By Emily Ishii,
Japanese guitar legend MIYAVI kicked off the U.S. leg of his “DAY2” World Tour 2018 with a show at the El Rey Theatre in Los Angeles in early May, reminding fans on these shores once again of his powerful stage presence.
It had been over a year since MIYAVI’s last performance in LA so there was plenty of excitement among fans to see what the “samurai guitarist” had in store for the May 8 show, with long lines forming outside the venue in the city’s Miracle Mile area, despite it being a school night.
At 08:30 pm MIYAVI arrived onstage to the powerful “Flashback” followed by the songs “So on it” and “In Crowd.” With his silver hair and moto jacket, he completed the rock star persona.
MIYAVI proceeded to introduce his band members and also discussed his current work. With many audience members at the El Rey being anime fans as well, loud cheering erupted when the guitarist mentioned his role in the upcoming live-action movie BLEACH.
MIYAVI also talked about the relaxing time he had had with his family in LA over the past few weeks, even calling up his eldest daughter onto the stage and introducing her as “todayʼs assistant.”
Last year MIYAVI was appointed as an official Goodwill Ambassador for the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR). The guitarist, who visits refugee camps around the world with guitar in hand, spoke at the show of his experiences in Lebanon, where he communicated with refugee children through music.
“Music may not be able to directly change the world. But music can change people, and people have the power to change the world.”
Performances of songs from his album “Fire Bird,” as well as “STRONG,” a collaboration with KREVA, followed with the excitement maintained throughout the night and MIYAVI awing the audience with his unique “slap” guitar technique.
The show’s encore began with “Youth of the Nation” and continued onto “What A Wonderful World,” with the microphone pointed to the audience so that they could sing along. The fans seemed exhilarated, being able to hear a song that was a blast from the past.
Ending the night with “WHATʼS MY NAME? 2017,” MIYAVI confirmed his powerful stage presence and proved to the Los Angeles crowd once again that he is indeed is the one and only “samurai guitarist.”
Photos: Maya Kuraki
SETLIST
01. Flashback
02. So On It
03. In Crowd
04. Bumps in the Night
05. Dim It
06. Ha!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
07. Ainʼt No Sunshine
08. Humble
09. Icon
10. Lemon
11. The Others
12. Long Nights
13. Fire Bird
14. Dancing With My Fingers
15. STRONG
16. Day 1
17. Youth of the Nation
18. What A Wonderful World
19. Real?
20. WHATʼS MY NAME? 2017
