Extreme / Osaka 2023 / 2CDR

Extreme / Osaka 2023 / 2CDR / Shades

Zepp Namba, Osaka, Japan 26th September 2023 ULTIMATE SOUND(from Original Masters)

Click Image To Enlarge

The first Japan tour in seven years has finally been completed. Introducing an original recording that allows you to experience the best Osaka night, which is said to be the best show.
Of course, what is infused into this work is “September 26, 2023: Zepp Namba”. This is a super-excellent audience recording that vacuum-packs the whole story. This is our third report on this tour. For future records, let’s first check the location of each location in relation to the schedule for coming to Japan.

・September 17th: SENDAI GIGS
・September 19th “YOKOHAMA 2023”
・September 21st “TOKYO 2023 1ST NIGHT: THE VIDEO”
・September 22: Hitomi Memorial Auditorium (additional performance)
・September 25th: Village Hall
・September 26th: Zepp Namba　←★This work★
・September 27: Zepp Haneda (additional performance)

That’s all 7 performances. In the final stage, they ran through three consecutive days of angry performances while moving, and the Osaka performance of this work was also on the middle day.
This work, which conveys such a show to others, is a superb recording with a “super” rating. If you have been paying attention to this article, you may have a vague idea that this work was created by Mr. “Western Japan’s Strongest Taper,” a familiar face at our store. He is a modern master who is second to none when it comes to recording HR/HM, and the location of this work, “Zepp Namba”, is his garden. We have a winning formula that can’t go wrong. Before I listened to it, I imagined it would be extremely good, but when I actually listened to it, my imagination took shape. The extremely thick and ultra-dense core is thrust right in front of you without any sense of distance, and along with that, the details and sense of separation are clear. The vocals are on a breathing level that goes beyond each word of the lyrics, and the guitar picking and choking can be seen clearly. What is shocking is the rhythm section, where the bass’s harsh attack sound is beautifully drawn one by one, and the drums’ skin vibrations are transmitted as wind pressure.
“Sound as expected” may not seem like a big deal, but just imagine it for a moment. The “amazing sound” that I had imagined by mobilizing all my experiences up until now came out of the speakers as a reality. It is said that humans laugh when they come across something truly amazing, and this work is exactly that.I have used the term “like a soundboard” many times in the past, but the sound that comes out is so authentic. I couldn’t help but notice it (lol).
What is depicted with such a super thick direct sound is the full show at the end of the tour, when the tone got better. The set is basically based on “YOKOHAMA 2023” and “TOKYO 2023 1ST NIGHT: THE VIDEO”, but there are some interesting points, so let’s organize them.

●Six
・#Rebel／Other Side Of The Rainbow／Banshee／Small Town Beautiful／Rise／Thicker Than Blood (PV shooting)
●Others
・Pornography: It (‘s a Monster)/Decadence Dance/Hole Hearted/More Than Words/Flight Of The Wounded Bumblebee/Get the Funk Out/Song For Love
・Extreme: Teacher’s Pet/Flesh ‘N’ Blood/Wind Me Up/Kid Ego/Play With Me
・Three Sizes to Every Story: Rest In Peace/Cupid’s Dead/Am I Ever Gonna Change
・Others: Hip Today/Midnight Express/Take Us Alive

…and it looks like this. The one point is “Thicker Than Blood” after the full set. Perhaps encouraged by the excitement in Osaka, the members filmed their stage performance for the “Thicker Than Blood” PV. Although the performance itself seems like a mime, the explanation of the purpose of the shoot is realistic, and the atmosphere on set that gets excited at this rare opportunity is really interesting.
I mentioned the last thing all of a sudden, but the full show that brought out such enthusiasm was amazing. Everything is sharp, but Gary Cherone is especially strong. His constant action has become a hot topic in various places, and even though he moves around, he does not run out of breath and has a tremendous voice. Moreover, the voice gets better as the show progresses towards the end, and the volume is so strong that it peaks out in several places. Since he’s already 62 years old, I thought it would be tough at the end of the tour…but I didn’t realize that he was getting better and better both during the schedule and between shows. It’s a monster.
Next year will be EXTREME’s 35th anniversary since their debut. The Japan tour completely betrayed my lukewarm expectations in a positive way. This work is an original recording that allows you to experience the ultimate nighttime experience in Osaka, which has become a hot topic especially for its passionate performances. A new masterpiece that will be the best masterpiece of 2023 worldwide. Please enjoy it to the fullest!

★Superb audience recording of “September 26, 2023: Zepp Namba”. This is the latest work by the well-known “Western Japan’s strongest taper”, and is a masterpiece that is “like a soundboard”. The extremely thick and dense core is thrust right in front of you without any sense of distance, and along with that, the details and sense of separation are clear. The performance was said to be the best of the show, and the excitement was so great that they even shot a PV for “Thicker Than Blood” at the end. This is the birth of a new masterpiece that will be the best masterpiece of 2023 worldwide.

遂に完遂された７年ぶりのジャパン・ツアー。そのベスト・ショウをとも囁かれている大阪ナイトを極上体験できるオリジナル録音が登場です。
そんな本作に吹き込まれているのは、もちろん「2023年９月26日：Zepp Namba」。その一部始終を真空パックした超極上オーディエンス録音です。今回ツアーの当店レポートは本作で３作目。後の記録のためにも、まずは来日スケジュールに照らし合わせながらそれぞれの位置関係を確認しておきましょう。

・９月17日：SENDAI GIGS
・９月19日『YOKOHAMA 2023』
・９月21日『TOKYO 2023 1ST NIGHT: THE VIDEO』
・９月22日：人見記念講堂（追加公演）
・９月25日：ビレッジホール
・９月26日：Zepp Namba　←★本作★
・９月27日：Zepp Haneda（再追加公演）

以上、全７公演。終盤は移動しながら怒濤の３日連続公演で駆け抜けており、本作の大阪公演はその中日でもありました。
そんなショウを他伝える本作は、「超」付きの極上録音。本稿に目を留められた方なら薄々感づいていると思いますが、本作をモノにしたのは、当店お馴染み“西日本最強テーパー”氏。HR/HMを録らせたら右に出る者はない現代の名手であり、本作の現場“Zepp Namba”は彼の庭。悪くなりようがない勝利の方程式が揃っているのです。聴く前から超極上だろうと想像していましたが、実際に聴くとものの見事に想像がカタチになっている。極太で超濃密な芯が距離感なく目の前に突きつけられ、それに伴ってディテールもセパレート感も鮮明。ヴォーカルは歌詞の一語一語を超えた息づかいレベルですし、ギターはピッキングやチョーキングの手元が目に浮かぶほど。衝撃的なのはリズム隊で、ベースのゴリゴリとしたアタック音が一粒一粒キレイに描かれ、ドラムは皮の振動が風圧になって伝わってくるのです。
「想定通りのサウンド」と書くと大したことないように思われるかも知れませんが、ちょっと想像してみてください。今までの全経験を総動員して想像した「スゴい音」がそっくりそのまま現実になってスピーカーから出てくる。人間は本当に凄いものに出くわすと笑いが出てしまうそうですが、本作はまさにそれ、これまで何度も「まるでサウンドボード」という言葉を使ってきましたが、ここまでそのものな音が出てくると思わず（笑）。
そんな超極太ダイレクト・サウンドで描かれるのは、尻上がりに調子上げていったツアー終盤のフルショウ。セットは基本的に『YOKOHAMA 2023』『TOKYO 2023 1ST NIGHT: THE VIDEO』に準じますが、面白いワンポイントもありますので整理しておきましょう。

●シックス
・#Rebel／Other Side Of The Rainbow／Banshee／Small Town Beautiful／Rise／Thicker Than Blood（PV用撮影）
●その他
・ポルノグラフィティ：It (‘s a Monster)／Decadence Dance／Hole Hearted／More Than Words／Flight Of The Wounded Bumblebee／Get the Funk Out／Song For Love
・エクストリーム：Teacher’s Pet／Flesh ‘N’ Blood／Wind Me Up／Kid Ego／Play With Me
・スリー・サイズ・トゥ・エヴリ・ストーリー：Rest In Peace／Cupid’s Dead／Am I Ever Gonna Change
・その他：Hip Today／Midnight Express／Take Us Alive

……と、このようになっています。そのワンポイントとは、フルセットを終えた後の「Thicker Than Blood」。大阪の盛り上がりに気を良くしたのか、メンバーが「Thicker Than Blood」のPV用にステージ・パフォーマンスを撮影したのです。どうやら演奏自体はマイムのようではありますが、撮影の主旨を説明するのもリアルですし、貴重な機会に盛り上がる現場ムードがとにかく面白かったりします。
いきなり最後の話をしてしまいましたが、それほどの熱狂を引きだしたフルショウもスゴい。すべてがキレッキレなのですが、特に強烈なのがゲイリー・シェローン。相変わらずのアクションが各地で話題となっていますが、それだけ動き回っても息切れもせず凄まじい声量を轟かせる。しかも、ショウ後半になるほど声の出が良くなり、声量が強力すぎて数か所ピークアウトしてしまうほどなのです。彼ももう62歳ですからツアー終盤は厳しくなるか……と思いきや、日程的も１回のショウ間にもどんどん調子を上げていくとは。とんだ化け物です。
来年はデビュー35年となるEXTREME。生ぬるく優しい期待を良い方向に思いっきり裏切ってくれたジャパン・ツアーでした。本作は、特に熱演で話題となっている大阪の夜を超極上体験できるオリジナル録音です。全世界的にも2023年の最高傑作となるであろう新名盤。どうぞ、存分にお楽しみください！

★「2023年９月26日：Zepp Namba」の超極上オーディエンス録音。お馴染み“西日本最強テーパー”氏の最新作で、「まるでサウンドボード」を地で行く銘品。極太で超濃密な芯が距離感なく目の前に突きつけられ、それに伴ってディテールもセパレート感も鮮明です。ベスト・ショウとも言われる熱演も凄まじく、あまりの盛り上がりにラストでは「Thicker Than Blood」のPV撮影まで実現。全世界的にも2023年の最高傑作となるであろう新名盤の誕生です。

Disc 1 (65:02)
1. Intro
2. It (‘s A Monster)
3. Decadence Dance
4. #Rebel
5. Rest In Peace
6. Hip Today
7. Teacher’s Pet / Flesh ‘N’ Blood / Wind Me Up / Kid Ego
8. Play With Me
9. Other Side Of The Rainbow
10. Hole Hearted
11. Cupid’s Dead
12. Am I Ever Gonna Change

Disc 2 (59:55)
1. Midnight Express
2. More Than Words
3. Banshee
4. Take Us Alive / That’s All Right
5. Flight Of The Wounded Bumblebee
6. Get The Funk Out
7. Small Town Beautiful / Song For Love
8. Rise
9. Thicker Than Blood (Video Shooting)

Gary Cherone – vocals
Nuno Bettencourt – guitar
Pat Badger – bass
Kevin Figueiredo – drums

Shades 1861