[Music Event in Narita!] I went to REHUB @ Barge Inn Narita by Narita no Okage Vol.3

On Sunday, October 16, the third edition of the music event REHUB was held at Barge Inn Narita, a bar that anyone living in Narita has likely visited at least once.

[Music Event in Narita is Back!] I went to REHUB @ Barge Inn Narita by Narita no Okage Vol.1
[Music Event in Narita!] I went to REHUB @ Barge Inn Narita by Narita no Okage Vol.2

- What is REHUB? -
With live events drastically reduced due to the COVID-19 pandemic and Narita City originally lacking in venues like clubs or music bars, the decline in events has had a significant impact on the city’s music culture. To combat this, the REHUB project was launched by the resident DJs of The Barge Inn, along with groups from fashion culture like Los Mavericks in Shibayama, and collaborated with Narita no Okage who produces live events in the Narita area. The goal is to revive the art culture by reconnecting the community (hub) and to turn negatives into positives, akin to rehabilitation (rehab), hence the name REHUB.

The equipment we brought in this time included JBL EON712 as the main speaker, JBL EON710 as the floor monitor, and JBL EON ONE Mk2 as the sub-speaker to cover the depth of the venue.

The EON712 is a 12-inch, 1300W PA speaker with a built-in power amplifier.
Since the speaker is equipped with an optimal power amplifier, there’s no need to worry about matching components; simply turning the volume knob delivers the best sound. For this event, we didn’t use the EQ or presets on the speakers themselves and instead made minor adjustments on the mixer. From the deep, ground-shaking bass of synthesized tracks to the delicate high notes of falsetto, the EON712 delivered everything beautifully. I was especially happy when a customer, whom I met for the first time, commented, “The musician’s singing is great, but the sound quality is also really impressive.”

The EON710 is also a powered speaker with a 10-inch, 1300W built-in power amplifier. It’s light enough to carry with one hand, yet it produces sound that rivals larger speakers. The enclosure allows it to be used not only in an upright position but also laid flat as a floor monitor. Although presets for the floor monitor use are available, the natural sound was already excellent, so we made slight adjustments using the mixer as well.

This event marked the first deployment of the EON ONE Mk2, a column PA system that packs all essential PA functions into a lightweight, portable package. It features an array speaker for delivering uniform sound across a wide area, a subwoofer for powerful bass, a 5-channel digital mixer, dbx and Lexicon DSP, Bluetooth connectivity, and wireless control—all powered by a built-in battery. At the first REHUB event, we used a similar JBL PRX ONE, and once again, the EON ONE Mk2 performed exactly as intended. Since the main speaker was positioned some distance from the entrance of Barge Inn, there were concerns that the sound might not reach every part of the bar with sufficient volume or quality. However, with the EON ONE Mk2, the sound was perfectly balanced no matter where you were listening.

We also had a fantastic lineup of DJs this time! With their varying ages and distinct personalities, each DJ brought their own favorite genres to the table. It was thrilling to hear familiar tracks that got the crowd excited and discover new ones that were just as impressive. Personally, I had a great time.

I also noticed the camaraderie among the DJs—when it wasn’t their turn, they’d go check out what record was playing if they heard something interesting, or they’d express their enthusiasm with smiles and body movements that said, “This is amazing!” It was something I found quite enviable.

There was even a DJ who brought his children, and it was heartwarming to see the kids waving and shouting “Papa!” as their father DJed and he responded with a shy smile.

As for the live performance, it was nothing short of “amazing” and “luxurious”.
The musician who joined us this time was Hiro-a-key!

It’s been five years since we first met at ‘blockparty IN Narita no Okage’ back in 2017. Since then, we’ve stayed connected, with Hiro-a-key even making some purchases from us along the way, haha. We hadn’t seen each other much due to the pandemic, but we finally got to reunite at this live event!

→ I went to blockparty IN Narita no Okage.

From the rehearsal alone, it was clear why the event organizer, Sugano-san, jokingly said, “We’ve already hit the peak!” The overwhelming aura of brilliance was simply off the charts!
The moment Hiro-a-key’s voice was heard, everyone in the bar turned to listen, captivated by the sound. It was truly something to behold.

As the showtime approached, more and more people gathered in front of the stage, and as soon as Hiro-a-key began his loop pedal performance, the atmosphere transformed into an ‘exquisite live music space’—an experience that doesn’t happen often.

Hiro-a-key’s voice is incredibly beautiful. It’s rhythmic, sharp, sultry, and so much more. I regret not having the right words to describe it, but he has one of the most ‘emotionally rich and colorful voices’ I’ve ever heard.

There was an incident at this event that was so surprising it might be the most shocking thing that happened. On the day of the event, I was told that a guitarist would be dropping by, but almost no one from organizers knew who this person was. So, I was half excited and half curious about who it might be... and it turned out to be none other than yamashiroll, a guy who was two years younger than me in the same high school light music club!

To be honest, I was aware of his existence. While connecting with people I met at the Narita no Okage music event on social media, he started showing up in the people you may know suggestion. When I asked around, not only did people know him, but he had also been helping out with their band and hanging out with them regularly. I thought, “Maybe we’ll meet at an event someday,” and then this happened, haha. He was always an unusual junior; despite being a first-year during the height of the visual kei and punk scene, he liked playing metal with us. Now, 20 years after graduation, he’s become an incredible guitarist, and I genuinely respect that!

The song they played together was called “Oyogidasu”—an absolute gem of a track!
I recorded a video, so please enjoy it first!

Hiro-a-key and yamashiroll were perfectly in sync. Not only did the guitar enhance the lead vocals, but during the guitar solo, it brought the song’s atmosphere to life. I don’t know if that’s the right way to describe it, but as someone who dabbles in bass, my honest impression was, “I’m so envious—I want to be able to match sounds like that!”

Isn’t it amazing that you can enjoy such awesome music at a ‘free’ event?

I believe that events like this can only happen because of the passion and dedication of the organizers, musicians, staff, and everyone who comes to watch.

I always participate with the mindset of supporting a continuing music scene in Narita, and I genuinely enjoy being a part of it.

When I was talking with the organizer, Sugano-san, and my colleague, Kurosu-kun, who handles the PA, about the future, I heard them say they wanted to support music events focused on the younger generation. I totally agree. I’m turning 40 this year, and most of the core staff are guys around my age! The generation that will lead and bring energy to these events in the future has to be the young people in their 20s. By working together with younger folks who may not yet know how to organize events, where to host them, or how to bring them to life, I hope we can create something lasting, a kind of “passing the torch.” I’m not sure what kind of conversations will get the young ones excited (lol), but I’m looking forward to it!

I hear there’s going to be another big event in December, so I’m really looking forward to it already!

Performing Musician

Hiro-a-key
Official Website

Hiro-a-key is a soul singer who seamlessly moves between singing, rapping, and beatboxing, using his voice to express a wide range of emotions.

He spent his childhood in New York and Los Angeles, and after returning to Japan, he began his music career in earnest. With his expansive high-tone voice and falsetto, combined with his skillful use of samplers and keyboards, his emotional performances captivate audiences.

He has released an album titled Hiroglyphics and founded the event DRAMATIC SOUL, which has become a staple in Japan’s R&B and soul music scene, leading to the release of two albums under the same name.
Hiro-a-key has collaborated with numerous artists, both domestic and international, including Tomita Lab, Kaoru Kurosawa (The Gospellers), Chemistry, Asako Toki, BIGYUKI, Takuya Kuroda, Am Pm, and Fat Jon. His talents have also led to regular appearances on the global television show Sesame Street, as well as performances in drama soundtracks and in singing and narration for corporate commercials.

In 2019, driven by a desire for people to focus purely on his music, Hiro-a-key began releasing work under the alias Nenashi, without revealing any personal details such as race or nationality. His music quickly gained recognition, being featured on major playlists worldwide and accumulating over 5 million streams. In 2021, Hiro-a-key revealed that he was indeed Nenashi, sharing a powerful statement on social media about his approach to music and his thoughts on racial issues, which spread widely.