Back in high school in Southern California in 1981, I was captivated and amazed by a group from Japan called Yellow Magic Orchestra. Their breakthrough hit, a rearrangement of a song called Firecracker (or the Circus), captivated me. I had never heard anything remotely like it. I bought the cassette tape and played it until it wore out...then I bought it again.
Over the years, I grew to enjoy more of their repertoire, but with college and law school, I lost touch with the group's progress, and the breakups and reunions didn't make it easier to follow them. But I could hear their influence in so much of the electronica, hip hop and other music that followed them. Their sound remained fresh, in every sense of the word.
Well, it has been about 30 years now, and the closest I have come to actually seeing them was to experience seeing them on Youtube. So imagine how delighted I was to find that they were coming to my new hometown, San Francisco. I couldn't wait to get a ticket and finally experience the music LIVE!!
Full of hope and expectation, I arrived at the Warfield Monday night, aching to see the guys in person. After Prefuse, the opener (not my favorite, smile), they took the stage. What followed was truly a tour de force. They simply have not lost a step.
A brief abstract interlude opened the show before the group launched into a powerful rendition of "Firecracker", completely true to the recorded version I know and love. Unfortunately for me, I didn't have my camera phone ready and was faced with the quandary of deciding whether to dance (so many reserved people in the audience just didn't move all night, lol), try to figure out how to get the videocam on my phone to work, or just watch and enjoy the song. I settled on a little of all three.
Fortunately, there were professionals recording the whole show. I can't wait to get my hands on the video / DVD. I hope they release it soon.
The show that followed was so tight, so on point and still so completely relevant to what is happening now. I am 47, and sat next to two kids in their late teens / early 20's. One said he discovered YMO surfing the net looking for music for video games, and it was the best concert he had ever seen. It was definitely up there for me too.
Someone said this was their last show in North America. I hope not. I love this band and would definitely pay to see them again.