[Music Event in Narita!] I went to REHUB @ Barge Inn Narita by Narita no Okage Vol.4

On Sunday, December 18, I attended the fourth edition of the music event REHUB at Barge Inn Narita, a popular bar among a wide range of locals, from young to seniors.

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

- 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 first event took place on May 15, and since then, the event has been held constantly. This time, being the final event of the year, it was a culmination of all that has been done in 2022. Being incredibly motivated, we provided extensive equipment support for the event!

Without further ado, here's what the stage looked like this time.
I’m going to introduce you to some of the carefully selected items brought in from Sound House’s showroom.

For the PA system, to accommodate a full band setup, we brought the main speaker JBL EON712 along with floor monitors including JBL EON710 and CLASSIC PRO CPM108P and CPM110P.

EON700 Series speakers are:

• 1300W power provides ample headroom!
• Super lightweight, making it easy for one person to mount on a stand.
• Built-in AFS (Automatic Feedback Suppression) for peace of mind.
• Built-in presets make it easy to create a base sound.
  (Select Monitor mode for floor monitor use)

CPM Series speakers are:

• Extremely space-efficient!
• Equipped with a coaxial speaker unit for easy listening.
• Features three modes with different low-frequency characteristics.
  (Set to LOW CUT)

For the long hallway, we used the JBL EON ONE Mk2.

• Clean and cool sound!
  It features a C-shaped array with eight 2-inch tweeters and a 10-inch subwoofer.
• Wide coverage area!
  With a horizontal dispersion of 140 degrees and vertical dispersion of 30 degrees, sound spreads throughout the space.
• Built-in battery
  Can operate for up to 6 hours without a power outlet.

The guitar amp is a Supro 1668RT and the bass amp is a Quilter Bass Block 800 + Bassliner 1x12W, brought from our showroom’s guitar/bass room!

The main mixer is the Soundcraft Ui16. It connects to a computer with a LAN cable and to an iPad via Wi-Fi, ensuring a reliable setup.

• Digital mixer controlled by tablet/PC/smartphone
  → Compact, keeping the PA area tidy.
  → Allows monitoring and adjusting the outside sound in the audience area and the inside sound on stage.
• Wi-Fi connectivity
  → No need for a router!
• Includes dbx, Digitech, and Lexicon processors
  → Allows for detailed sound shaping.
• Settings can be saved and recalled
  → Save settings for each band and just recall them for the performance!

The event started at 4:00 p.m. while it was still bright outside! It’s so healthy lol!
We had a great lineup of catchy DJs again this time! It’s amazing to see a mix of young DJs and veteran older ones, with over 20 years of age difference between them, performing at the same event. Hearing the older DJs say things like, “Wow, I didn’t expect them to mix it like that,” or “I love how they’re not bound by conventional or typical standards,” made me appreciate how wonderful it is to have a space where different generations can connect like this.

Then, the much-anticipated guest live performances kicked off, with the first act being 2LOW BAND.
As soon as the DJ set ended and the live performance started, the atmosphere changed instantly.
The crowd surged forward so much that you could barely see the performers.

The frontman, 2LOW, struck me as someone incredibly serious about music, with no hesitation whatsoever—a truly admirable person. Personally, it was a genre I don’t usually listen to, but after hearing it just once, I became a huge fan of both the talk and the rap. Knowing the backstory of the songs through his talk made the music even more emotional and the rhythms incredibly enjoyable.

By the way, the guitarist, bassist, and keyboardist in the band are actually my colleagues, haha! They were incredibly cool... I couldn’t help but watch with envy, thinking, “I wish I could perform on a stage like that.” It’s a secret, but I was in awe the whole time. Even though they had a debrief after the show, the fact is they put on such an amazing performance! Seriously, great job!!

The track “Hitori Disco (Solo Disco)”, with the punchline “Strong Green Tea Highball,” is a classic.

Everyone at the venue knows DJ NOCK, haha.
Then, the second act of the night was Pablo, who made a much-anticipated return to Narita after a while.
Over time, we’ve gotten pretty close, and I can’t help but feel like they’re part of the family now, haha.
Pablo is, without a doubt, the epitome of a ‘man’s man’ kind of band!
If you think a three-men band with just an acoustic guitar, bass, and drums might be at a disadvantage in terms of sound compared to larger bands, think again!
Pablo’s sound is incredibly rich and dense.
Frontman Mokutaro leads the crowd with his singing and acoustic guitar, and bassist Nabeken adds depth by connecting their sounds with his masterful chord work, while drummer Furuya keeps everyone in sync with his steady rhythm, adding nuances that make it easy for everyone to groove along. The result is a sound that just roars.
It’s been a while since their last live event, but compared to then, they’ve leveled up several notches—it was surprising! After the show, all I could think was, “I want to get better too; they were so damn cool.” I was also really happy that everyone who came out got to see just how amazing a band Pablo is!

When it comes to Pablo, the track “aiwana” comes to mind.

Because of the time I have to go home, I haven’t always had a proper conversation with FOOMIN, but I always notice how he plays music that gets everyone hyped up, regardless of age. I always think, “I want to talk to him!” haha.

With the crowd warmed up well, the final act of the night was aimi!
She’s a genuine R&B singer-songwriter from Narita!
Even during the pandemic, she’s been actively performing and continually leveling up, which I’ve been following through her social media. It’s been a while since I’ve heard her sing live, but the moment I heard her voice, I was like, “Yes, this is exactly what I’ve been craving.” She’s incredible. There are many ways to measure someone’s singing ability, and everyone’s criteria might be different, but I think only a rare few have the power to truly move people with their music. For me, aimi is one of those rare individuals.
She’s got a beautiful, cute, and sexy voice, and her dancing is sharp. Plus, she’s great at engaging the audience and hyping them up, haha. Next time, I hope she gives a shoutout to Narita’s neighboring town, Sakae in Imba District, too!
I felt so energized after her performance—she was amazing!

Enjoy her song “The Wave”!

At REHUB, there are members who participate beyond just the musicians. Our friends from 3QUESTIONS CLUB, whom I met through REHUB, always sell various REHUB merchandise, and this time they created some super cool caps, hoodies, sweatshirts, and more. The print on these items was apparently done in five passes, with the tension of knowing that if it slipped, that would be the end. Having event merchandise like this makes me feel an even stronger connection to the event, and it makes me really happy!

3 QUESTIONS CLUB website
3 QUESTIONS CLUB Instagram

And another shoutout to Barber Shop RAIzE!
He was cutting hair with incredible precision, using combs and clippers with a very serious expression. I regret not getting my sides and back trimmed, as they were starting to look a bit messy! Next time I see him, I’ll definitely ask for a haircut♪ I love the vibe of REHUB and Narita no Okage, where not only music but creators from various genres come together to have a great time!

barber shop RAIzE
barber shop RAIzE Instagram

This turned out to be another incredibly satisfying and awesome day.

I remembered overhearing some people talking outside the venue, saying, “All my friends are here today; this is the best year-end party ever!”—it hit me right in the feels.

I also recalled seeing some young people, who probably just met at the event, saying, “Nice to meet you! Let’s enjoy this to the fullest today!” as they headed towards the stage—again, that got me right in the feels.

We’re seriously HUBbing!!

Big thanks to Sugano-san, the organizer, Kurosu-kun, who handled the PA, our Sound House crew, 3QUESTION CLUB, Barber Shop RAIzE, Los Mavericks, and everyone involved in the event.
And of course, thanks to everyone who came to have fun that day.

The music event Narita no Okage is so much fun because of “Minna no Okage (everyone’s contribution)”.

Thank you all!!
Let’s get together and have a blast again soon♪

- Performing Artists -

2LOW BAND

Vo

2LOW
@2low_sakuraeastside

Key

Yoshiki Usui
@usu_uki_yuki_yosi

Gt

Sho Nakagawa
@thintanta

Ba

Yuta Harada a.k.a YUTAPON
@y_uta_11

Dr

Yuka

2LOW from SAKURA EASTSIDE From Sakura City, Chiba Prefecture. Influenced by basketball, which he started playing in his childhood, he developed a love for hip-hop. Active mainly in Chiba and Tokyo. Member of MASEGAKI CIRCUS.

Instagram
YouTube
TikTok

Pablo

-Member-
Mokutaro (Vocal/Acoustic Guitar)
Kenji Nasu (Bass)
Yu Furuya (Drums)

A creative band that advocates for the Tokyo Urban Rock Sound Style.

Their music is based on rock, infused with various elements such as hip-hop, blues, soul, jazz, and funk, and elevated into a unique form of pop. Their approach to embodying “music as Japanese” represents the essence of the Tokyo Urban Rock Sound Style.

Website
YouTube
Facebook
Twitter
Instagram

Aimi

aimi is an R&B singer-songwriter with her new single “Day N Night” now streaming and is hosting the Event STAY READY on Wednesday, December 14 In May 2020, she released her debut EP, Water Me, which debuted at No. 1 on the iTunes R&B/Soul chart. The lead track, “Sorry”, was selected as a Sonar Trax on J-Wave and received heavy rotation. In February 2021, she released her second EP, Changed 4 Good, which saw a rise in streaming numbers not only in Japan but also across Asia. In addition to hosting radio shows and writing columns that introduce the latest R&B tracks and artists, she continues to invigorate the Japanese music scene while staying committed to sharing R&B from Japan with the world.

Instagram
YouTube
Facebook
Twitter
TikTok

About the Event

- Timetable -

REHUB
2022/12/18 (Sun.) 4:00 p.m.-
At Barge Inn Narita
Entrance Free

Guest Live

aimi / Pablo / 2LOW BAND

DJ

Foomin / DJ NOCK / Satosy / Toshi / Airtime / Mujin-kun / Ryuchang / ???(TQC)

Dance showcase

Y.N

Barber Shop

RAIzE

Silk Screen

3 QUESTIONS CLUB

Support

SOUND HOUSE
LOS MAVERICKS

Cover Art

Pond Original

Sponsors

Barber Shop RAIzE / Bar Haneagari / Grand Dental Clinic
(※A→Z)

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