In June I found myself at duo MUSIC EXCHANGE in Shibuya. Because it was time for tea.
For two years I had read about Moi dix Mois ~La Kitchen Knife Aristocracy~Another Face~ experience and wished that I had gone. Finally I was in the place where it all comes together, music and food, to create magic.
The space inside was dark, mostly black lit with green that in the past people might have thought was radioactive. The green fairy would have been jealous of this fluorescent hue.
After entering people were directed to the bar in the back to purchase their drinks. I arrived during Miyoshi Seiji's enka performance. I waited back there for my "Wild Beast in a Playful Midori Paradise", also known as a melon soda float. It was the non-alcoholic drink for the day. Melon soda and ice cream with a cherry on top. I couldn't help but think of MALICE MIZER drummer Kami while sipping this. Seiji finished up his performance, singing while handing out flyers. He is a charismatic performer that can handle singing enka and screaming rock songs. Definitely impressive.
At my seat, a waiter brought my Tea Time plate. It was a bright green Lesson 3 from Holy Girl. It looked delightful.
A stack of mini pancakes topped by a strawberry and American blueberries surrounded by a pool of kiwi and dragon fruit sauce. Sweetly blended tastes of brandy in the sauce and sherry with the pancakes hinted that this lesson might have a little wickedness in it.
Pound cake flavored with matcha and brandy was topped by a cherry. The menu mentioned a flower of evil that spells words of love. That image of delicate and caring yet laced with a bit of corruption was coming through.
I was happy I would get to have a macaron this trip. The outer cookies were crisp and the inner almond pudding was sweet and creamy. There was a hint of matcha but not overwhelmingly so. It was a first rate macaron.
Finally the tiramisu, topped with matcha and a strawberry. It really did look like green moss. Inside was kiwi with mascarpone cheese, flavored with brandy. It was delicious as was everything on the plate. If this was a restaurant, I would return again and again. The green ambiance reflected in the utensils and food, all of it was delightful.
(photo from HAYATO_dtp Twitter)
Moi dix Mois members Seth, Hayato, Sugiya and Ryux enjoying their Tea Time plates. Seth, who also performed as Miyoshi Seiji, has much experience cooking including taking classes and was noted as being in charge of desserts.
(photo from M_d_M_official Twitter)
As everyone finished their Tea Time snacks, out came the band for their Question and Answer session. Sitting on stools with tables in front of them, they did arm motions as all but Mana said out loud that they were "La Kitchen Aristocracy Dix".
Seth read various questions that had been submitted prior to the show date. One was if Mana did not do music what would he do? Mana would lean over and tell Sugiya his answers. This time it was that he would climb Mt Everest, making coffee from melted snow. Seth responded that's a gentleman's romance. The members were asked about what kind of socks they wore. Both Sugiya and Ryux wear black socks. I think Seth said something about losing one when washing his. Suddenly Mana stood up and showed everyone his socks. That was a bit of surprise since he also lifted his overskirt to do it. At one point Mana decided he wanted to also show everyone his DJ action. There was talk about fashionable macho men, Mana drew the Lumberjack character on the Bourbon Kikori No Kirikabu Biscuit box that was on a table in front of him. These boxes they gave out later when drawing people's seat number from a box. Mana was laughing so much he had to hide his face with his pad. Everyone was really enjoying the event.
The band went back stage and after a little time returned one by one with their instruments to the sound of En Lumiére.
Tea Time Set List
En Lumiére (SE)
Solitude
deus ex machina
front et baiser
SE into Twilight Flower
In that Hill
Immortal Madness
Dead Scape
message from Mana
Ghost Whispers
Perish
Ange-D side holy wings
Lueur Blanche
En Lumiére (SE)
It didn't take long for the fun to begin. Mana came out without his guitar, holding his hands behind his back as Ryux played a rocking guitar solo as the first song began. As everyone started to play a bossa nova version of "Solitude" Mana showed off his skill on his new instrument, maracas. It was quite marvelous and the audience showed their approval. Mana then exchanged his maracas for one of his guitars and the band swung into "deus ex machina". Both older and new songs were played. Everyone was very much into the music.
For "Immortal Madness" Seth instructed everyone how to do the arm signs for "La Kitchen Aristocracy Dix" and the audience was asked to shout this and do the movements during the song. It was a little chaotic but fun. "Dead Scape" was next followed by the Message from Mana portion of the show. Since it was pretty much the same as the second live, I will post it with my description there. Following the song "Ange~D side holy wings~" the band left the stage. The audience chanted "Moi dix Mois" hoping for an encore. They got what they wanted and more. The band returned wearing the new long t-shirts, except for Mana. Mana had donned the new Moi-même-Moitié white apron, much to the delight of everyone. He proceeded to play guitar while wearing it, as the band finished the show with the beautiful "Du Blanche". I am still not sure what the first word of the title is, but it sounds better each time I have heard it played.
At that time the band walked off the stage and everyone in the audience left. Since many were going to the second show, most stayed around the front of the venue. It would be a little time between shows but there was merchandise to buy and people chatted with their friends. I found a place to sit for a bit and returned after a time.
Since I came a long way for this, there was no way I would miss dinner. Because I stayed in the area in between shows, I was able to enter sooner and get my "Nativity Festival of the Wild Beast and Black Mage". This time it was an ice cream float of lime cola and Jack Daniel's whiskey. If it wasn't evident before, this was an ode to guitarist K, who passed away five years ago.
I made it to my seat before Miyoshi Seiji's performance. Introduced by drummer Hayato, Seiji performed two of his songs. The second one "Wet Night" was sung in part while he ran around the room handing out flyers. I was really impressed by his vivaciousness and skill. He is a really great performer.
Dinner was served to everyone. Lesson 4 from Holy Girl.
"What are you thinking and what are you looking at during the five-year day . .
How does that picture that sleeps underground look in the eyes of a girl?
The image of that glossy face
I can not forget it
It is time to end
I may have come across now. . ."
(from the dinner menu)
Chef Mana's meal was a tribute to K. Compiled of various leafy lettuces, sprouts and radishes, the salad was layered with apple and strawberry dressing. I wish I could get a bottle of the dressing, it complimented the greens. There were two types of potatoes, one coming from near where I live, the Columbia River Basin. Seasoned with bay leaf, parsley, thyme and rosemary, they would be favorites at any burger joint. Well done in creating this menu Chef Mana.
And the Beast Burger. Black bun tinted with bamboo charcoal to get that inky look. Minced beef meat patty topped with cheddar cheese, tomato, red cabbage and bacon. There was also daikon in there somewhere along with mayonnaise and ketchup. But what I want to talk about is the guacamole. Growing up in Southern California, I've had a lot of experience with guacamole. Good and bad. Chef Mana's guacamole had a pleasing tone of spiciness, brought on by jalapeño peppers, pimento, black pepper and garlic. Nicely creamy, it was right at home on this special Beast Burger.
(photo from M_d_M_official Twitter)
As we finished our Beast Burgers, it was time again for the Question and Answer session. Again they came out and did the"La Kitchen Aristocracy Dix" chant with arm motions. Sitting at the tables questions were answered like "Who is your favorite member? Some of the responses were that they like Hayato because he tidies up, Ryux is a happy guy, and Mana wants to be DJ, demonstrating again how he would "scratch" records. Someone said they want to play Sugiya's wooden base, and that Seth is liked because he is the voice that supports Moi dix Mois. A question was asked about Mana's grape Halo Halo that he posted about on Twitter. Mana mimed his Halo Halo experience by showing waves with his hands and popping motions, and also like he was grabbing with his hands the grapes. Again numbers were drawn for boxes of Bourbon Choco Anpan cookies and Doraemon Coco Biscuits. There was great camaraderie between members during both sessions and while playing. It was nice to see everyone having fun.
(photo from RYU59 Twitter)
Dinner Set List
Destructionxx (SE)
Beast Side
Night Breed
front et baiser
Lueur Blanche
In that Hill
Immortal Madness
Dead Scape
Message from Mana
Solitude
Ghost Whispers
Ange~D side holy wings~
En Lumiére (SE)
Following the Question and Answer session the band left the stage. After a time "Destruction xxx" played while the stage lights flashed. As the song ended the band returned with their instruments and dove into the song "Beast Side". I have to say there was a very intense and powerful pairing with these two songs. This show was a memorial for guitarist K and this was a great way to open it.
Again the audience was requested to do the arm movements and shout "La Kitchen Aristocracy Dix" during "Immortal Madness". This was followed by the song "Dead Scape" and then the Message from Mana. It was similar to the first show with Seth reading from a paper on a Moi dix Mois clip board. The format change to the MALICE MIZER 25th Anniversary video was mentioned, that Mana wanted everyone to see a beautiful image and he was sorry for the sudden change. The July Moi-même-Moitié events were mentioned along with one in October, which is the Anime Weekend Atlanta convention.
The MALICE MIZER August handshake event was mentioned by Seth, reading Mana's notes. "Since there are only a few handshake events, let's go everyone! Sorry, it was a lottery." What got more of a reaction was that from Autumn to Winter, Mana plans to do album production and is thinking of releasing it next year. (This is the same as what he said in Hawaii). Seth still reading Mana's notes said that people who have attended the recent lives are familiar with one or two of the new songs. And if the album isn't released next year, let's do an event where you pull on Mana. The audience cheered at that suggestion. Seth said that everyone would be happy then if he could not do it. I'm not sure if those were Mana's words or Seth's but it was followed by "I am lying" in reference that people would be happy if he could not do it or to the pulling on Mana event. One last event was mentioned, the Dis inferno show, which will happen on December 1st at a new venue, Shibuya VEATS.
Once again Mana went off stage to get his instrument. Ryux played an even meatier guitar solo as Mana came out sans guitar and stood at his side of the stage watching Ryux. Again it was "Solitude" and Mana shook his maracas as he swayed in time to the music. The song works really well in a bossa nova style. It would be a fun bonus song for whatever singles may be released in the future.
Following the song "Ange~D side holy wings~", the band left the stage. Chanting by the audience began and finally the band returned wearing the black version of the new shirt. Mana appeared this time with the black Moi-même-Moitié apron and proceeded to play guitar to the last song, "Je l'aime". Before the song started, Seth mentioned this was the second time that he would be singing the song dedicated to K. The first time he had trouble finishing the song. He showed everyone how to make the K sign with their fingers, that K-kun was looking down from the sky and our voices would reach up to him. The show had built to this emotional point, and it was clear the band had given it's all. "En Lumiére" played as they exited the stage, looking a bit exhausted but I think pleased at what a great pair of shows these were. Everyone in the audience left, also looking exhausted but happy.
There were some new goods available at the shows and I did get a couple of items. I really like this shade of green with black for the new version of the Moi dix Mois long t-shirt. It also came in white.
I knew I was going to get a lunch bag with the Moi dix Mois logo printed in shiny silver. But I was unable to make up my mind which color I wanted. I had the same indecision with the coasters. So yes, I bought all the colors. They will all be used.
I want to say that I loved every second of these shows. I really wish that I get a chance to do this again. The feeling of being able to hear and see Moi dix Mois and Mana perform in a smaller venue reminded me of the days when I would go see musicians perform every week. Add in the enjoyment of both meals and this became one of my most favored events ever. Thank you very much to everyone who put this on.
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