage infront of Hora but I stood there for 2 hours, I consider myself a musiclover and I listen to many different genres but I suffered through those 2 hours to be at the front XD 

Because of the weather I don't really feel like dressing up since I will be drowning in my own sweat by the end of the day so I went with the Hora sexy lips t-shirt today and Hora noticed :)

They haven't shared an official setlist yet but I feel like they played all songs from the album, unless I mix it up with the Tokyo live, + the 2 new songs  MODO and ウドゥドゥラポォフト. We also didn't get the "device time", Transcend -the death- and Twilight.

The Mc's were very short, Közi mentioned they'd sell chekis and that all purchases would come with a bonus (it was a small sticker). They were supposed to have those in Tokyo as well but Közi forgot to bring them. Közi also mentioned he really likes Osaka (why doesn't that surprise me?) and then the normal ばばじじ talk XD When they mentioned the chekis, I think Hora said something like buy chekis "even if he's an old man" XD  Hora's tooth still hurts but the swelling has gone down. 

That was about it. 

They're awesome and I hope more people appreciate them so they can have more one-man gigs and continue to release more music.

About the songs, don't know if it's because they played so few songs in South America, but I don't get the Sexy Music hype. It's a cute song but it can't compare with ドゥエンデ and PLANETA, or Donut! XD 

I have my driving exam tomorrow so I hope tonight will aid me tomorrow (please make me pass)

MAYOHK Showcase #4

My second MAYOHK live. A unit with Közi and Hora really is a dream come true. They are my favorite artists and kind of made to collaborate in my opinion xD since their album release I’ve been very eager to see them live again. I was running late today, all the way from Osaka. I got stuck in traffic and ended up on the 13:00 train. Then in Tokyo i took the wrong train to my hotel making me even later but i managed to come right when they were about to call my number! There were no new merch however there was a new song! (Or 2 I wasn’t aware of but I think they only said one new). According to the set list ウドゥラドゥウポォフト was their new song, Hora did death vocals , I really liked it. A song called MODO was also new to me. It sounded a bit more synth, a bit Depeche Mode feel to it. Really like it too so I hope they'll release them. Hopefully they’ll release them soon, I want to hear them again. Hora had shared on Twitter the day before that one of his teeth was cracked and that it hurt. The minute he stepped on stage tonight you could tell he was really swollen. He had done his black make up a bit higher on his right side, probably to cover the swelling a bit. Közi joked about Hora complaining about the pain before the gig and that he was popping pills (he said he was like a junky xD). He seemed to be in a lot of pain and he mentioned Közi’s accident earlier this year and Közi revealed he still feels something (違和感) in his elbow. 

As Közi unfortunately said by the end that they don’t have any one-man gigs planned for the moment and that they probably will perform at different events instead. 

Hora and Közi is a really good combo, not just musically but I think they complement each other so well on stage. Közi is so playful and I think he can bring out the best in most people (he really is one of those artists I think are hilarious to be around). 

Also I finally realized which Hora song セフィボン is! I’ve been scratching my head since I heard it and it’s Spine from Icebound!

I usually don’t like when Schwarz Stein takes Hora’s solo songs and just adds lyrics, mostly because I think it undermines Hora’s solo, like it’s just an empty library and I see his work as HIS. However, I have to give it to Közi I guess because I think they’ve really rearranged the Hora songs they’ve used well. Both セフィボン and Planeta are favorites of mine. 

For the encore they played Sexy music again xD seems to be a fanfavorite (it’s catchy but not in my top 5).

I’ll see them again tomorrow in Osaka but after that i don’t know when the next time will be so I’m a bit sad. 

After the live a friend took me to Seth's bar/cafe. 

Schwarz Stein 23rd Anniversary Live (2025-8-30)

It feels like a long time since the last Schwarz Stein live but compared to when I lived in Sweden and I could see them every other year it's really not ^^'

It's been 5 months since the Remix live and they just finished their South American tour (Chile, Brazil and Mexico)so I guess they don't want to exclude their Japanese fans and threw a 23 anniversary live (aren't anniversaries usually done when there's an even number?? I'm not complaining, let's have an anniversary live every year XD)

On my way on the Shinkansen I was speculating about the setlist, being an anniversary live I thought they might try and play songs from all of their career, I imagined Kuroageha maybe, I was hoping for Queen of Decadence, Syphilis and Disorder and Creeper. Creeper is one of those songs that has been a guarantee but since the release of DEMIGOD they haven't played it at all. I saw that they played it in South America so my hopes were high and my prayer was answered. (side note, I realised a couple of years ago that they change the furi for Creeper overseas. Not to offend maybe??)

Creeper is usually part of the last segment of Schwarz Stein lives since it goes into the "hard songs" category and yesterday's they opened with it :O The songs they added from their previous lives were Lilith, Queen Leech and Creeper. Unfortunately they didn't play Corroded Cage :( I really like the new remix of that.

They tried to keep the Mcs short since they had an after event and they will also have a special talking event with the other participants of the South American tour next Monday (Kaya kept saying they shouldn't reveal too much). What did they talk about? These are the point I remember:

They had issues with visas, they had been told they didn't need any but they did after all which made them split up because everyone couldn't board the plane. Kaya ended up going first, alone and he got stuck again as well. 

Hora got locked up in a bathroom in Chile while Közi was rehearsing, he panicked when he realised no one would hear him or come for him since the rehearsal was going on so he kicked on the door trying to get it open. He did manage to get out eventually.

Hora said he has to take medication before flight to not get panic attacks, if he doesn't he can't fly. So he was sleeping the whole flight. He had been feeling unwell and didn't eat much saying he lost weight whereas Kaya said he gained.

During the Chile rehearsal both Kaya and Hora felt that Schwarz Stein is really good and Kaya said they would like to sell more
CD's but both of them think Schwarz Stein is good enough to just keep doing what they're doing even if they sell little. Kaya said he really thinks Hora does great music and Hora said he also thought in Chile that Kaya's lyrics are really good <3

Kaya said it felt different coming from the the South American fans who has a lot of passion (Hora started imitating his way of saying it so it sounded like he sneezed) and in Japan the fans are more silent. 

Hora keeps joking about Kaya being an old lady (baba), don't remember how it ended up on us but he also said the fans too are only older women with a lot of free time  XD (not true, this old lady has to take time off work to go to Tokyo unless they play Sundays).

Included in the after event ticket is a 3shot cheki, they also sold more 3shots for 2000yen, since last year I've started buying 2 extra so I get 1 3 shot and then 2 2shots. 

They has new merch, a shopping bag I really wanted to get (I got lost on my way to the club of course, I got there 15:31 and was told they closed presale at 15:30 XD) the bad was sold out as I was standing in line for it before the live, but I did get the stickers, both Schwarz Stein and Kaya solo (super cute, Kaya's look like Line stamps). They also had cheeks from the South American tour, the ones from Brazil looked almost untouched so I decided to get one and I managed to draw a Hora one :) 

Next they will play in November, they will redo the Remix live in Tokyo and Osaka. Kaya mentioned people requesting Nagoya too so I'm hopeful they'll add that too.

Mayohk Showcase#1

I think a lot of people are curious about this project. As a Hora and Közi fan this was such good news when they announced it! I went to the venue very excited about what they would end up playing and if there would be any cd for sale. 

Unfortunately no cd but Közi hinted that it will be coming in the future. 

It was my first time at this venue, it was really nice and they had s good selection of drinks. The drink ticket was a bit expensive though, 700yen…

Hora stood on the right side of the stage like always. He came in first to the intro song and Közi came after. They had a projector showing the logo and their names as they entered the stage. Their suits were really cool too, I noticed some of the paint glowed in the dark! The first songs were originals and then all of a sudden Synthetic Anthem starts playing! As soon as I heard it my arms flew up xD It was awesome to finally hear Hora songs played at a live house!!! They had added lyrics to it though so Közi sang over it.

In the middle Hora had his own time where he just played music by and Közi wasn’t even on stage. It really was a dream come true. I’ve told him before that I’d love to see a Hora solo live, and he smiled a lot so maybe this showed him that there are many of us who’d love to hear his solo songs live. 

The whole live was about 90 minutes, it felt really short, after they left stage we kept calling for them to come back. The light were turned on but no one left, then finally the staff announced that it was the end. 

Overall, the new songs sounded like Hora's lighter songs, the ones that are more pop (like Anima) but there were some heavier songs too. In the middle, efter Közi's break, when he came back they did a kind of instrumental guitar-noise piece but most songs were pretty danceable. Hora both did death vocals and sang though! This is a first time, on his solo he's always used a filter over his voice so it was nice to hear what he actually sounds like. I was impressed! He should definetely sing more. I've always felt the closest we've got to him singing is Ignition, in the verses you can somewhat hear what he sounds like. However in general Közi is the vocalist and Hora is more of a support vocalist.

I’m really sad I can’t go to their next gig, hopefully they’ll come to Osaka or have the live after on a Sunday.

For the merch, this time I actually didn’t get the t-shirt but I got 3 acrylic stands and stickers. i managed to get all the ones I wanted (I traded a double Közi for a Hora with my friend and a sticker as well <3)

Now I’m really sad about having to go back to Osaka. I haven’t left Tokyo yet and I already miss it. Until next time. 

EDIT

Közi updated his Twitter saying the day before the gig, during rehearsals, he had fallen off stage and hurt his arm. Thinking it was probably ok he just took some painkillers but the day after the gig went to the doctor and it was confirmed he had broken his elbow/arm! I didn't notice anything weird during the performance, either he took some pretty strong painkillers or he's super strong to pain. 

Schwarz Stein -another dimension-

There’s no better feeling than seeing Schwarz Stein. I could give up seeing any other band live for them. Because of an accident I couldn’t attend the Nairobi live or the signing event so I really looked forward to this. I don’t think i can describe how much i enjoy Schwarz Stein to be honest. I’ve followed them for almost 20 years but now and i still love their music just as much as i did when i first heard them. I feel like an empty battery going in to one of their shows and then I’m fully charged by the end. I was talking to a friend yesterday and she also  said all her problems just goes away once she gets to see them. 

This time they brought back the streaming service so I don’t really have to go through any details of the songs. I personally really enjoyed the remixes, Fester Love though I like the original more. That song has a special place in my heart. Since it was a remix live I feel like it was a high energy live from beginning to end and I love that. Kaya pointed out that the section with hard songs were shorter, and usually i would mind that because i love them but this time it was ok because the remixes are harder anyway.

I was very curious about the Corroded Cage remix and I loved it. After the gig they had a photo session and I told Hora that I think remixes are scary because you never know how much the song will change but I loved these remixes.

They haven’t decided on a new date for the next live but they have a fan trip planned and Hora’s bar event for his birthday (i can’t go to either because i have work). For Hora's bar there will be a Hora cocktail (even though he doesn't drink). They joked about Hora spitting in the drinks, Kaya saying some fans might even like that XD 

Other than that there wasn’t anything news worthy. Kaya and Hora just jokes a lot. 

I’m praying the next live will be on a Sunday xD

About the goods though, they sold clear files, a pack of 2. They're now up on Kaya's web store but at the Limehouse they sold them signed. They also added more random badges (I got Kaya from their greatest hits look and Hora's cat).

Moi Dix Mois Mana sama birthday tour 2025

I feel so lucky! I don’t think many people understand how hard it is to live in japan and yet barely ever being able to do what I enjoy the most; go to live shows, because I live in Osaka and I work Saturdays. 

This week was heaven sent, i had work off Wednesday to Sunday so I could go to 3 gigs in one week!!

First up was Moi Dix Mois, Mana’s birthday gig, first out of two. 

I’m not well enough rounded when it comes to Moi Dix Mois, I have attended a birthday live in 2017 so that’s my only reference, but I think they usually do one day standing and one day sitting also implying harder and softer songs. At least that’s what it was like last time i went and the set list yesterday was pretty hard. 

My last Moi Dix Mois gig was in 2022 November in Osaka. I thought i had a bad number then (88) and yesterday i got 135…

I haven’t had a good spot for Moi Dix Mois in many years. I also feel like it has to do with that they play smaller venues. 

I aimed at going to the pre-sale for merch but i messed up at the station and took the wrong train… so I missed that. I only wanted the pendant anyway so I got it after. By the door we were handed these postcards of Mana, I love to get stuff like this. I was a bit surprised to see that only Kamijo had presented flowers though, I assumed Schwarz Stein would too… maybe today? Mana even mentioned them in the message mid-live. He talked about Takadanobaba(the place where the livehouse was at), that it was here he scouted Schwarz Stein, or as he corrected yesterday, Rudolf Steiner at the time. They also played with early Malice Mizer here. He had written that he had been to Big Boy to eat (it’s a hamburger restaurant, as in meat patty) back in the days. For those who do not know, since Mana doesn’t speak he always had a written message read by one of the members at every live, this time by Sugiya. He sometimes comes with comments by whispering in their ear, like when he corrected him that it was Rudolf Steiner. 

As it was Mana’s birthday Seth instructed everyone to light up their Moi Dix Mois lightsticks a d then Mana would blow out the candles, so everyone who had one lit it and then turned it off when Mana ”blew them out” ( he just moved his atm from left to right xD). I don’t have a light stick, I considered buying one because I have this vision of how I want to decorate my future home with my music collection and the light stick could be a nice thing to have with the Moi Dix Mois stuff , but I still haven’t got one. Anyway Seth was sweet and said that everyone who don’t have one, it’s ok just use your hands :) so those of us without light sticks just put our hands up during Peagent.

My highlights for the evening was:

The Sect

Dispell Bound

Mad ingrain

Night breed

Monophobia

Since they are making this a tour I’m considering going to one of the Sendai gigs. I’ve actually never been to northern Japan so it could be nice to see that as well as see Moi Dix Mois again.