Roundabout 200 people—noticeably in an older average age than the typically very young J-Rock crowd—gathered to welcome his majesty in Cologne. Among them were many with sophisticated cosplays and dresses that contributed to the evening’s graceful atmosphere. Also, the concert organizers spared no efforts to make the event an unforgettable one.
The illuminating LED screen in the stage’s background was a true highlight, which gave a glimpse of the elaborate V-kei shows in Japan together with a mystical lighting and romantic roses as stage props. Great animations and well chosen PV cuttings alternated with rather unspectacular photos, though—occasionally staying with atmosphere creating light would have been a better choice.
Going with the concert’s fairytale flow, the spectators followed KAMIJO’s instructions to march during Death Parade (Solo) by doing so still half dancing. His solo work is closer to the one of Versailles than Lareine yet takes a more versatile approach music-wise and concentrates on his presence while Versailles also emphasizes Hizaki’s strong guitar.
However, even without knowing KAMIJO’s discography particularly well, one could clearly notice the distinctions between the different eras of his career. Lareine, for instance, were famous for their narrative Rock ballads and their songs, such as Financailles, revived that sentiment during this show in Cologne. The singer chanted the older songs with a deeper voice than he used to, and thus coupled them smoothly with his recent pieces.
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Disclaimer: This is an old concert report from 2015, published in 2016. We are thanking KAMIJO, B7Klan, and INDIVISUAL for the royal journey through time, Julien Chantôme for the photos and Omurizer for the additional illustration.
For a recent impression of KAMIJO’s recent work, check out our KAMIJO concert report from his European tour in 2024!
