Kamijo - Anthem Europe Tour [Concert Review]

Image: © KAMIJO, Official Tour Announcement

Photo: © KAMIJO STAFF

After 6 years, Japanese Visual Kei artist Kamijo entered again the European stages and filled the sold out Luxor hall on this memorable 14th June 2024. Lets take a throw back to this outstanding live performance.

Back story

Kamijo is a well-known Japanese singer-songwriter, musician, record producer and a fundamental part of the Japanese Rock music industry since the 90s. He began his career 1995 with the rock band Lareine and made his major debut in 1999. After 13 years, including a brief period, where he was the solo member, Kamijo ended the group in 2006.

After it, he co-founded then Symphonic Power Metal band Versailles in 2007, which was very successfull during that time in Japan as well overseas.In 2009, he made his second major debut as Versailles. His debut single reached 8th place on the Japanese Weekly Charts. When they paused activities in 2012, Kamijo began a solo career the following year. Versailles resumed activities in December 2015.

Besides his musical projects, he has also been the head of two independent record labels, Applause Records (formed in 2000) and currently Chateau Agency, which was formerly known as Sherow Artist Society from 2006 to 2016. Since starting his solo career in 2013, he has produced many songs with his outstanding composing skills, captiv acting fans around the world. As a solo artist, he has succesfully completed a world tour visiting Europe, Asia, North America, and South America.

He then succesfully completed a world tour visiting more than 20 countries, and in 2017, he performed at the Nippon Budokan for the first time as a band. In 2018, he was appointed as an ambassador for the Japan-France Pop Culture Project, which connects Japan and France. He is also active in crossing boundaries, such as collaborating with Hatsune Miku.

After the latest European tour, Kamijo will release the latest mini album "VIOLET DAWN" on July 31st.

Concert review

It was shortly after 8.30 p.m., when Kamijo took the stage at the Luxor hall. The crowd was huge, as it had been six years since the last European tour. I had never seen the concert hall so full. The audience gathered in large numbers on this evening for the sold-out show in Cologne, which was filled to the brim. The raging crowd welcomed Kamijo, followed by the support musicians "Ushi" (drums/ Vorchaos), YOHIO (guitar), Hiro (La Crima Crysti) and Ikuo (bass/ Bullzeichen 88, Rayflower).

The evening began with three classics, the songs Yamiyo no Lion, Conspiracy and Moulin Rouge, followed by The Anthem, Louis ~Enketsu no La Vie en Rose~ and Unmei. The first third of the genre-varied set list thrilled new and old fans. With a mix of symphonic and power metal, classical and even jazz elements, Kamijo demonstrated his musical genius and skill that evening. The individual words spoken, a friendly “Hello”, as well as a bow and a “Domo Arigatou” also contributed to the energetic and expectant atmosphere.

The interaction of the support musicians that evening, some of whom were in Europe for the first time, exuded a well-rehearsed group dynamic of the Japanese rock generations. The group thrilled the audience that evening with atmospheric ballads as well as harder song elements with a 14-song set list.

Photos: © KAMIJO STAFF

The concert was over at around 10 p.m., for now. The audience happily recited the Japanese words for encore ("ancoal"アンコール ) in clapping time as the musicians took the stage for four more songs, and the concert ended at approximately 10:40 p.m.

The enthusiastic fans only slowly left the hall and reminisced about the good old Visual Kei times when the hall became empty after almost 30 minutes. Many spoke after the concert and gathered in front of the Luxor door.

This evening was a journey back in time to our beloved Japanese underground music scene and proved that even after 20 years this scene lives on in Europe. It was an evening for fans of different J-Rock generations who came together with the band that day. I am sure that the next concert here will be so well filled, and I am grateful to have been a part of it.

-Setlist-

1. Yamiyo no Lion

2. Conspiracy

3. Moulin Rouge

4. The Anthem

5. Louis ~Enketsu no La Vie en Rose~

6. Unmei

7. Eye of Providence

8. Habsburg

9. mademoiselle

10. Crimson Family

11. Castrato