A Mystical Hymn to the Sun and Moon Resonates at Hibiya Open-Air Concert Hall: GENSHI SHINBO’s P.U.L.S.E Live Concert Report - Part 2

The Dark Side of the Moon 50th Anniversary Event
PINK FLOYD TRIPS at Hibiya Open-Air Concert Hall
June 18, 2023 (Sun.)

Genshi Shinbo is the Japanese ultimate Pink Floyd tribute band, enthralls Japanese Pink Floyd fans with their overwhelming live performances.

In my previous blog post, I covered the first part of The Dark Side of the Moon 50th Anniversary Event: PINK FLOYD TRIPS at Hibiya Open-Air Concert Hall, which was a reenactment of Live at Pompeii. This time, following the breathtaking performance, I bring you the second part, a reenactment of The Dark Side of the Moon.

Pink Floyd’s 1973 album, “The Dark Side of the Moon”, is recognized worldwide as a rock masterpiece. This album solidified Pink Floyd’s status as a monster band.
Blending experimental sounds with the era’s reflective tones, coupled with Roger Waters’ philosophical lyrics, the album created a more dimensional worldview. Its enduring popularity is evidenced by the recent sold-out planetarium show in Yurakucho, Tokyo, featuring songs from this album.

The second part promises a reenactment of this massive sound spectacle under the starry sky at Hibiya Open-Air Concert Hall. What can we expect?

1. Speak to Me

The album’s opening heartbeat sound introduces Genshi Shinbo members on stage. Four flashing red lights on stage evoke the initial CD package of Pink Floyd’s live album P.U.L.S.E. This “Speak to Me” is a rendition of the tape collage by Pink Floyd’s drummer Nick Mason and it includes a deeper synth bass not present in the original and the performance was longer than the original.

This reminds me of Live at Wembley from the remastered version of The Dark Side of the Moon released in 2011. The buildup of sound effects and cymbals, coupled with Reika Tomita’s shout, launches the iconic “Breathe”.

2. Breathe

As the sun gradually sets, the dreamy slide guitar by leader Kogure ‘shake’ Takehiko blends seamlessly with the groovy electric piano by Harunobu Okubo and Yoshitaka Mikuni, melting into our bodies comfortably.

Main vocalist Kenneth Andrew’s vocals, harmonized by Yutaro Ogida, draws us deeper into the Dark Side world, leading into the instrumental piece “On the Run”.

3. On the Run

Guided by the sound of Katsumi Kashiwabara’s hi-hat cymbal, Okubo and Mikuni’s VCS3 and other synthesizers create a spacey soundscape in the venue with their wide soundstage. This sound reminds me of the picture in the booklet included in the Japanese LP version.

The airport announcement is recreated by Reika Tomita and human voices heard in the original version are recreated live by the band members themselves instead of using recorded voices! The level of their recreations easily surpassed the Pink Floyd version record in the album P.U.L.S.E. This makes my palms sweat!!
This instrumental piece ends with a robust drum fill-in and footstep sound effects. The clock ticks down before there is time for enjoying the lingering.

4. Time - Breathe (Reprise)

With the sound effects of a clock, Reika Tomita resonated heavy percussion sounds, intensifying the tension of the intro.
Along with the guitar and drum fill-ins, the 1970s-style synth sounds, which were not heard in the original, amplify the dynamics.
Yuki Hirono joined in, creating an incredibly soulful chorus with Reika Tomita.
Kogure ‘shake’ Takehiko’s guitar is more distorted than in the original, giving it a very rock feel. Performing this song at this sacred place of Japanese rock, Hibiya Open-Air Concert Hall, would undoubtedly make him rock! Additionally, in the part of “Breathe (Reprise)”, Kenneth Andrew’s vocals were especially powerful and impressive.

5. Great Gig in the Sky

On the LP record, “The Great Gig in the Sky” adorns the end of side A. Yoshitaka Mikuni’s piano sound resonates like gospel much more than the original, making it feel like a Pink Floyd baptismal ceremony at the holy ground of rock. Responding to this, Kogure ‘shake’ Takehiko plays a rocking slide guitar, creating a perfect balance in the intro through the contrast between the piano and guitar. Having the dual allures, the fact that this is a sacred rock venue and an open-air stage, along with Pink Floyd’s masterpieces might be a once-in-a-lifetime experience.

While listening to this song with these thoughts in my mind, the soulful and rock vocals of main vocalist Reika Tomita resonated with me. I believe this is a charm that the original vocalist Clare Torry does not have. The powerful vocals of Yuki Hirono in the latter half were truly magnificent, making me dream of Roger Waters’ “Four Minutes” performed by Genshi Shinbo in the future.

6. Money

“Money” is a hit song that was released as a single in the States, making it a fans’ favorite and standard song performed in Pink Floyd’s live concerts. The impact I received when hearing it performed by Genshi Shinbo last year was truly unforgettable, so I was especially looking forward to it. This time, the sound effects were even louder, and the intro beautifully resonated with Yoshitaka Mikuni’s electric piano and Yutaro Ogida’s sound.
Takeshi Abe’s saxophone performance was perfectly in tune with the rock groove, and it was really cool!

Just as I was captivated, I was hit by Kogure ‘shake’ Takehiko’s intense guitar solo, riding on a high-speed shuffle. Then came a keyboard battle between Harunobu Okubo and Yoshitaka Mikuni, followed by another sax solo, and then Kenneth Andrew’s scat vocal solo. Meanwhile, shake’s guitar strumming, which had a slightly dub feel, sounded incredibly cool!! The long version connected again to the high-speed shuffle guitar solo, even faster than the original. As the organ played by Yoshitaka Mikuni started to sound at the ending fade-out, the sun had set.

7. Us and Them

The sun sets and “Us and Them” opens the night. What a perfect moment.
Kogure ‘shake’ Takehiko’s arpeggio and Harunobu Okubo’s piano blend beautifully with Yoshitaka Mikuni’s organ. Takeshi Abe’s saxophone resonates superbly over the undulating slow-groove rhythm created by Yutaro Ogida and Katsumi Kashiwabara! Kenneth Andrew reenacts the talking parts from the original instead of using sound effects.

Striking poses that seem to worship the moon in the night sky, Tomita Reika and Yuki Hirono sing chorus to add a colorful touch to the song. The sound of Genshi Shinbo echoes so dreamily through the night at the open-air concert. It’s truly a tapestry of sound. Kenneth Andrew also sings with such evident pleasure.
As the audience is completely drawn into the Pink Floyd trip, the song seamlessly transitions into the fantasy-filled instrumental piece “Any Colour You Like”.

8. Any Colour You Like

The groovy rhythm section supports a spectacular 1970s synth sound battle between Yoshitaka Mikuni and Harunobu Okubo.

In response, the lights decorated the stage and Kogure ‘shake’ Takehiko played a beautiful guitar solo. In no time at all, the album is almost ending with “Brain Damage” starts with excitement.

9. Brain Damage

Kenneth Andrew’s performance, singing in a Roger Waters style, reaffirms the universality of the song’s lyrics and the album’s themes.

Behind the whispered lyrics about madness, Takehiko “shake” Kogure’s beautiful guitar and Yutaro Ogida’s laughter resonate. The chorus by Reika Tomita and Yuki Hirono gently and powerfully envelops the world of madness.
As Kenneth Andrew bursts into laughter, guided by the synth solo expressing mental instability by Yoshitaka Mikuni and Harunobu Okubo, the song flows into the album’s final track “Eclipse”, culminating in a grand finale of madness.

10. Eclipse

Amid Harunobu Okubo’s sacred-sounding organ and the chorus by Reika Tomita and Yuki Hirono, the lyrics sung by Kenneth Andrew and Yutaro Ogida gradually grew stronger, bringing the reenactment of the album The Dark Side of the Moon to a close. Notably, the ending, led by Takehiko “shake” Kogure’s guitar, was even more rocking than the original. Yes, that’s why it’s called PINK FLOYD TRIPS at Hibiya Open-Air Concert Hall!

There were also some encore songs after this truly moving reenactment.

11. Wish You Are Here

After the sound effects played, Yutaro Ogida’s solo in the intro resonated through the night breeze, accompanied by Takehiko “shake” Kogure’s 12-string guitar.

Kenneth Andrew’s emotionally profound singing in response to this created a deeply moving performance.
Yutaro Ogida’s scat solo was incredibly evocative, making for a truly heartwarming moment.
Harunobu Okubo’s slightly jazzy piano solo perfectly matched the urban outdoor setting.

12. Another Brick In The Wall - Part II

This single hit from the album The Wall started with an arrangement similar to the live album P.U.L.S.E. At the EX Theater concerts in 2021 and 2022, the lighting system was lowered in front of the stage, making the stage almost invisible from the audience. This time, due to the open outdoor space, the stage was completely visible for the performance. The audience’s excitement was palpable, amplified by the striking guitar solos, synth and organ battles, and Yutaro Ogida’s high-energy bass play with some slapping.

13. Comfortably Numb

As a fan of The Wall, I’m always thrilled when they perform this song, and hearing it at Hibiya Open-Air Concert Hall doubles the delight. This time, the intro featured a distorted slide guitar with echo, reminiscent of the first part of the performance from Live at Pompeii. Yutaro Ogida took on Roger’s vocal parts, while Kenneth Andrew handled Dave’s parts. Unlike the Pink Floyd’s live album version of “Another Brick In The Wall”, this rendition stayed closer to the original album arrangement. Nonetheless, the guitar solo was sharp and intensely powerful, delivering a deep, resonant sound.

14. The Nile Song/ナイルソング

The final song of this historic live event at Hibiya Open-Air Concert Hall was “The Nile Song” from the soundtrack album More. When I heard this song live at Kawasaki Club Citta before, Kogure ‘shake’ Takehiko mentioned on stage that it’s a song they often play at the end, but performing it today was a surprise after a while! Indeed, it’s an incredibly uplifting song, and seeing the audience at this open-air venue rise to their feet and revel in this niche track highlighted the immense passion both the band and the audience have for Pink Floyd. It was a moment that made you crave ‘more’.

That’s all for my two parts of concert reports of the historic live event, “The Dark Side of the Moon 50th Anniversary Event: PINK FLOYD TRIPS at Hibiya Open-Air Concert Hall” by the Pink Floyd tribute band, Genshi Shinbo. For those who are learning about Genshi Shinbo for the first time through my posts, or those who regret not attending the event, we have some exciting news.

Genshi Shinbo will be touring in November and December with the “PINK FLOYD TRIPS 2023 - The Band is Coming to Town!” The band will visit Nagano, Kanazawa, Kobe, Nagoya, Fukuoka, and Tokyo. Just like this Hibiya Open-Air Concert Hall performance, the first part of the show will feature a performance of the live recording film Live at Pompeii, followed by a second part that will include the entire 1973 album The Dark Side of the Moon and more, making for an extravagant two-part show.

Moreover, on the final day of the tour on December 30th (Sat.) at EX Theater Roppongi, in addition to the re-creations of Live at Pompeii and The Dark Side of the Moon, you can also enjoy the annual tradition of performing Atom Heart Mother album with a horn section, cello, and chorus. This exceptionally luxurious event is aptly titled “Pink Floyd Historic Masterpiece The Dark Side of the Moon 50th Anniversary Event + Atom Heart Mother - Cantata from the Underworld”.

This year, they are also planning to perform with a recruited chorus of 100 members! Genshi Shinbo’s year-end live shows seem to scale up impressively each year. From November to December 2023, Pink Floyd fans across Japan will soon be able to indulge in the ultimate Floyd trip!

■ PINK FLOYD TRIPS 2023: The Dark Side of the Moon" 50th Anniversary Event

Tour Dates

◇ 2023/11/19 (Sun.) Nagano Live House J
Open/Start: 6:30 p.m./7:00 p.m.
Advance/Door: ¥5,500/6,000 (plus drink)
<Tickets>
Live House J Box Office (Tel.: 026-225-6068)
e+： https://eplus.jp/sf/detail/3934870001-P0030001

◇ 2023/11/20 (Mon.) Kanazawa Gold Creek
Open/Start: 6:30 p.m./7:00 p.m.
Advance/Door: ¥5,500/6,000 (plus drink)
<Tickets>
Ticket Pia: P-Code: 251-297
Lawson Ticket: L-Code: 55746
e+： https://eplus.jp/sf/detail/3937770001-P0030001

◇ 2023/11/22 (Wed.) Kobe Chicken George
Open/Start: 6:30 p.m./7:00 p.m.
Advance/Door: ¥6,000/6,500 (plus drink)
<Tickets>
Ticket Pia: P-Code: 251-117
Lawson Ticket: L-Code: 54852
e+： https://eplus.jp/sf/detail/3934390001-P0030001

◇ 2023/11/23 (Thu., National Holiday) Kobe Chicken George
Open/Start: 5:30 p.m./6:00 p.m.
Advance/Door: ¥6,000/6,500 (plus drink)
<Tickets>
Ticket Pia: P-Code: 251-117
Lawson Ticket: L-Code: 54852
e+： https://eplus.jp/sf/detail/3934390001-P0030001

◇ 2023/11/25 (Sat.) Nagoya Electric Lady Land
Open/Start: 5:30 p.m./6:00 p.m.
Advance/Door: ¥6,000/6,500 (plus drink)
<Tickets>
Ticket Pia: P-Code: 251-031
e+： https://eplus.jp/sf/detail/3935820001-P0030001

◇ 2023/12/27 (Wed.) Fukuoka Drum Be-1
Open/Start: 6:30 p.m./7:00 p.m.
Advance/Door: ¥6,000/6,500 (plus drink)
<Tickets>
Lawson Ticket: L-Code: 82749

For more details, click here

■ PINK FLOYD TRIPS 2023: The Dark Side of the Moon 50th Anniversary Event + Atom Heart Mother - Cantata from the Underworld

◇ 2023/12/30 (Sat.) EX Theater Roppongi
Open/Start: 5:00 p.m./6:00 p.m.
Advance/Door: ¥8,500/9,000 (plus drink)
<Tickets>
Ticket Pia: P-Code: 251-303
Lawson Ticket: L-Code: 73961
e+： https://eplus.jp/genshishinbo/

■ The Dark Side of the Moon 50th Anniversary, performed by Genshi Shinbo, "Echoes Part1"

Watch full video...

Members of Genshi Shinbo:
Kogure ‘shake’ Takehiko (Guitar)
Yoshitaka Mikuni (Keyboards)
Harunobu Okubo (Keyboards)
Yutaro Ogida (Bass, Guitar, Vocals)
Katsumi Kashiwabara (Drums)
Kenneth Andrew (Lead Vocals)
Reika Tomita (Chorus)
Yuki Hirono (Chorus)
Lovely Reina (Chorus)
Takeshi Abe (Sax)
Image courtesy of Genshi Shinbo

Before I finish this article, here’s an item you can purchase at Sound House that will surely excite any Pink Floyd fan!

GHS / GB-DGG David Gilmour Signature Red

David Gilmour has used the GHS Boomers strings since The Wall era, and this set of strings is his signature model designed for Les Paul. The GHS Boomers Series, known for its bright and powerful sound, are classic electric guitar strings. They are round wound strings made by tightly wrapping nickel-plated steel around a round core. These strings are known for their excellent tone clarity and durability. I want to play “Another Brick in The Wall” with these strings.