Live vs Acoustic!! Reacting to Puzzle by Band-Maid

[@septimusseverus7237]

There is an acoustic CD release in April 2022 which is a recording of Band-Maid's Online Acoustic Okyu-Ji held during Christmas 2021. Another acoustic magical acoustic concert was held in March 2024 and was published for streaming during a limited period of time to the Band-Maid Prime registered users. This was the first time the band delivered a song live with all five members playing an instrument (Saiki was playing the piano and singing). I hope this one gets released on a bluray one day.

[@Davey-Boyd]

The rock version is sang with bitterness and resentment, like an argument, while the acoustic is sang with heartbreak and despair. In my humble opinion it's a masterpiece of composition and execution. And yeah, they sound that good live. By far the best live band I have heard in my 58 years. Last October I saw them in a tiny basement club with a capacity of only 350. Even then the sound was perfect!

[@BlahBlah_13]

I think Kanami's backing vocals also add an almost haunting feel to the song.

[@Davey-Boyd]

@@BlahBlah_13 I agree!

[@bocatampere]

Seen few thousand gigs during 30 years in rockbusiness and NEVER seen or heard BETTER band than Band-Maid. They are just magical 🔥❤️ Kanami’s voice in acoustic version added more magic to this song. My hero 🔥❤️

[@markmiyasaki6001]

I've seen my fair share of rock concerts also and I know what you mean about a lot of bands not sounding as good when you finally see them live. Seeing Band-Maid Live in San Francisco in 2022 and Sacramento in 2023 totally blew me away on how good they sounded and performed. Beyond their ability to play near flawlessly, their ability to connect and engage with the audience is second to none. You should check out their song Moratorium on a Fan Cam posted by Vladimir Chupin with very good audio and video quality from their Boston show. Just YT search for Band-Maid Boston Moratorium. This video captures what it's really like being near the rails at a Band-Maid concert and seeing how engaging they are.

[@grahamreed8774]

Things to notice live- When did Saiki breathe? Miku's contribution- Fantastic backing vocals and her guitar intro to Kanami's solo. Acoustic- Just a fantastic magical performance all round. Everyone who was present at this performance was blessed by them. Yep!- Acoustic album released in 2022, originally for fan club members but now generally available from their official shop.

[@JK-tz6kk]

Was at the TGT show and the sound in the concert hall setting, especially being IFO the Line-array stacks on Misa's side, was somewhat challenging to the ears. Been to a dozen of their shows and the sound gets better if you stand IFO the sound booth (usually dead center). The best mix I've heard from them was at the Yokoari show where I was dead center about a city block from the stage. All in all, I really appreciate being at a live show, but always anticipate their post-production work from those live shows when they add it to their live collection discography. 🦍🍌

[@ericifune5543]

The acoustic was part of a two song set during their 2018 Zepp Tokyo concert. They did something similar for their 2023 Yokohama Arena show. As people have said, there was a Christmas acoustic concert during the pandemic. There was an acoustic show from this past March. The entire Zepp Tokyo show and the Christmas show are available on their streaming platform, Band-Maid Prime.

[@kieranbuffini8632]

I was disillusioned with music until i discovered Band Maid, they reignited my life, best band on the planet imo and i don't say that lightly.

[@RogerChance5309]

Band Maid! 🍺🎃🤘🏻🕊️

[@cygnetseven]

Our Maid's best ambassador!

[@sugaanessena3143]

💜💛❤💙💚 Kanami's🥰 backingvocals makes me 🥲 every time. Yes they do have an acoustic cd, but you have to be a member of their fanclub to get it. (or ebay). I'm DAYDREAMING of a Saiki/Kanami🥰 sideproject.

[@bandmaidfanATL]

They do sound that good live. Seen em twice. Also, if you want to see/hear them live in small venues, Vladimir Chupin has 100+ from 2017-2022.

[@bandmaidfanATL]

youtube.com/@vladimirchupin?si=mwX4hRhENQrgKQGS

[@johndoe-wt6sy]

Thank you for always reacting favorably to BAND-MAID. Listening to the acoustic and band performances side by side is an interesting attempt, and I think you'll discover something new (like Kanami's gentle backing chorus). If you're going to do the same, I recommend "Sayonakidori," in which Miku is the main vocalist. (In the acoustic version, you can hear Akane's rare backing vocal.) If you want to change things up a bit, it's also interesting to compare the vocal and instrumental versions of "Giovanni." In the instrumental version, you can hear how crazy Kanami is playing guitar behind Saiki's vocals, which is also fun😊 I hope you will continue to enjoy BAND-MAID "from now on".

[@stephenchigwidden7504]

The song that's the next part of this acoustic set is Anemone and it's great.

[@BRO-HI808]

Shout out! Roger Chance. Carrier Pigeon extraordinaire! PO!🕊 They kill it live. They do sound this good. I've been fortunate enough to have seen them many times both in the US and Japan, and I can say with 100%, they are a impressive band live. The energy live is through the roof. You will be jumping, fist pumping, shouting, dancing, and may even shed a tear or two. You will leave with a buzz, where you can't stop smiling and will have Live Band-Maid withdrawals for a few months. But all so worth it! I hope you get to see them live sooner than later. PO!🕊 🤘😆🤘

[@Kevin6059]

They actually do have a disc available to fan club members every so often (not sure it'll be again) of their Christmas acoustic concert that they did during covid. (Online concert on Christmas day - best gift ever given.) This show still out there with video on Band-Maid Prime paid fan club. IT. IS. WONDERFUL!!!

[@throwaway9389]

The CD for this year's acoustic concert just went on sale.

[@throwaway9389]

Great chat--thanks. I saw them four times when they were in the US 2022-23. They are amazing live. The official live videos do get post-production, including fixing some biffed notes, but ya, they are freaking good live. There is hours of fancam footage you can sample. Cheers.

[@fatcatzero118]

They do sound so good. Not just good and you will be surprised every time that " They are really good!". I have beeb going to Bandmaid concert ever I became fan right after covid. Including acoustic concert this year and 4 other time. No BS, they are that good. 🤘🤘

[@armynurseboy]

Ive seen them live twice. Yeah, they sound that good

[@Parker--]

I've seen them live twice in Chicago and I can attest they really are that damn good live. Shout out to their crew as well because the acoustics of the shows have both been better mixed than the albums. Nothing gets drowned out and everything is crystal clear. Considering one was the "Lollapalooza after show" the night before they took stage for Lollapalooza, they had someone play right before them and the lows drowned everything out and it just sounded like muffled junk. 15 minutes later Band-Maid comes out and it's a night and day difference in clarity. You HAVE to take any chance you get to see them.

[@tamotsuish]

Thanks so much nice reaction!

[@howardbrown911]

Yes keep doing it!!!! Great reaction again guys. I loved the compare and contrast of the two together. Wonderful idea. It is like they are two different songs. I loved Saiki's emotions that come out more in the acoustic version. It is much sadder than the original that has an anger to it. I love both, but... Great to hear Kanami's vocals backing her up too. Weldone and her guitar was great.

[@TomClark-Futoura]

I recently watched Puzzle from the Shinkiba Studio Coast 2017 concert (for the millionth time ;-) That performance, sound, and vibe is 20% better than the Garden concert -- and that concert is better than 90% of most other concerts. I guess they just wanted to promote their release of the Garden concert, which is something all Band-Maid fans should think about getting -- especially with that 90 minute, behind-the-scene, 2022 USA tour DVD/BD. I’ve seen it and it’s a fascinating look into the Maids lives on the road. Thx, Nathan & Casey!

[@geoffb5]

Puzzle, the electric version is amazing, the acoustic is sublime.

[@mustanggrandpubah]

Band-Maid did an online acoustic concert on X-Mas day 2021. I think it is available on Blue-Ray/DVD/CD.

[@armynurseboy]

They have it out on CD, but it was a fanclub exclusive, so it was a limited pressing. There are still copies floating around on ebay, but they go for over $100 easily.

[@ericifune5543]

The entire concert as well as the commentary video is available on their streaming channel, Band-Maid Prime.

[@armynurseboy]

Thry have an acostic live album (their Christmas acoustic show) but it was a limited pressing originally only available to fan club members. So they are very rare and likewise expensive.

[@miqoto]

Never let it be said artists don't hear their fans(they had a full acoustic xmas live+members only version CD as well) 🥰 They very much sound just as great or even better live in most case(fan cams with clear audio prove this point) though most of the time Misa or Akane's bass kill the mics 😂

[@geoffb5]

They have one instrumental CD of the Unseen World album songs which was included with the Unseen World scorebook and have had instrumental videos as extras on special edition CD releases. They did two acoustic concerts. The first streamed Christmas 2021 as a gift to their fan club members and this was also released as a CD for the fan club members to buy. The 2nd acoustic concert was streamed this year. There have also been acoustic interludes in regular concerts. This that you reacted to was one such. The Yokohama 10th anniversary concert that recently was released in disc has 3 acoustic songs on it.

[@MnPofBM]

Thanks GuyS!!!!!💙💚💙💚💙💚💙💚 🚂 + ☕️

[@randylockey6017]

Another old dude here saying they do sound that good live. Hoping they come back to the USA in 2025. I was 3rd row just off center kinda between Misa & Miku. Such an awesome show, probably the best I've seen. Hope you gents get the chance in the near future. Enjoy your reactions, keep up the good work!

[@BRO-HI808]

Acoustic line up from their 2021 Acoustic Okyu-ji: Band-Maid Online Acoustic Okyu-ji (Live) 12/24/21 All Members Set 1 1 “Smile” - Single (non-album release) 2 “At the Drop of a Hat” - Conqueror 3 “NO GOD” - Unseen World 4 “H-G-K” - Unseen World Saiki and Kanami Set 5 “Different” - Single (non-album release) 6 “Manners” - Unseen World Saiki, Kanami and Misa Set 7 “Awkward” - Just Bring It 8 “Wonderland” - Conqueror Miku, Akane and Misa Set 9 “Time” - Just Bring It 10 “Sayonakidori (Nightingale)” - Unseen World Saiki, Miku and Akane (on Cajon) 11 “Forward” - Maid in Japan All Members Set 2 12 “Catharsis” - Conqueror 13 “Mirage” - Conqueror 14 “Page” - Conqueror Songs 10 and 12 are on their official page. PO!🕊

[@philcalvino884]

Really enjoyed this guys. It's always interesting to hear a couple of different versions. Another good compare & contrast is Band-Maid's Secret My Lips and their rival cover band, Band-Maiko, doing Secret Maiko Lips. Kanoemi is a genius arranger!

[@evilducks3710]

Band Maid, they’re so fscking good, they make reaction channels better to accommodate them :D I really liked this, I look forward to more😊

[@bandmaidfanATL]

Kanami's mannerisms in the acoustic remind me of James Taylor

[@swissystan]

Sterling work Roger!

[@JayDavisAtHome]

That's the funny thing about Band Maid. Once you understand them you can re-listen to their songs and have a deeper appreciation of them. I saw one reactor that listened to Sense and another song and didn't like Sense, but then after quite awhile reacted to it again and thought it might be his favorite. 😂

[@GaryHolloway-810]

Actually Jay i still don't understand them cos i'm not Japanese but i know what you mean :)

[@JayDavisAtHome]

@GaryHolloway-810 🤣🤣 damn you Gary you know I meant musically

[@stealthcabbie1336]

Sayonakidori - It is a Miku sung song. Both OG and Acoustic. Both versions are brilliant and very different to each other.

[@EliseAutoXr]

I'm old, seen tons of bands live, but none compare to Band-Maid (to me) ... the only thing close is Tedeschi Trucks Band (again, my opinion). I saw them live in 2022 and 2023, such great memories and fantastic performances. They do have a full acoustic concert CD recorded during an online show on Christmas day (what a present that was!!). I do like the 2 versions of the same song reactions, so I'm down for more :). Thanks for sharing your reaction and looking forward to more Band-Maid!!

[@ShikataGaNai100]

Roger...the Band-Maid Evangelist!

[@jeffreykuska7877]

Band-Maid prime has the acoustic videos.

[@mikeholmes5308]

Great reaction, yet again, and fun watching you come around full-circle on this one. You seem to be fans... can we consider you Madiacs? Just say it, and you're in! If you want to know how good they are live, watch the fan cams with no production on them. They're not quite as good sounding live as in these official videos with post-production on them.... but... they're so close that it's even more amazing catching them being close to this perfect. And the sound really is better live than on the studio tracks. They're one of those bands whose music is totally meant to echo around a live venue.

[@throwaway9389]

Amen--lots of really good fan cam videos.

[@philproffitt8363]

Power vs Beauty...great 2fer review 👍🔥❤ Another cool duo would be the live Saynakidori, Miku lead vocal Misa/Akane/Kanami going mental, and then the official Acoustic from the Xmas concert...showcase for marvellous Miku 👌❤🕊🤘🤘🤘

[@sugaanessena3143]

💜💛❤💙💚 Do the same with No God.

[@TlanImass]

I hope Kanami-san uses a Yairi forever. Oh, the tone!

[@TlanImass]

I think… Vibe-wise: album version - anger. Acoustic version - pain

[@schelin1447]

Kanami and Saiki is something else!

[@COTTERO]

Great reaction.👍 Several things to comment on... In December 2021 the girls performed an online acoustic Okyu Ji with 14 songs, I'm not sure if it was later released as a digital album, a couple of these songs are available on their official channel😞... I still prefer their "Puzzle" performance at Studio Coast 2017❤... Not a single reference to Kanami's beautiful backing vocals and how they compare to Miku's geeat backing vocals😔... EXCELLENT FORMAT, I would like to see more reactions of this type.😉

[@JimCarmer]

You should actually listen to the 2017 live zepp version of puzzle to compare the 2018 live zepp version of the acoustic version of puzzle. JMO

[@bandmaidfanATL]

🕊️🧩🧩

[@daaaaaave]

They have some acoustic concerts, but no albums. Their secret for sounding so good live is that they're a live band first and foremost and just also happen to record albums and stuff. They get a good session and put it on the album, but they keep improving the more they perform each song, so the album is basically never the best version. Like, it's kind of wild to think that the official live version of Puzzle that you watched was from an "off" night for Saiki, but it was.

[@bandmaidfanATL]

They actually do of the 2021 XMas, but it was only distributed to fan club members.

[@daaaaaave]

@@bandmaidfanATLThat’s a recording of a concert that they put on a CD, though, rather than an actual album.

[@bandmaidfanATL]

@@daaaaaave true

[@Studio-Coast_Kid]

This is the way Puzzle Reactions should be! Shame though you didn't get the version that had the entire Anemone Music Box opening as it really sets the tone for the song Puzzle Electric is angry, Puzzle Acoustic is sad A little late to this party but just in case a million Maidiac's haven't already said in the comments section; Yes they have an Acoustic Live Set that was presented as a Christmas (non-chrismas songs) gift to the fans. You can easily find clips of all over the Internet and KZbin. As well as the White Room Sessions that are an educational instrumental collection that they filmed so musicians could see and more easily learn to play their music. 10 Servings under my belt and I can definitively say Yes! They are That Good Live!

[@ericifune5543]

They did an entire acoustic concert this past March. It was streamed for a month.

[@Studio-Coast_Kid]

@@ericifune5543 Absolutely right, I just didn't mention it because I don't know off any official clips of that are floating around the Internet unless they were ripped off of the Zaiko site.

[@reese1203]

👍👍👍👍👍

[@polskabob359]

Breathe saiki Breathe, now u know y she takes a break during a 2hr show

[@Greg-om2hb]

Do comparos of the Rocking original and stripped down acoustic versions of CATHARSIS and SAYONAKIDORI (a KOBATO song). Both are from the 2021 Christmas acoustic okyuji, and were released officially on their channel, rightly so, as those were the two numbers most successfully transformed into something else altogether. Here’s a live performance of SAYNAKIDORI from San Francisco, in 2022 - kzbin.info/www/bejne/oWKmdXyugtqmZtksi=Ymliu9xYNYcwev0h