LIVE REPORT ~ Kaya: November 8, 2008
Los Angeles, CA
Whispers of a diva from the east had gone around even before PMX touched down at the LAX Hilton. Kaya arrived in all his splendor and décor, eager to enchant and arouse the curious attendees of PMX. Previously of the famed visual kei electronica duo Schwarz Stein, Kaya leapt onto the solo scene in 2006 and made his major label debut in 2008.
Rather than letting the audience linger in the dizzying “wait before the plunge”, Kaya performed earlier than scheduled (sound the trumpets!! This usually never occurs at a JRock concert).
Despite the shocking wave of screams that followed his entrance, Kaya never lost his dignity or grace. For this live, Kaya chose to wear a black Victorian style dress with a high collar and lots of lace to frame his glowing face. His dancers, Yui and OCHI, wore white ruffled shirts and high-waisted black pants. Both outfits can be seen in Kaya's music video for his single Chocolat.
Kaya's signature style can be summarized as elegant techno. The set was composed of songs that showcased the extent of Kaya's vocal range and brought to the forefront a dazzling spectacle of choreographed dance numbers and catchy, sparkling electronic melodies. Kaleidoscope opened the set, introducing the audience to his flamboyant style. He spun around the stage and beckoned to the audience, “Say my name!” Without hesitation the audience shouted back “Kaya!”
Dancers Yui and OCHI joined Kaya in the second song. I had some trouble keeping my eye on Kaya with his two dancers constantly doing sassy head rolls and catwalks. Put together, the three create a very irresistible appeal.
The show continued with a flavorful variety of songs; some were fast-paced and innocent in tone and others were more somber and mellow. Silvery Dark, the fourth song into the set and second following the MC break, marked the departure into the latter mood. Kaya displayed his impressive range to the utmost and soft blue filtered lights added a mystical element to the stage.
Perhaps the song that got the most reaction was Chocolat, which at the time of PMX was his most recent single, and, for new fans, the song that they were most familiar with. However it was Epicurean that turned the live into a brief rave. Anime cons have an established raver community so it was well liked among both sets of audience members.
Kaya's voice is definitely worth a mention. The moment he first spoke in his feminine voice accented by a short giggle the audience let out high-pitched screams of delight. Kaya spoke in his native Japanese mostly, but when one of the audience members yelled out that Kaya was cute he responded matter-of-factly, "I know." The answer received thunderous screams and applause.
Kaya left the stage briefly, his dancers doing their part to keep the momentum going in Kaya's absence. To those who were familiar with Kaya, a costume change was definitely imminent. He unvieled his new costume: a wa-loli dress stylishly accented by a pattern of violet flowers. "Do you like my outfit?" Kaya asked. The audience responded ethusiastically, to which Kaya replied all-knowingly yet again "I know." His dancers also executed a costume change and now sported stylish yukatas, which suited the next set of songs surprisingly well.
Psycho Butterfly and Kugutsu were the type of songs that harkened to a darker perspective and perhaps unleashed a bit of that dark, heavy flair that most JRock fans are drawn to.
On the other hand, some of Kaya's songs were so upbeat and danceable that they carried an almost festival-like atmosphere, similar to the varied festivals held in Japan almost weekly. Kaya instructed the audience to wave their hands back and forth during Glitter Arch,the frenzied movements capturing the overall tone of the concert. It was like a New Year’s Eve party: loud, exuberant, and you never knew when it was going to stop.
Kaya gleefully provided his devoted audience with an encore, suggesting flitatiously that while there was still time, they should play a bit more. The encore was ROSE JAIL, a song well loved by Kaya fans for its mix of trance and dark elements. It was particularly fitting as the final song as it brought the entire live to its peak.
Even in the end the enthusiasm remained at the same high as in the beginning. Nearly the entire audience was fully engaged in the live, leaving Kaya with a grand impression of his first overseas concert as indicated during our interview with him the next day. Kaya's live was simple in presentation with no special effects and very little stage props, sets or complicated lighting to enhance the live. Kaya is a solo artist with presence and if his live at PMX was any indication, he clearly emits presence with extraordinary showmanship.
SET LIST
Kaleidoscope
Walküre
-MC-
Masquerade
Silvery Dark
Chocolat
Epicurean
SE
Kagami-Oni
-MC-
Psycho Butterfly
Kugutsu
-MC-
Kasha
Glitter Arch
encore
Rose Jail
report by Sarah; photos by Antonia
edited by Kara
Thanks to Kaya and PMX for making this possible.
links
Kaya Official Website
Kaya Official MySpace
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