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. 

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.

Schwarz Stein DEMIGOD Tokyo

 Because I so seldom go to live shows anymore 1 month in between felt close in time! 

I’m so happy they did it on a Sunday so I could attend. I took the Shinkansen around noon and came to the club at around 4. This time I didn’t have a vip ticket so I didn’t manage to get a very good spot but it was alright. The  setlist was almost the same as in Osaka but they exchanged some of the older songs, so today we got to hear Transient and Lapis Lazuli! Two songs I really like so I was satisfied.

Kaya mentioned that there were a lot of foreigners attending and implied that the audience was a bit wilder than usual (Japanese fans tends to not respond that much unless the band initiates movement). Which was funny because all of a sudden when they started playing Succubus it felt a bit nostalgic; people half threw themselves forward during the chorus. I haven’t seen that since pre-covid. 

The after event was over pretty quickly. Some points that were mentioned:

• Kaya wrote Lapis Lazuli lyrics after an acquaintance had past away so he doesn’t want to perform it that much because it makes him remember.
• They mentioned Corroded cage again and Hora said he’ll try an recreate it for the next live.
• They might do an remix live and a remix cd. Hora said he’d like to remix New Vogue Children and I think it was Current…
• Originally they had planned on doing a fan trip again but they couldn’t decide on the destination so it never happened and during spring is very busy. Kaya said people can come with suggestions.

Hora released a new t-shirt last month (I think it was). I planned on buying it at the live but it was sold out pretty quickly. During the cheki photoshoot I asked him to make some more >_< 

They announced that there will be an outstore event in January. I’m happy about it but I really wanted to get my Queen of Decadence demo tape signed and I don’t have it with me…. Maybe I’ll settle with something of the new merch or I’ll ask my sister to ship it to me xD

Schwarz Stein 22nd Anniversary Live 2024-07-31

 I haven’t updated here in such a long time it almost feels like i should’ve kept it abandoned. 

I stopped updating because there were so many things going on, mostly bad, that i just didn’t feel motivated nor did i feel like i had the time. When covid hit a lot of bands started the live streaming too so it didn’t feel necessary for me to write live reports when everyone could see it themselves. 

However, that has changed and part of me also feels like i need to get back into my bangya era instead of just digging myself deeper down this hole I’ve been in. 

So for my comeback I will present to you the Schwarz Stein 22nd Anniversary live!

Recently Schwarz Stein has scheduled some lives on weekdays which makes it impossible for me to go. For those who don’t know me I live in Osaka, currently I also work 6 days a week so unless the live is on a Sunday or a holiday I can’t go. 

Unfortunately this happened with the anniversary too, it happened on a Tuesday but that Tuesday seemed like a very slow day at work so I asked if I could take the day off and I got an ok so of I went to Tokyo on Tuesday morning!

I’ve stopped taking the highway buses, I guess I’m too old but it hurts too much xD so going to Tokyo for a live only will result in at least a 30,000 yen train fee x_x I also hate stressing so to be able to participate in the after party, as they decided to call it this time, I actually stayed the night making it even more expensive x_x

I used to always wear the same outfit for Schwarz Stein, the original Hora t-shirt, but I feel really nostalgic for it so i don’t want to overuse it xD therefore I’ve left it in Sweden and have been dressing up a bit more for their lives. BUT Hora announced a new t-shirt for his birthday live in May which a friend kindly bought for me, so I decided to restart the Hora t-shirt dress fashion once again. Also Japanese summer is like walking around in a sauna so didn’t really feel like getting dressed up just to sweat through layers of clothing.

This time the live was at the 二万電圧, a club I’ve never been to before. It was very small, even though there can’t have been more than 80 guests it was full. 

My ticketnumber was pretty bad, 30, despite reserving my ticket within 5 minutes of the release (I now have the theory you get the number based on when you pay because I waited until around 9p.m that day to pay, if anyone knows how it works please leave a comment).

There were some new merch, a Hora keychain, compact mirror set and a signed photo included in the new Hora release Anima. I had already ordered Anima from his online store but i wanted to photo so I bought one more. I actually also got the keychain but I resisted the mirrors despite Hora’s cat being very cute. I just don’t have space to buy endless of merch anymore and i don’t use compact mirrors. This time they sold extra cheki tickets for the after party (since a couple of years back one cheki with the band is included in the afterevent/party price and they stopped selling tickets for it but it made a comeback this time). So i got an extra photo >_> because I feel like the risk of me closing my eyes or doing something else stupid is too high….

Being an anniversary I hoped they’d play a lot of the old classics. The setlist started with 黒揚羽 so I was pleased. I was even happier that they continued with Fester Love, Queen of Decadence and Apocalypse.  For Hora’s birthday live they played a new version of Addictive Epicurean, this made me so happy because it’s one of my favorite songs and I’ve mentioned that it would be nice to hear  a couple of times <3 and fortunately they played it this time too! It felt a bit slower than the original but i liked it.

Kaya mentioned in one of the short MCs that they’d keep it short and talk more during the after party. They had already announced there would be news so that came during the last MC. As I had thought, the news were that they will release a full album containing 11 songs in October. The new songs they have performed live will be included and then he said there will be new songs, at least that he grant sung before so i guess that’s a hint that there will be more remakes from Hora solo songs. The album will be followed by one live in Osaka and one in Tokyo. Then in December there will be a live with Közi as guest. Kaya had made a new flyer for this and had accidentally written that it would be Közi’s project E//+Z xD

They did keep the Mcs shorter but what surprised me was that the afterparty literally was them asking if people would be interested in a fan trip again and then discussing where to go, and they also played Perfect Garden. That was it. No question corner so it felt very short. I never ask questions but this time I actually wanted to. 

When it’s time to take a picture with them I never know what to say so it’s usually one thanks and bye xD Kaya complimented me on my shirt when I came in :p

I immediately checked my schedule and
realized I can attend all the planned lives so I’m really looking forward to both the album and the gigs ^^

Corona in Japan -is there a pandemic going on?

 I've been in Japan, Osaka to be more specific, for almost 3 weeks now and although it's different from the other times I've been here, it is nowhere as different as Europe is at the moment. TV still promotes going out to eat and there seems to be no social distancing. I went to the supermarket the other day and one lady even cut the line because she didn't seem to get that I was keeping distance to the person in front of me.

I went to Umeda the other day to meet a friend and was kind of shocked by the amount of people going out shopping. I know I also contributed by going there but in my poor defence I haven't seen my friend in over 1 year and he's not from Osaka so I don't know when or if I'll be able to go see him in Tokyo. I also made sure I didn't go during the rush hours.

Back in Sweden though I felt much more aware of the virus and all the safety precautions, people would stare their eyes out if someone sat next to them on the train and here people don't seem to care how close you are. I guess many think they're safe because basically everyone uses a mask, but maybe half of everyone in a mask as a high quality one and wear it properly. The thin polyester masks seems very popular and those don't even filtrate.

I work part-time at an eikaiwa and the first child arriving on my shift shows up with her mask half way down her face, coughing and sneezing. But she didn't have a fever and it seems that it's the most important thing here. No wonder the virus is spreading like crazy I thought.

Then the other day it is announced that Tokyo has declared state of emergency, but everything remains open and the limit of people who can assemble is 5000. Not sure what they think this will result in. I really hope the numbers will go down soon and that we can all go back to a more normal life.

Nabe every evening

Schwarz Stein Immortal Verses Tour Encore Final -Daywalker-

Okey, this is odd. Never ever have I written a live report over 6 MONTHS after it acctually took place :P I considered not Writing anything, but as a huge fan of Schwarz Stein (and other smaller Visual kei bands) I know the available material is limited and therefore decided to write this...based on what I remember.

I wasn't even sure I'd be able to attend this live due to some issues with my uni in Osaka (one of my courses was going on a fieldtrip that very weekend and I was told it was mandatory). In the end I obviously decided to go anyway...because it's Schwarz Stein :P but it was stressfull because it wasn't very planned out from my part and I ended up leaving Saturday night from Osaka arriving on Sunday morning in Tokyo. With barely any sleep I headed for Shibuya where the live would be and spent a couple of hours at the infamous Starbucks (I tried waiting for as long as I could but I never got to see the crazy amount of people crossing unfortunately), then went to Donki to change into my live clothes and back to Hachiko to meet up with my friend. I've mentioned Before how I didn't really like it in Osaka, so I was so happy to be back in Tokyo, seeing my favorite band and meeting up people that I know (in contrast to my life up the mountains alone in Osaka:P).

This live was during daytime, like the title hints, and I have to say it was a bit disapointing. For me it was rather convenient as I could return to Osaka the same evening but I do prefer going to lives at night.

Kaya had mentioned on Twitter (I think) that there would be announcment during the live so I was hyped thinking there might be a new single or something, I'll get back to the disapointing news later...

Shibuya Rex was not so crowded, I bought my ticket late due to the issue with uni and assumed I'd get a high ticket number, but I ended up on the second third row from stage (and during the heavier songs I even managed to get to second row) so I wasn't too disapointed. I don't remember the exact order of the songs, but I do remember morgue and Apocalypse being in the begining and I really like those songs so it really got me in the Schwarz Stein mood. Kaya told us that people had been a bit jealous of the setlist from Hokkaido so they would basically do that, except for Beautiful the Virgin! The moment he said that I wanted to cry a bit (Beautiful the Virgin is one of my favorite songs and I still haven't been able to hear it live yet). Obviously they played all the songs from Immortal Verses and they were all good live, especially Immortal Light and Lotus. I'm not saying that just because Hora does vocals for them, but I've realised that the songs in which Hora acctually do have vocals Kaya tend to improvice more to be part of the performance if that makes sense. Everyone who hasn't been able to see them live, perhaps you've seen their live dvd from 2011? During Creeper and Syphilis and Disorder for example, Kaya will add stuff (might it be the arm movement during Creeper or the shouts in Syphilis and Disorder) so that he still is a big part of the song, and that I really like. They also played Release Me, one of my all time favorites so I was pleased. 

So what was the announcment? Before the live I noticed a woman to my right holding a paper or something with an image of Kaya and Hora, and my mind went wild imagening what it might be. Ticket for soemthing perhaps? ...oh no. The announcment was that added to the merch was a sticker set... 1000yen for 3 tiny stickers. sorry, but that was not what I expected (didn't stop me from buying it though...) Funny thing was they had a new photoset of Hora which was not announced and I think that was a lot more of value...

Like they seem to do most of the time nowadays, an after event was held as well as a 3person cheki. Unfortunately they're charging 2000yen for a cheki now, used to be 1000yen, so with the after event ticket, sticker and regular cheki I couldn't afford 2 but got 1 cheki with them. I'm not gonna post my cheki, because I fucked that one up bad :P let's just say it turned out to be the most funny cheki I've ever taken but also a really big failure. (I will be so disapointed if that will be my last cheki ever with Schwarz Stein XD)

Truthfully I don't have much memory from the after event, I don't think any special questions were raised and they didn't do any extra performance if I remember correctly. I do remember thinking it was way too short, I seriously think it was shorter than their previous after events I've attended which is a shame considering the price.

After the live, me and my friend went to a Hawaiian restaurant, in Hora's honour. Warning, if ever ordering pancakes, make sure you're REALLY hungry. The restaurant is called Moke's Hawaii and is located in Meguro, highly recomended. Very nice restaurant, the macadamia milk cocktail was really nice :3

Malice Mizer ESP Exhibition

I first began listening to Malice Mizer in high school. I remember they usually came up on lastfm as a similar band to Velvet Eden and I really loved the picture from Gardenia so I decided to check them up. I really disliked Gardenia eventhough they were one of the coolest bands I had ever seen (still don't like Gardenia, so boring). A couple of months later I decided to try them out again and ended up on the PV for Le Ciel and from that moment on I've loved Malice Mizer (10 year anniversary for us this year). 

Out of my top 3 favorite bands I've been able to see 2 (sort of), Malice Mizer was the only one missing. I tried to make things work so that I could go but since I was going to Japan as a student I could not go too early and unfortunately I could not attend the concert, so I had to settle with just going to the exhibition held at ESP museum in Shibuya.

Eventhough I have been to Tokyo many times and stayed for longer periods as well, I still get excited when I get to see my favorite bands. Seeing Malice Mizer shown like this felt so special, Malice Mizer has sort of been something just displayed on my tv or computer, almost as if they don't really exist. By the entrance was a poster signed by various members and a picture of Mana and Kozi from Moi Dix Mois and ZIZ (which I found a bit weird but whatever).

On a tv they played the first live DVD with Gackt as vocalist (unfortunately they did not include the N.P.S.N.G.S), and on the walls hang posters from the first era with Tetsu to the very last with Klaha.

Other than posters were also nostalgic items such as the doll Kozi had on his back during Brise at the Merveilles concert, Mana's teddy backpack and the Merveilles book.

Of course the new costumes were also on display! My pictures are rather poor though and doesn't make them justice considering the amount of details. Közi's especially incorporated much of his previous costumes doll like appearance. The chest part had a ruffle like his Gardenia outfit, and the left leg of the pants had a check pattern.

 Kami's drumset as well as other items, such as a bag he had drawn on was up for display. By the cashier was Kami's hat and gloves from Gekka no Yasoukyoku on display with the two dolls from the PV.

I really liked that they had so many random objects (even the whips Mana and Kozi used), and of course their instruments. They also had a guestbook in which you could write something in (I assume the band will receive it later?), and I saw some fans who spent a lot of time writing their messages. I went back the following day just because I wanted to spend some more time in Malice Mizer heaven, hoho, and noticed they had then changed to the last live DVD. I didn't stay for all of it, but a long while, and picked up both of Közi's and one of Mana's guitar picks! ESP also sold a keychain so you could put the pick in there, I decided not to get that because I sort of want to try and make one of Közi's picks into an earring (let's see how that goes :P).

Seeing the exhibition was awesome, but it also made me so sad I could not make it to the actual concerts. Might not happen but I can't help but to hope they'll make a new one in a couple of years. The last couple of years I haven't really listened to Malice Mizer as much as I used to, but this exhibition really made me remember why I fell so hard in love with this awesome and so unique visual kei band.