Active Band Man Chats - A Reintroduction of Ourselves

Happy New Year!

Happy New Year to you too!

Looking forward to another year!

Looking forward to it as well!

Now that the New Year has started...

Hmm?

Let’s reintroduce ourselves!

Isn’t that a bit late? There’s a simple profile up at the top of the website, but... since this is the first column of the year and the 100th column overall, let’s take a moment to get to know me a bit more in detail.

Right! If I show you the instruments I use, maybe you’ll get to know more about me! Let’s start with Horry!

Wait, isn’t Kizuhiko supposed to go first? Oh, I see—Kizuhiko’s the punchline, huh.

What!?

(Ignoring that) Alright, let’s get started. I’m the bassist for a band called The National.

It’s been 15 years already? Congrats!

Thank you! Yes, this year marks our 15th anniversary.

Our first meeting was when The National and The Captains were playing a show together. I remember thinking, “Wow, what an amazing bassist” when I saw you perform for the first time.

Thank you. You were being carried on someone’s shoulders, wearing sunglasses, holding only a motorcycle handlebar while walking through the crowd... I thought, “This band is insane.” That’s why, at first, I didn’t feel like approaching you... Who would’ve thought we’d end up writing a column together...

Horry has unique style basses!

It’s the headless bass I’ve come to love.

It’s a great choice, the Steinberger.

Actually, when we first played together, I was using a copy of a Steinberger model. After playing various instruments, I ended up with this one for The National.

A Bacchus headless model from 2019. Since that original copy model, I’ve used some ‘80s Steinbergers and domestic headless basses, but I was interested in current headless models too... so after trying various ones, I chose this one. It turned out to be surprisingly comfortable to play. It’s pretty versatile, though some bands might not suit it.

It makes a big impact visually, doesn’t it?

Yes, it does... but I try to adapt as needed.

Right! And?

I’m also the bassist for a band called Lime Light, which plays sort of underground folk?

That’s cool, Lime Light is awesome.

Thank you! In that band, my main instrument is a fretless bass.

Another fretless!

I just love something ‘-less’ though it’s a coincidence! Recently, I’ve been using an EUB as my main bass.

That’s amazing—an EUB is a completely different instrument compared to a fretted bass, right?

Yeah, especially when it comes to phrasing, it was quite challenging at first. I try to use the strengths of the fretless bass in my playing, but I’m still figuring things out.

That sounds tough... but you’re involved in other projects, right?

Yes, I’m also playing bass for S-Ba, which is led by Makoto Sakiguchi from C-C-B. I play a Bacchus headless called ‘Torakichi’ in this band.

Bacchus really is great! You’re a regular member in two bands now!

Yes! It’s a good choice for gigs where a headless bass fits.

Great cost-effectiveness too!

Cost-effectiveness! Personally, I’ve always thought of C-C-B as a band that would use headless basses, so when I’m playing next to Sekiguchi-san, I’d prefer to use one.

Oh, I see!

I’m also part of The Show Words with Kizuhiko.

We’ve been playing together for nearly five years now, right?

Yeah, I think so. We originally started this band just for our leader Akira’s birthday party.

And somehow it’s lasted this long.

At first, we were a The Captains cover band, but now we have plenty of original songs. My main bass is the newest G&L I bought.

Nice! It sounds great, and the color is perfect! This really raised the band’s level!

Before that, I was using a violin bass, a reasonably priced one.

Right!

I also play backup for an artist named Maggie☆Francois, and support various singer-songwriters.

Oh, your bass works perfectly for those, it’s so easy to sing along with!

Thank you! I also played on Kizuhiko’s solo album.

Yeah, great tone and playing—thank you! Here’s the album cover!

I used my EUB ‘Gen-san’ on that one, and even showcased some arco (bowed playing).

Thanks to you, I think it really added a unique atmosphere to the album!

I think that’s about it?

No, you’re forgetting something important!

Hmm? I think I mentioned everything...

As a bassist!

Oh, right! Something else...

Oh, you noticed?

Yeah! I’m also on the merchandise staff for The Captains!

That’s it! Thank you as always!

How much of that will I be doing this year?

Let’s do as much as we can! The Captains and The Show Words both!

Yes! So, now for the punchline...

Here it comes!

Now please introduce yourself!

The leader of The Captains, the last group sounds band, Kizuhiko! From Murayama, Yamagata Prefecture, Scorpio, blood type O! [Photo of The Captains]

Congratulations on your 20th anniversary!

Thank you! Horry’s support has been invaluable for our anniversary event!

Since I’m a crew member... you locked down the schedule early, huh?

The main bass is the Teisco Spectrum 5!

That’s the reissue from Ikebe Gakki, right?

Yeah!

You’ve been with The Captains for so long, but you’re involved in many other projects too, right?

Yeah, I’m also playing regularly with The Show Words with Horry.

Yes, that’s right.

And for that, I’m mainly using the PLAYTECH Flying V!

It’s pink, right?

Yes, that’s the one!

Will you stick with this one this year?

I would like to say “yes,” but actually...

Actually?

After I wrote the piece for my new gear 2021...

After that?

I bought something!

What!?

There was a bass I wanted for The Show Words that became available...

Oh, really?

It was perfectly adjusted...

Adjusted?

I tried it out, and it sounded great...

It sounded great? And then?

Wow! This feels like an interrogation! But I bought it! It was at a reasonable price!

Show me a picture!

This is... really good... though I remember being there when you bought it!

Yeah, you were! I want to use this bass this year!

It seems like it would fit well with an alternative-style sound.

Yeah! It sounds fun! By the way, in The Captains, I often sing dramatically with a handheld mic as the Prince of Rose, while in The Show Words, I’m the beautiful Student Council President who plays guitar all over the place!

I wonder if that comes across? Readers, you should come see both bands live and find out!

You’ll get it!

Alright, next?

Sen-goku★Complex—another band I’m in!

It’s a unique band born from a Japanese history talk event...

Yes! In this unit, both I and my partner Tomoaking are Zemaitis artists, so we both use Zemaitis acoustic electric guitars.

And I also have a three-person unit called Mitsudomoe Chindouchu.

formed with Yamagito from Uranino and Katayama from Katayama Breakers & The Rok’n’Roll Party. Yamagi from Uranino and Katayama from Katayama Breakers & The R&R Party are in that one with you, right?

Yeah! I used a Steinberger for the recording!

Comrade!

And then...

There’s more!?

Well, besides that, there’s my solo work that we mentioned earlier. My second album is almost finished!

I had the chance to play on a few tracks this time.

Thank you for that! I also get invited to do solo live performances pretty often—sometimes with an electric guitar, sometimes with an acoustic, and even a ukulele, depending on the setting!

Hey, aren’t you forgetting something important?

Huh? I think I covered everything...

As a musician, you’ve done.

Huh?

But what about the one thing in your career that’s rumored to have the highest demand...

Huh? My mere existence creates demand, doesn’t it?

(Ignoring that) Come on, think!

Oh! The fortune teller!

That’s it!

I’ve done tarot readings for over 10,000 people!

Whoa!

And this year, my fortune-telling show is set to premiere on Amazon Prime Video!

That’s awesome!

Stay tuned!

I guess that’s everything about us...?

So now readers really get who we are, right?

Hmm... not sure about that...

Let’s keep working hard on this column!

Yeah... Kicking off the new year with a self-introduction instead of talking about instruments makes me a little anxious about where we are going, but let’s enjoy our musical journey in our own way.

Yes, because everything is?

For love!