Musician's first time reaction to WAGAKKI BAND Homura (live)

This Wagakki Band Live reaction is genuinely my first time ever seeing or hearing this band at all, in addition to it being the first time hearing this particular performance. Wagakki Band seem to put together a really cool balance of traditional and modern instruments for their sound. Badass.
0:00 Intro
0:30 Start of song
7:45 Summary
When I do my reaction videos I don't press pause because I don't want to interrupt the natural flow of the music as it was originally intended by the artist. I try to vocalise my thoughts in real time as I listen to the song, and then summarise my reaction afterwards.
You can checkout the artist's original video without my commentary here: • Wagakki Band - 焔 (Homu...
Please do recommend songs or other artists for me to checkout in future by commenting on this video! I'm constantly on the lookout for great new music and things I've never heard before.
A Spotify playlist of songs I've reacted to and consider to be absolute bangers can be found here: open.spotify.com/playlist/26j...

[@ahodori2233]

Japanese musical instruments are difficult to play with Western musical instruments due to the difference in scale. To that end, their instruments have been modified, such as by increasing the number of strings. Each of them is a dream team consisting of members who are qualified as masters and are active on the front lines.

[@scouser052]

The mask is a Noh mask, used in Noh theater since the 14th century, there are many different styles and it is usually made with a neutral expression that can be changed by tilting the head up or down creating a slight smile to express happiness or a slight frown to show sadness or crying, the vocal style is based on Shigin, an ancient form of poetry recital, the vibrato is created by manipulating the vocal chords, singer Yuko is also a classically trained pianist and does shows with Orchestras.

[@SteveOGRock]

Thanks for this David! Appreciate the knowledge.

[@tvo2563]

The reaction to Beni's first appearance on shamisen never gets old. I'm surprised that so many reactions by musicians never ever comment on the 29 fret Sago baritone guitar that Machiya plays [or indeed a similar 7 stringer] How many lead guitarists do you know of that use such a set up? Oh and Yuko is way better than 'good' . She's exceptional. :)

[@ProsperoFinch]

Yuko Suzuhara - Singer, traditional “shigen” style Machiya - Guitar Beni Ninagawa - Tsugasu Shamisen (banjo-like instrument) Kiyoshi Ibukuro - Koto (large tabletop lute) Asa - Bass Daisuke Kaminaga - Shakuhachi (wooden flute) Wasabi - Drums Kurona - Wadaiko (traditional drums/percussion) The concept of the band was singer Yuko Suzuhara’s idea, and she put the band together. Each of the traditional instrumentalists is independently known as a master of their craft and has their own solo career. Machiya is the main composer and arranger. Also, the mask Machiya wears is from traditional Noh theater, which uses stark lighting and different head positioning to create different expressions and moods from just one mask (it can look happy or sad or angry or scared, etc, depending on the angle). But Machiya also prowls the stage and strikes poses associated with traditional Kabuki theater (more animated compared to Noh) Also, an easy mistake to make given costuming and appearances, but there are only two women in the group, Yuko and Beni. Asa (bass) and Kiyoshi (koto) frequently get misgendered

[@SteveOGRock]

Great knowledge, thanks for sharing!

[@xahal]

Typo: Tsugaru, not Tsugasu.

[@DrAcula-os1nz]

Machiya plays a Sago guitar, it's a 33 "scale baritone with 29 frets tuned BEADF # B, capo at the 5th fret it becomes a 25.5" scale guitar in standard E tuning. He uses baritone to not drown out the traditional instruments. Machiya said in an interview that the first two years were trial and error before they found the recipe. Can recommend "Ignite" and "kagerou", or you can choose almost any song and it will not go wrong

[@Zahriel]

Just a quick note: The "double kick bass drum" sound during the first part of Homura is not done by Wasabi (the "regular" drummer), but it is done by Kurona, the Taiko drummer.

[@muxoc]

This dude is crazy! He immediately notices all the nuances of the composition, which I noticed only after a dozen listens! What a fucking guy! My regards!

[@craigbillow]

This was really cool. I love the blend of modern and traditional instrumentation. The harmonies are very cool. I'm kind of a sucker for genre-fusion and this certainly scratched that itch for me. I'll be checking out more of this. Great video as always 🤘

[@SimonLab]

I ve read that they are all top of the field pro musicians that teamed up under the lead of the singer that is indeed trained to traditional japanese voice singing and also something like Geisha training i think. That, is like military grade training. thats why she has a strange way of singing and also does a lot of traditional dancing hand gestures etc . she is insane. The band wants to raise awareness about traditional japanese instruments that are almost extinct art at this age.

[@Kagdar]

Wagakki Band has amazing music, i don't listen to them often enough. Band Maid did a mash up of traditionnal music with rock too in their Band Maiko album. Most songs from that album are cover of their old songs with the traditionnal twist to it. But there is 1 song "Gion Cho" that is original and is currently my favorite Band Maid song. With Wagakki Band and Band Maid would colab that would be awesome!

[@somebuddy.]

Love this band! Hope you can react more of them XD

[@tonygriffin_]

Band-Maid, Babymetal, Wagakki Band, Ningen Isu, Lovebites, Atarashi Gakko...are just a few bands from the list of excellent and highly original Japanese bands. BTW, 'Wagakki' means 'traditional instrument'.

[@joeparker9516]

I heartily concur! The only one of these I have not seen/heard is; Ningen Isu. But considering this list, they must be great!

[@tonygriffin_]

@@joeparker9516 They are! Treat yourself to this great song and MV, 'Heartless Scat': kzbin.info/www/bejne/eZOsaGybas6NgdU

[@joeparker9516]

@@tonygriffin_ Watched it. DAMN! The singer looks like he's almost my age (63)... lol. But then, OLD GUYS CAN SHRED AND ROCK! Thrash on!

[@tonygriffin_]

@@joeparker9516I'm 60 and think the lead is in his 60's too. All my guitar heroes were older than me - Zappa, Page, Gilmour, Santana, Young - until I discovered Babymetal, Band-Maid and Lovebites, when all my guitar heroines became younger than me!

[@jmetallover]

Love the mixing of traditional and modern. The Hu (Mongolian with throat singing) has a more Rock/Metal edge even with the blending of their string instruments. Here the Japanese instruments seem to soften the sounds so it varies as I would expect especially with the nasal poetry style vocalist who is amazing by those "Eastern" standards. A great entertaining band and one they say has displaced BabyMetal even in Japan as the band you must go see. Their shows are really spectacles (may not be as insane as Rammstein but then who is) and the mixture does insure there is something for just about every taste while the blending by gifted musicians is awesome.

[@svenkreuzberg2274]

If you wanna see what this band really can do check out Wagakki Band "Hakushu Kassai" live from Dai Shinnenkai 2018 in Yokohama, Japan

[@renefrijhoff2484]

Though the title says Homura, they are actually 2 songs: the 1st one is instrumental: Homura and the 2nd one is Akatsuki no ito. There is also an OMV of the 2nd song with some impressive CGI.

[@higeki_khin]

I LITERALLY LOVEEEE WAGAKKI BAND

[@shaunyweaver1144]

Mesmerizing .....

[@crocomoose]

Glad you enjoyed it! They've got a ton of awesome other songs I'd suggest checking out, including a wild few songs they did with Amy Lee of Evanescence. They did a cover of Bring Me To Life, as well as an original song they apparently wrote together called Sakura Rising. She also once came out to join them for their song, Senbonzakura. That's how I first heard of them, and it was really cool to see how even the different vocal styles meshed

[@SteveOGRock]

Sounds intriguing!

[@crocomoose]

They tend to do some pretty interesting things with each song they do, which I really appreciate

[@bartonbagnes4605]

I personally like their cover of "Bring Me To Life" with Amy Lee better than the original.

[@outwest1014]

They are highly popular in Japan and have toured the US plus Europe. Yuko (singer) is the catalyst for forming the band. The purpose of the band is to generate interest in the traditional instruments of Japan with the Japanese young people. All are masters of the their instruments and are teachers for their instruments. Beni is playing a Shamisen, she will have up to 4 of them for a concert with a support tech to tune them as she switches them for songs.

[@RobinC63]

Clarinet??????? Hahahaha! Sorry, I just had to laugh, I realize a lot people aren’t as versed in traditional Japanese, and other cultures, as I am. I’m not sure if others in the comment section have named them for you. The “clarinet” is a Shakuhachi, more closely related to the flute. The 1st woman you saw is playing a Shamisen. The guy with the “claws” is playing the Koto. The other percussionist is playing Wadaiko drums of which the more commonly known ones are Taiko.

[@user-jyanome-daisuki]

Foreigners seem to like this live performance. This is from the last day of the national live in 2015. This band is now more evolved, so check it out on KZbin.

[@valloriaamherst7607]

My personal favorite live stage performace is "Hakashu Kassai" kzbin.info/www/bejne/a6Stn6mbd9uigtk Lots of mini solos from all the instruments. I'd also suggest their cover of "Bring Me To Life" by Evanescence that features Amy Lee on vocals with Yuko from Waggaki Band.

[@bartonbagnes4605]

Not a single note sounded out of place. As others have said, I highly recommend their cover of "Bring Me To Life" with Amy Lee, to me it sounds better than the original.

[@billb.5183]

Waggaki Band: Talent Level: JAUNTY. =)

[@fieora]

They use this song in the middle of the set to change clothes and rest half the band at a time

[@wtvrcms2mnd876]

Yea thats some dope ass c l a r i n e t

[@teyvang3953]

Should check out Utada Hikaru's Devil Inside, Kremlis Dusk & You Make Me Want to Be a Man performances at her Utada United concert... those songs are originally pop/rock songs on the EXODUS album, but at the concert, she rearranged them to be more rock... he and her talented band killed it...

[@walidfilan2998]

Rain Forest instrumental music by Concerto Moon

[@zannebrazeau]

the traditional instruments be the shamisen the koto the koma flute the band kagrra used to use the koto and the koma flute in their music sadly their lead singer isshi passed away jul 18th 2011 at the age of 32

[@alanfoster6589]

I played a little taiko (the big drums). Will wear you out quickly ;).

[@a_un]

The following two songs are recommended by me. (1) Sakura Rising (2) Rokuchonen to ichiya monogatari Reason for recommendation in (1) This is one of the songs that Wagakki band co-starred with Amy Lee. Most of Wagakkiband's songs deal with "abstract themes" such as "fun," "dream," "fantasy," and "lyricism." But the song sings a message of hope to people and healthcare professionals all over the world who are suffering from a pandemic. In other words, it is a special song for Wagakki band with the theme of "concrete real problems". Reason for recommendation in (2) Vocal YUKO has a unique and special singing ability. She uses her special abilities to show off Japanese magic (similar to Lap). This song is worth listening to once. from Japan * This is a sentence written using translation software. Please laugh if it is a strange translation.

[@SteveOGRock]

It’s a good translation! Thank you for taking the time, and for the recommendations themselves. Much appreciated!

[@KalleZz_]

You're not the first one to get tricked by this, there is actually only 2 females in this band. The singer and the shamisen player.

[@cepho8349]

This band is really good. There are lots of nice songs to explore. I don't know if you are willing to give them another listen, but Lovebites's A Frozen Serenade is different from the previous two songs you've heard from them and I think you would really enjoy it. The studio version is awesome, but there is a great live rendition as well. It's quite the spectacle both sonically and visually. Here's a link to the live version in case you are interested. kzbin.info/www/bejne/Y4OUqH1pjd6apck

[@AdrianLeeMagill]

The flute is, as I understand it, called the "wagakki" flute, ergo "Wagakki Band".

[@jimtakahashi4638]

Nope, WGB is a fusion (not rock) band.

[@bigfrankfraser1391]

only females in the band are the singer and beni the shamisan player, rest are dudes, including the one you said had additional "claws"

[@menatol]

Terrible reaction to an amazing performance give up

[@dannyivanpoma9289]

where does so much idiocy come from, that as a reaction to a video, they start making idiotic gestures, to gain likes!!, due to lack of talent to create content they start doing stupid things, so that they look at them

[@zannebrazeau]

the traditional instruments be the shamisen the koto the koma flute the band kagrra used to use the koto and the koma flute in their music sadly their lead singer isshi passed away jul 18th 2011 at the age of 32