2020.02.23. Helsinki Lambda Club

Helsinki Lambda Club

"Good News For You" @Sendai enn 2nd

Guest: Nerd Magnet

I was overjoyed to learn that my favorite band, Helsinki, was coming to Sendai on tour, and even more so when I found out the supporting act would be Nerd Magnet, a band I've recently gotten into. It's only been two months since the start of 2020, but I had a feeling this might be the best concert of the year. To put it simply, it's officially the best of the year (as of February 24, 2020).

Nerd Magnet went first. I never expected the MC to start with a story about how he trimmed his nose hair to clear a path for pollen. It was so unexpected that I couldn't help but laugh.

I started liking Nerd Magnet after listening to their album "To You Who Became Transparent." Since it was my first time seeing them live, my expectations were high, but the performance exceeded them. Listening to Nerd Magnet's songs makes you want to raise your fist in the air. I'm sure all their fans feel the same way; they are a band that suits such sing-alongs perfectly. I really love their melodies, which are easy to sing and memorable in an instant. I thought it was a concert that even first-time listeners could enjoy.

As Suda-san mentioned during the MC, it seemed like the fan bases for Helsinki and Nerd Magnet didn't overlap much. I had gathered as much from hearing people around me say they hadn't prepared by listening to the music beforehand, but I personally love both Helsinki and Nerd. I can't quite put it into words, but I feel like these two bands have something in common.

The flow from the final song "THE GREAT ESCAPE" into "HANNAH / You Are My Sunshine" was especially wonderful. It was incredibly intense. I almost cried. Even though I had predicted they would definitely play it, I was still moved. I clearly felt the spirit of "This is Nerd Magnet!!" A fun concert is the best.

The only regret is that I couldn't hear "Iede Shojo to Okujo" (Runaway Girl and the Rooftop), which was the song I wanted to hear most.

After this concert, I felt a strong desire to go on a Nerd Magnet tour. I don't need any hashtags. I want to see a long concert. If I didn't have job hunting, I would have rushed to the two-man show with Nerd Magnet and w.o.d., but that's not possible. It's sad that the timing doesn't work out. I will definitely go to a concert hosted by Nerd Magnet someday. I was surprised to see Suda-san just hanging out at the merch booth after the show. When I talked to him, he was just as kind as I expected.

Setlist

1. Bokutachi no Shippai

2. After School

3. I'm Not Gonna Teach Your Boyfriend How To Dance With You

4. Imaginary Friend

5. Loser

6. Wednesday

7. Mixtape

8. Bad Reputation

9. THE GREAT ESCAPE

10. HANNAH / You Are My Sunshine

Helsinki was the second act. Their signature style was already coming through during the stage change. It was fun watching them play around with the height of Inaba-san's microphone. It was also nice that they sang a little bit of Chocolate.

Watching their live performance, I think to myself that this is a show only Helsinki could pull off. They show off a laid-back vibe, but they get serious when it's time to perform. The pacing is incredible. Just when you think you've been overwhelmed, they create a playful, fluffy atmosphere. What kind of band is this? I've been going to their shows for nearly 10 years and I've seen quite a few bands, but I can say with certainty that there is absolutely no other band with this kind of atmosphere.

During "This is a pen," the strap lock or something on Hashimoto-san's guitar broke, but the way he handled it was cool. Even after the guitar fell, he kept singing and finished the song, while Inaba-san led the audience in clapping along to an ad-lib bridge. Seeing things like this makes me think bands are wonderful.

I fell in love with "Messiah no Beach" at the last Helsinki show I saw, and it was excellent again this time. As always, the arrangement before the song starts is cool. And the moment it transitions into the intro feels so good. It was the best.

The performances of "King Of The White Chip" and "Boys Will Be Boys" were memorable. The drums were loud, which I really liked. It really hit home that even with support members, if you spend a long time together, you develop a sense of groove.

And I was so happy to finally hear "TVHBD" and "Nantoka Shinakucha." They are some of my favorite songs, but they rarely play them at the shows I go to, so I've been disappointed every time. The arrangement at the beginning of "Nantoka Shinakucha" had changed so much that I couldn't react for a second, but even with a new arrangement, a good song is still a good song.

The new songs were good too, and as expected, the guitar solo in the bridge of "Hikkoshi" almost made me cry, but the most memorable song this time was "Me to Me." Apparently, "Me to Me" was written in Sendai. The fact that it's the birthplace of the song might have something to do with it, but "Me to Me" touched my heart the most. The melody is truly good. There was something about it that words cannot express. I was very moved.

Helsinki was the band I listened to most in 2019, but I'll probably listen to them even more this year. My love for them keeps updating. Helsinki is often called stylish, but is that really their defining characteristic? I think Helsinki is a very passionate band. They are a band with a very strong sense of groove. They might be stylish, sure, but there is a passion and honesty lurking deeper than that. I feel it every time I see them live. I don't think they could put on such heart-shaking performances otherwise. When you get swept up in their stylish, laid-back, and fun atmosphere, you become captivated by the serious and passionate side that peeks through. A band isn't only passionate if they talk about passionate things in their MCs or lyrics. I truly believe Helsinki is a very passionate and great band.

I hope this year will be a year of great leaps for Helsinki. Next, I'm going to see the culmination of their tour in Shibuya.

Setlist

1. Sharekoube Sharekoube

2. This is a pen

3. Yuan to Odore

4. PIZZASHAKE

5. Messiah's Beach

6. Debora

7. KIDS

8. King Of The White Chip

9. Boys Will Be Boys

10. TVHBD

11. Moving

12. Eye to Eye

13. Jokebox

14. Good News Is Bad News

15. Rock 'n' Roll Prankster

16. Gotta Do Something

17. Skin

en. Yoiyama Mirrorball