WAGAKKI BAND - HOMURA / AKATSUKI NO ITO (Live) (Japanese Rock/Traditional) FIRST-TIME REACTION

Brought to you by MyIndie Productions, BABBLE ON is an entertainment show bringing you sometimes Film and often Music related content (reactions, reviews, discussions). Co-hosted by indie filmmakers, Asaf Angel and Itai Guberman.
This episode is a Music Video Reaction for Japanese Rock/Wagakki/Traditional Fusion band Wagakki Band's awesome LIVE performance of HOMURA / AKATSUKI NO ITO!
Check out the Live Video on the @frank.garcia KZbin Channel, HERE: • Wagakki Band - 焔 (Homu...
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BABBLE ON is
Created by Itai Guberman and Asaf Angel
Music by Neffex - This is Not a Christmas Song

[@PaleHorseShabuShabu]

The short version of their origin story is that they wanted to revive/keep alive various Japanese traditions while making them accessible to the modern Japanese mindset. They started off with a few members and gradually added superb musicians until they became the eight piece unit they are now. Yuko Suzuhana is my favorite singer from Japan.

[@mikeat2637]

Have you looked at any of the videos from Hanafugetsu ? It was a small mini group that preceded WGB with Yuko on piano and vocals, Kiyoshi on Koto and Daisuke on Shakuhachi. They were all associated with each other at university. And I agree, Yuko is an amazing vocalist. To me, she has no peer anywhere. She could sing anything. With her mastery of Shigin added to her excellence on the piano and her brilliance in traditional Japanese dance makes her one of the finest and most versatile performers on the planet.

[@PaleHorseShabuShabu]

@@mikeat2637 I have seen some stuff from Hanafugetsu, mainly from Yuko's channel, I believe.

[@tonygriffin_]

The stunning Beni shredding on the shamisen is very impressive, as is the flautist playing that shakuhachi flute - which infamously demands a lot of practice just to get a note out of it, let alone play it like he did here. Wagakki basically means traditional instruments. The MV and live sets of their song Senbonzakura (10,000 cherry blossoms) are very impressive too.

[@mikeat2637]

I watched a recent video on Beni's channel where she described how painful it can be for her right wrist when she has to shred the Shamisen. She said Homura caused her the most pain. I can understand it when I look at the position of her right hand and what she must do with it. She truly is a goddess.

[@myindieprodentertainment]

They are a fascinating band, indeed. Thank you for taking the time to view and engage. Much appreciated! 🙏

[@spaolozzi53]

First a correction, the bass player is male. Now the informative part, Yes Wagakki is a generic term referring to Japanese instruments. The individual instruments are Tsugaru Shamisen (the 'banjo'), Wadaiko (traditional drums), Koto (flat harp), and Shakuhachi (the 'recorder'). Yuko, the singer is a trained Shigin performer, the short piece immediately after the gong was a Shigin poem. All 8 members have impressive credentials and 3 are teachers in their craft. The guitarist, backing vocalist, Machiya, is also their sound engineer and was one of the most sought after session guitarists as well as having his own projects. Asa, the bass player also has his own projects and was a vocaloid producer.

[@brendaclark8344]

The bass player is a female, have you looked at a picture of Asa.

[@spaolozzi53]

@@brendaclark8344 He's a very pretty man who cross-dresses in his own band and did so in early Wagakki Band appearances, but he's definitely a man, listen to him speak. kzbin.info/www/bejne/fHzJaouffbuKfc0

[@felixdom9693]

@@brendaclark8344 dude he's a man, he just cross dressing the only women in this band is the two the singer and the banjo player and the rest are men

[@aethernity8270]

​@@brendaclark8344😂dude he is actually guy just like to crossdress he even have a KZbin channel

[@RobinC63]

@@brendaclark8344 there are many subcultures in Japan and one of them is men adopting a genderless look. There are some bands where all of the musicians look that way.

[@ralphboyer2538]

Hi Guys! I'm glad you've finally gotten to experience the Wagakki Band. This is another of my favorite bands. I've never seen any band blend the ancient and the modern so seamlessly. Of course, it doesn't hurt when all of the traditional instrument musicians are considered to be "masters." From what I understand this band is extremely popular in Japan and they sell out massive venues almost immediately. I hope you'll continue reacting to the Wagakki band. They have some real gems and always make me smile. Stay safe my friends!

[@myindieprodentertainment]

Thank you, Ralph! Yes, we have covered them numerous times since this episode (still trying to catch-up on responding to comments). They are absolutely fantastic. A very impressive band. Thank you for taking the time to view and engage. Much appreciated! 🙏

[@DaveJonesVideo]

Wagakki isn't a specific instrument. It is the name of the whole class of instruments used in traditional Japanese folk music.

[@exDemonius]

Hello Asaf and Itai! As always, your reactions are very cool! The Wagakki Band is the first Japanese band that I really fell in love with. All members are very talented musicians. They try to convey the love for traditional Japanese instruments to modern listeners. There are eight members in the group. They combine three modern rock instruments with four traditional instruments. And all this is seasoned with the beautiful singing of Yuko. Yuko's singing style is called shigin. I suggest you watch their live performance "Senbonzakura". I think this is their most popular song. But try not to make reactions to their official music videos. Very often copyright holders ban such videos. Thank you for the reaction. Wagakki Band is a great band! You should listen to them more!

[@myindieprodentertainment]

Thank you for the information, @exDemonius! Also thank you for taking the time to view and engage, as always. Much appreciated! 🙏

[@powbobs]

Amazing band.

[@andreadee1567]

The traditional instruments make their music very special. I liked the drum sounds and the bass.

[@myindieprodentertainment]

Indeed. A great band. Thank you for taking the time to view and engage, Andrea. Much appreciated! 🙏

[@hiawatha.g]

“Wagakki” is Japanese for “traditional instruments” The “lute” thing is a Shamisen. The “harp” thing is a Koto. The “flute thing” is a shakuhachi. The Japanese drums are collectively called “wadaiko”. The band was founded by the shigin (classical poetry) singer, SUZUHANA Yuko, who is also a classically trained pianist. She developed the concept of fusing Japanese traditional instruments and musical tropes with modern music. Yes, you’ve heard these instruments a million times, in movie soundtracks, when they want to convey a Japanese atmosphere. Here is a video that really lets you see up close all the instruments and how they work together: kzbin.info/www/bejne/h2PQloqhjNaWY6s It was originally written for a “Vocaloid” which is an electronic virtual singer-essentially an AI. In Japan (where else?) vocaloids have actually become pop stars. What can I say? America may be the land of innovation for things like tech and social media, but in music no one here cares any more. Most of the creative action has moved to Europe and Japan.

[@KittyKarenpoo]

The vocalist is an award winning vocalist of traditional Japanese folk songs from ancient times, so this is what the vocals are reaching toward. If you do a relisten of the flute player, he is incredible. I've never heard a flute player on that level before, and he does this with an ancient instrument.

[@momokochama1844]

the drummer looks like he jumped straight out of one of the newer Final Fantasy games 😆

[@aethernity8270]

Lol same 😂

[@alastairmcintyre4752]

Great reaction guys . WB are the BEST " fusion " band in Japan ( but by no means the only one ) 8 superb musicians ( I say 8 because Yuko the vocalist is a very talented pianist & keyboard player ) . BTW Asa ( the bassist ) is a guy - talking of which I'd love to hear your reaction to another of their songs - " Yoshiwara Lament " - you'll seldom see a band ( apart from GS ) have so much fun on stage . Another very talented fusion band is Tokyo Groove Jyoshi and their cover of Tower of Power's " What is Hip " is well worth a listen ( the version with the shamisen not the 2 bass players )

[@DavidMISAMISAMISACook]

Beni Beni Beni!

[@guybrushthreepwood1519]

Shamisen Beni ! ❤‍🔥

[@PaleHorseShabuShabu]

The first time I saw this, I thought Kurona was calling the bass player an asshole.

[@guybrushthreepwood1519]

@@PaleHorseShabuShabu I think the very first time i heard it as "Miss Asa", which also is quite far off the mark ;)

[@Dreikoo]

The meaning of the lyrics are basically hope and gratitude and thankfulness. It's a very positive tune full of enjoying the splendor of nature. It's less a song you hear when a battle is about to happen and more after it has transpired by those left behind, thanking those who died for them.

[@topangan1]

Yo dudes!! Lovely episode...enjoyed being introduced to Japanese rock! Asaf - loving the look! Itai - I still owe you a trans-pacific phone call!

[@myindieprodentertainment]

Thank you, Zach! Much appreciated! BTW, I'm still waiting on that call! 😉

[@figuerio1]

😀😀😀😀😀 Greetings from Argentina

[@outwest1014]

Try DeepL for translations of written material. Asami, Lovebites said in an interview in regard the mix of English and Japanese, the mix is for lyric flow. Also she said as an example, You in Japanese is a 3 syllable word!! First heard the Wagakki Band 4 years ago, never get old.

[@UMA-chan]

和楽器バンドの素敵なreactionありがとう御座います。 海を越えて、虹を渡って君に届きますように。 笑い合って過ごせるように（生を）重ね紡いでいきましょう。 ……このメッセージは、皆さんに向けたメッセージだと思います😊✨

[@hoges412]

Great reaction guys. Have you noticed a pattern with these Japanese bands? It goes beyond talent, the skill level of these musicians is off the charts, along with the flawless live performances. Three of my favourite bands are now Japanese, Lovebites, Band-Maid and Wagakki band, and I'll probably add Babymetal after seeing them in Sydney in 2 weeks time. Someone has already suggested Amy Lee and the Waggaki band performing Bring Me to Life, which is awesome. From the same symphonic night concert, I'd recommend Senbonzakura, with a cameo appearance by Amy. It's on the Evanescence channel, which hopefully won't get blocked. Cheers kzbin.info/www/bejne/n6u8o59_Z9-kd5o

[@ShikataGaNai100]

Beni plays a Tsugaru Shamisen...and shredding on it is extremely painful. Beni finds the song very physically demanding. Yuko is the best Shigin singer in Japan and is also a jazz pianist. The flat lute/zither that Yuko's husband plays is a Koto. The flute is called a shakuhachi. The traditional drums are called Taiko.

[@KANARI-OSSAN]

Recommended song.　→　和楽器バンド / Bring Me To Life with Amy Lee of EVANESCENCE　kzbin.info/www/bejne/npyUeKePgJx1gK8

[@leonmichaels2773]

I was first introduced to Japanese music back in 1974 while on Okinawa as a Marine. You've done some great Wagakki Band music but you really need to listen to this. Guernica: kzbin.info/www/bejne/h5-uhaqrrMppe5o. Cross reference Guernica and you'll find it's the name of a Picasso painting.

[@teshimartinz7690]

there's a video of this where it starts with the drum solos but it seems that it disappeared for some reason and was replaced by this

[@NamiMakimono]

Asa, the bass player, always looks like he’s having so much fun when performing! (^~^) 💕🦋

[@brendaclark8344]

That he is a she (Asa), google her: bass player for Wagakki band and get a picture of her.

[@KebusuNiisan]

The bassist is one hell of a trap. Don't worry, you're not alone who fell for it

[@user-gw9vn9ht5b]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/l4jPfpZjpcd3mZo เพลงนี้ฉันชอบมาก วงwagakkibrand

[@mightydegu]

One of the most talented bands in the world. This was at the beginning of their time as a band and is arguably still their best work. The obvious downside to this is that their recent material doesn't really bring anything new to the table and I'd go so far as to call their most recent album completely skippable. Not bad by any means, but you'll get more from their earlier work.

[@RobinC63]

Rather than calling the Shamisen a “Japanese banjo” we should call the banjo an “American Shamisen” since the Shamisen predates the banjo by a couple of hundred years. However, to be truthful, the banjo was derived from African instruments from the 17th and 18th centuries.

[@aethernity8270]

Yeah true most American instrument are not that old ,people need to aware of Asia long history