Tokyo's Coolest Sound

On September 15, 2012, was the release party for frenesi's album "gendai". It was held at Shibuya WWW, one of my favorite venues lately (it used to be a movie theater), and like last time I saw her last year there was a funny school theme where frenesi is the principal and all her musicians and the audience are students. :) The show was also paced with school chimes, which were actually useful to hint people at the bar that the show was about to continue.

The show's first set started with just frenesi and band member Obata Yasuhisa (PC and keyboards), the first songs had a backtrack on which frenesi added vocals and phrases played on her red shoulder-worn keyboard (Yamaha SHS-10).

For 3 songs, the school's 8-girl dance club "Inn Gal" joined for some fun dancing and cheering, the last of which was cover of 80's idol song "getsuyōbi wa Sick Sick" (original on YouTube). Then Inn Gal were replaced by members of indies rock band Inn Japan (frenesi's favorite) along with drummer Nishiura Kensuke. I was really excited to hear the new songs played live, especially "Pure Shampoo", "Onigashima" (a cover of Inn Japan (original) turned really cute and pop) and funky disco-ish tune "Die-In".

Set list #1: fukumen chōsain / Pure Shampoo / Onigashima (Inn Japan cover) / getsuyōbi wa Sick Sick (Mitsui Hisako cover) / Die-In / furyō Mannequin / nagisa no Andromeda

After a quick break there was a strange part of the show where 4 people (musicians from her band, manga artist Uchida Shungiku, and talent Boku-nō) were invited to draw on a given topic, and frenesi was the judge. On stage was also MC Kawashima Itaru (the band's steel drum player and the one who runs the Otomesha label), accompanied by assistant Renee Robin (aka furyō Mannequin). The best part though was at the end when was were shown drawings inspired by songs from frenesi's new album. I liked paintings by Renee to "Latency GIrl", hopefully they'll show up on YouTube!

Next was the 2nd live set, frenesi had changed into a longer dress, and was now accompanied by her usual full band, with piano, bass, steel drum, drums and PC/keyboards. Unlike the first set, this had more of a bossa nova band feel, and several older songs were also played. frenesi sat at a larger synth, and again played all solos and phrases when not busy singing. There was a medley of 3 older songs from "Cupra" ending with the cute "Lowitz Arc" that gave me goosebumps as it's one of my most favorite songs. Also I was especially happy to hear "Bob Imagination" and "Silly Joke" from the new album!

Set list #2: watashi no Yes Man / machi / Sprawl / Lowitz Arc / shinonome / gendai / chikyū kōdōsetsu / Computer obaachan (cover of Cosmic Invention) / Bob Imagination / jōbutsu sasete yo / Inflation / Silly Joke

There was an encore, closing with pop bossa song "nero", and the school chimes called the show to an end as teacher frenesi asked her musicians to bow and exit.

Encore: Märchen / nero

I bought an exclusive CD-R titled "tajūjinkaku R" of 4 previously unreleased tracks, and a cute tenugui of trademark character Nesiko. After the show there was a photo session for those who bought the album. Knowing frenesi was photo shy, of course I had expected that it would turn out like this. :)

"gendai"

"Pure Shampoo"