TK from Ling Tosite Sigure has embarked on a new tour entitled Bi-Phase Brain “L side”. His first show took place at Shinkiba STUDIO COAST in Tokyo. He was joined by guest act österreich who, like TK, has performed music for the Tokyo Ghoul anime series. österreich is the solo project by Japanese musician Kunimitsu Takahashi and this marked his first live performance since his band “the cabs” broke up in 2013.

österreich was supported on stage by Mizuki Iida (cinema staff) and Ai Kamano on vocals, Katsuaki Sato (Gecko&Tokage Parade) on piano, Sohei Mishima (cinema staff/peelingwards) on bass, GOTO (DALLJUB STEP CLUBのGOTO) on drums, and Anzu Suhara on violin.

All the members stepped onto stage, with Takahashi at the front who began the set on guitar with Zeitaku no Hone. The members displayed their instrumental mastery to flurries of applause. Takahashi himself was most into it of all, and his moved his whole body to song.  They followed this up with Munou, the opening theme for season two of the anime series Tokyo Ghoul by österreich. At the end of every song, Takahashi expressed his gratitude to fans with a heartfelt, “Thank you.”

Iida joined the fray once more in the second half of the performance, announcing the debut of a new song. He sang it together with Kamano. It was an upbeat, complex track, with the latter half of the song having a more straightforward rhythm and rising melody. It was different from anything we’ve heard from Takahashi in recent years.

Takahashi said: “Thank you to TK for inviting us here today. And thank you to Ishida, who has given us all of these opportunities.” The Ishida he refers to is Sui Ishida, the author of the Tokyo Ghoul manga. It was only fitting, then, that he perform Rakuen no Kimi, the ending theme to the last series of the Tokyo Ghoul anime. Thus marked the conclusion of österreich’s first ever live performance.

It was then time for TK from Ling Tosite Sigure’s set. He opened with kalei de scope, with a powerful ensemble beside him formed of BOBO on drums, Ichiro Yoshida on bass, Oko Haruna on piano, and Honoka Sato on violin. This was followed by an acoustic performance of haze, the ballad memento, Fantastic Magic which garnered huge cries and applause when they started playing it, the chaotic Shandy with its incredible piano loop, and more.

“This is my first time performing this one. I can’t do it alone, so I’m going to borrow some help,” TK announced, and was joined by Ai Kamano who also performed with österreich earlier that night. Kamano performed the vocal section which is normally sung by salyu. She accelerated the high tones of the chorus which was laced with TK’s iconic trance-like musical performance.

Kamano also joined him for his new song melt, which was released digitally last Tuesday, taking the place of suis from Yorushika who is the original singer on this track. The music was hard-hitting apart from the beautiful lull of the guitar. It was a dramatic performance, coupled with the CG and live-action-combined music video.

The last song of the set was a complete turnaround from melt. TK performed his early progressive hit film a moment.

TK expressed his thanks to the crowd, and performed unravel for the encore, the iconic season one opening theme for Tokyo Ghoul, sending the crowd into the stratosphere. This was followed by P.S. RED I, another climactic hit with the crowd and a fitting end to the night.

TK has two more shows left on this tour: DIAMOND HALL in Nagoya tomorrow, and Namba Hatch in Osaka the following day. Cö shu Nie will join him as the guest act.

Photography Credits:

TK from Ling Tosite Sigure→ Takayuki Okada

österreich→ Kana Tarumi