DAUGHTER @CRYSTAL BALLROOM

Crystal Ballroomというポートランドでも一番大きなライブハウスでDaughterを見た。
端的に感想を述べるとすれば、今まで聴いていたライブとは？と自身の経験を疑いたくほど良かった。
海外での音楽体験がこんなに違うということに衝撃を受けた。

まず驚くべきはその音の良さ。
洗練されたギター、ドラム、ベースのサウンドバランスに、美しい声が何層にも重なる。
どれだけギターやドラムが激しくプレイしようとも、音の層の隙間から突き刺さるように響くElena Tonraの声が圧倒的な存在感を放っていた。
美しい調和を保ったまま凄まじい音圧で迫ってくるそれらは、日本で見たいくつものライブを遥かに超える感動を僕に与えた。
特に空間系の音楽においては、音源に劣る印象をこれまでもっていたけれど、ここアメリカにおいては実際のアクトのほうが数倍良く感じられるのかもしれない。

次に空間。
古びた1920年代のダンスホールをそのまま使ったシャンデリアや壁画が印象的な空間。
到底ロックミュージックを奏でるような場所にはとても思えないのだけれど、壁や天井の装飾がまるで薄暗い星空の下にいるみたいで音楽と相まってとても居心地のよい空間を生み出していた。
ちなみに、Crystal Ballroomの床は下にバネが入っていて、客が跳ねると会場全体が上下に軋んでとても楽しい。

そして観客。これが一番の違いであるように思う。
パンクス、スケーター、おじさんやおばさん、親子、LGBT、太っちょ眼鏡の女の子、、
人種も性別も年代も、様々な人達が腕を組み、肩を組み、キスをしたりハグをしたりしながら真摯な目でステージを見つめていた。

I watched a live show of the band Daughter in the biggest live house in Portland called Crystal Ballroom.
If briefly describing my impression, what were the concerts I've been listening to so far?

After watching three or four live shows in Portland, I'm starting to think that shows in Japan might not be as good as here. I'm shocked by the fact that the music experience abroad is so different!

First of all, the most amazing thing was the sound quality.
Beautiful voices overlap many layers on the sophisticated guitar, drum, base sound balance.
No matter how intensely the guitar or drums were played, the voice of Elena Tonra echoed clearly. It had an overwhelming presence.

Her voice kept beautiful harmony with the tremendous sound and it left such a big impression that far exceeded the live performances I've seen in Japan.

The next was about the space.
There are the big beautiful chandeliers, and so many old wall paintings. This space reminds me of the old 1920's dance halls. It was very impressive.
Although it didn't seem to be the place that plays rock music at all, it seemed that the decoration of the walls and ceiling was just like a dark starry sky.
The music coupled with this atmosphere created a very cozy space.
By the way, the floor of the Crystal Ballroom has a spring underneath. When the audiences bounce, the hall bounced with them and it was a lot of fun.

And next was about the audience. I think this is the biggest difference.
Punks, skaters, uncles and aunts, parents, LGBT, girls with fat glasses, people of different races, genders and age gathered their arms, assembled their shoulders, stared at the same stage with serious faces, and they were kissing and hugging during the concert.

““Youth”

Shadows settle on the place, that you left.
Our minds are troubled by the emptiness.
Destroy the middle, it’s a waste of time.
From the perfect start to the finish line.

And if you’re still breathing, you’re the lucky ones.
’Cause most of us are heaving through corrupted lungs.
Setting fire to our insides for fun
Collecting names of the lovers that went wrong
The lovers that went wrong.

We are the reckless,
We are the wild youth
Chasing visions of our futures
One day we’ll reveal the truth
That one will die before he gets there.

And if you’re still bleeding, you’re the lucky ones.
’Cause most of our feelings, they are dead and they are gone.
We’re setting fire to our insides for fun.
Collecting pictures from a flood that wrecked our home,
It was a flood that wrecked this home.

And you caused it,
And you caused it,
And you caused it

Well I’ve lost it all, I’m just a silhouette,
A lifeless face that you’ll soon forget,
My eyes are damp from the words you left,
Ringing in my head, when you broke my chest.
Ringing in my head, when you broke my chest.

And if you’re in love, then you are the lucky one,
’Cause most of us are bitter over someone.
Setting fire to our insides for fun,
To distract our hearts from ever missing them.
But I’m forever missing him.

And you caused it,
And you caused it,
And you caused it”

代表曲である「Youth」のときには観客全員でシンガロングが起きる。
この時の会場の一体感、高揚感は筆舌に尽くしがたいものがある。
一体どれだけこの曲を聴き込んだのだろう？と思うくらい全員歌詞を間違えない。
そうした光景に立ち会えるだけで、思わず涙が出そうになってしまう。
曲が終わると「How cute I love you so much!」と周囲から歓声が飛び交う。
この愛に満ち溢れた空気を肺いっぱいに吸い込んで幸せな気持ちになり、帰路についた。

When "Youth" which is the representative song started, all audiences sang along with the band.
I couldn't describe this amazing experience that everyone came together with their hearts and bodies. 
I wonder how many times they heard this song. They didn't mistake any of the lyrics not even one word, I think.
Just watching such a scene, I felt like tears.
When the song was over, cheers, flutters from the surroundings as "How cute I love you so much!"
I breathed in the air and my heart was full of this love. I felt happy, I came home.