A picture in gossamer amethyst, Yukiko spins. Techno and trance beats reach out to pull some of the residents of the Arasaka compound to a large Quonset garage tucked away on the grounds. The crew, such that it was, had erected a small stage, no more than four meters square and a meter high. The teen musician had set up her laptop, her keyboards, and a small mixer to bring together the mix mash of amps, pre-amps, and speakers. She smiled often, thankful Danny was here to help her.
When finished, she looked around to find the sun had set and the crew had erected lighting posts and strung fairy lights throughout the interior. Negishi-kun had piled a pyramid of half-liter and 250ml beer cans around the stage. She looked around at the few people that had gathered, waved once to Chance, took a sip of her water, tapped a button on her PowerBook, and started dancing.
She spun and spun under the lights as the crowd grew. Chance made a rough estimate at 75 at a quarter to 11. He noticed a surprising number of 40 and 50 year old faces about, mostly hanging back along the walls sipping beers and smoking; enjoying themselves all the same. The flash of night glo wristbands brought back memories of Chicago raves to Chance's mind. The smiles, costumes, and language rooted him in Japan. The dancing, the rhythmic swaying to the beat of music, spoke to the universal nature of humanity.
At the correct time, Chance joined the other musicians on stage. He didn't know where Yukiko found the two violinists. Their presence spoke to some trippy musical experiment Yukiko had planned. His sister had promised a good transition from the dancing to the rocking. While Chance only knew is difficult part in this scheme, he trusted her to deliver.
The music quieted and Yukiko spoke to the crowd, thanking them.
And then she began.
"Tidal" by Imogen Heap
Before electric light
You paddled through the soup of darkness as a crocodile
Cherry picking in the river
I would leave crisp note footprints at the Bankside
Watch it closely you see it begin to move
Watch it closely you see it begin to flicker
While we're here, lets see what happens
What we got, got, got to lose
While we're tidal and flexed on a full moon
It'd be a sure sure shame to not to
In every wonder what you are
I've blurted out everything I know for just a piece of it
Flash frozen, patchworked and fallow
I sprung up in hearts and arrow superhighways
Do what you feel, just how you like
Nobody has to know
Watch, watch... watch... watch, watch...
Do it for England
Do it for love
Do it for us
Do it for goodness sake
Do it for all the times
We wished we had
Do what you want, just how you like
Nobody has to know
Chance couldn't stop grinning as Negishi-kun took the stage. Together, they walked over to Yukiko. The cheering of the small crowd covered the sounds of their laughter. "You didn't bring the key-tar to practice, Yukiko!" She giggled, open mouthed, as slipped off the instrument and the gauze robe to reveal a short purple dress. She pulled on her bass and looked to the crowd. "Well, they look ready to rock!" Chance smiled and agreed with a nod.
((If there's an artist Yukiko tries to emulate, it's Imogen Heap. The multilayered and experimental music speaks to the engineer in the teen. This video from Imogen's appearance at Glastonbury seemed a good challenge for an hastily pulled together show. The key-tar was just an added bonus. When I found that picture of Devon Aoki, I could easily transpose Immi's prancing on stage.))
Clad in a simple flannel, jeans, and a pair of red Keds, Chance checked to see that Akemi had joined them on stage. Zwan had been a hit last time he came to Hokkaido, but it really needed three guitars. His stepdaughter had performed well, learning the part in just a few hours. It felt good to stand on the small stage on that cool night with friends and family.
"Honestly" by Zwan
I believe
I believe
I believe
I believe the love you talk about with me
Is it true, do I care
honestly, you can try to wipe the memories aside
But it's you that you erase
'cause there's no place that I could be without you
It's too far to discard the life I once knew
Honestly, all the weather storms are bringing
Are just a picture of my dreams
'cause when I think of you as mine
And allow myself with time
To lead into the life we want
I feel loved, honestly
I feel loved, this honestly
I believe you mean the best that life can bring
I believe in it all
Honestly, you can try
Your heart is just as long as mine
Is it ours to let go?
'cause there's no place that I could be without you
It's too dark to discard the life I once knew
Honestly, a single wrong is not enough
To cover up the pain in us
'cause when I think of you as mine
And allow myself with time
To lead into the life we want
I feel loved, honestly
I'll make a joke so you must laugh
I'll break your heart so you must ask
Is this the way to get us back
I don't know, honestly
I don't know, this honestly
There's no place that I could be without you
Honestly
There's no place that I could be without you
There's no place that I could gleam without you
There's no place that I could dream without you
There's no place that I could be without you
Honestly
Yukiko would not give up the bass. From the first time they decided on the set list, she insisted on staying out front and able to bop to the songs from her favorite band. Good think Clan Arasake was awash in musical talent. Chance raised an arm as he set down his guitar to welcome Fujimoto Kiyomi to the stage to take over the keyboards.
Chance grinned as he spoke to Negishi-kun. "I didn't know they were going to wear matching dresses. Do we need to match?"
"It's different," Negishi-kun assured him with a smile. "I look terrible in a dress.
Chance laughed and stepped up to the mic. The drummer counted them in and everyone started singing and dancing.
"Hot Fashion" (translated, Chance sings it in Japanese)
Performed by The B'z
All Words by Koshi Inaba | All Songs by Tak Matsumoto
I'm gonna drown here in the information overflow
Taking in especially the uniformed western clothing & dance steps
But the latest subject is kinda sad
The earth and freedom and hot revolution
Down down set me free
I know truthfully that if you don't build your future it might disappear
Bye bye throw away your cheap lines
Something drives me crazy but nothing will stop me
All night long Hot fashion!!
I think I'm gonna explode because all the girls around are looking so hot
Accusing today's intelligence, the literary magazines
Are putting a few subliminal keywords in
The subject that's already so outdated
Down down set me free
I know truthfully that if you don't build your future it might disappear
Bye bye throw away your cheap lines
Something drives me crazy but nothing will stop me
Down down set me free! Depending only on words
I want to be like a poet like Rimbaud and gaze at the stars
Bye bye I can't say "I don't know" about things I don't know
Oh my tell me baby who's going to relieve me
All night long Hot Fashion!!
Hey come here
Oh what is today's special?
Is there anything wrong?
I can't believe at the world that you live in!
Leave me alone! Ain't never gonna take it back!
I love you give me the courage
To be able to act a little out of fashion in front of you
Bye bye no matter what everything around us will get old
So calm down and leave the murderous rage behind
Down down set me free
I know truthfully that if you don't build your future it might disappear
Bye bye throw away your cheap lines
Something drives me crazy but nothing will stop me
Down down set me free! Depending only on words
I want to be like a poet like Rimbaud and gaze at the stars
Bye bye I can't say "I don't know" about things I don't know
Oh my tell me baby who's going to relieve me
All night long Hot Fashion!!
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