Beauty in Chaos: RAY presents DESTROY THE WALL

We’ve covered RAY on here – and for good reason. They’re exactly the type of thing we want to showcase, something many people may not know exists. An idol group in Japan, but one that dances, sings, and moves to shoegaze, industrial, and other alternative rock music. And there’s an artistic legitimacy behind everything they do – they’re backed by some heavyweights, from Azusa Suga (fka. Natsubot of For Tracy Hyde), and their latest record, White, was a collaborative affair with input from gazers and alt-rockers from around the world, including a track with Mark Gardener of Ride. (one day I may dissect the record and its contributors on here…) On February 22nd, the main attraction was RAY performing with two drummers, in what they called a “Groove Set”. One of many different types of shows in RAY’s arsenal.

But another big draw was that the legend herself, Jun Togawa, was the night’s opening performer. For the uninitiated, Togawa is an innovator in Japanese avant-garde music. Her younger years are iconic, and forty years later, tracks like “Suki Suki Daisuki” are still enduring. Within the last 40 years, a lot has happened to Togawa, a fall from fame, and health issues led to a big change in her voice. However, she still holds a spot among the same type of crowd that would gravitate towards a project like RAY, a bit of an Idol for people who don’t usually like Idols. RAY’s Yua Uchiyama also posted her own analysis on Togawa’s discography on her note, as well as how much Togawa’s music means to her.

Note: Photography was not allowed during Togawa’s set

And on February 22nd, Togawa didn’t necessarily turn the clock back. Her voice was noticeably lower, she performed sitting down for a good percentage of the set. But, the energy from both herself and her band was so defiant, so energetic, that the crowd at Shimokitazawa Shangri-La was whipped up into a frenzy almost instantly. I did not expect a mosh to break out, but my god, did it during “Mushi No Onna” (Togawa’s take on Pachelbel’s Canon in D), and was it beautiful. Togawa stood for her last song and that was enough to take an already explosive crowd to the next level. An incredible, defiant, and powerful performance from a true icon.

Connect with Jun Togawa: x

And if anyone expected that energy to burn off for the next band, moreru, they were incredibly mistaken. moreru are a band that defies all classification. From musical genre, to gender, and beyond. They’re a loud, brash, in-your face middle finger to pretty much everything. Their set started with Yukito Iwamoto (Noise, Vocals) doing a bit of pop Karaoke to their song “anone“, wearing a torn, bloodied ski-mask. It felt like a perfect transition from Jun Togawa’s set into the total 180 that happened once the rest of the band joined the stage, led by singer Michiru Yumesaki. Loud, abrasive, and everything Punk should be. As stated earlier, moreru defy classification, while incorporating elements of punk, screamo, metal, and so much more, they don’t ever stay in one place long enough to truly be considered… well, anything. That even goes for Yumesaki, who’d crowd surf, smash their head against a stage wall, a microphone, and even climb the light rigging and hang from it while singing.

All this chaos on and off the stage was amplified by the band, hard hitting drummer Dex, a dual guitar attack from Atsuwo Kojima and Ishiniku (1c2qu), and taga on bass. Just an insane, and intense set that went off in unpredictable directions without any warning. As Jeff said on Twitter, TOKYO TRUE PUNK is not a gimmick for moreru.

For those in Japan, moreru are holding Spiritual Disturbance Vol. 6, at WWW in Shibuya on March 22nd. The lineup is pretty sick, including soccer., BBBBBBB, and iVy (the other project of Fuki from cephalo). Check it out here.

Connect with moreru:
moreru: insta / x / bandcamp / site
Michiru Yumesaki: sound insta / visual insta / x
Dex: insta / x
Atsuwo Kojima: insta / x
Ishiniku (ic2qu): insta / x
taga: insta / x / dj cookie boy (soundcloud)
Yukoto Iwamoto: insta / x

Up last was RAY. For a group of five Idols to close out such an insane evening seemed like a tall task, but they had just the right amount of firepower accompanying them. Drummer Yuta Hoshi of WOZNIAK (and support drummer for iVy) and percussionist Fukimimo from SONOSUKIMAKARA slotted in at the back of the stage behind Yua Uchiyama, Shizuku Kotoyama, Mao Tsukiumi, Mikoto Tsumugi, and newcomer Yuki Harune.

Watching RAY is watching choreographed intensity. At times it’s seamless beauty like watching Kaori Sakamoto or Alysa Liu on ice. Other times, it’s jarring, harsh, and disruptive, like moreru moments earlier. Headbanging, dancing, and at times, zombie-like movements, it all ranges from the hypnotic to the violent motion that comes with an event entitled DESTROY THE WALL.

When they played “See Ya!” the place was completely electric. Fans bouncing with the two percussionists, crowd surfers, light stick in the air. It was a moment of catharsis in that building. They also debuted a new song “MOD”, which references the current theme of RAY. Not like the mods of the 60’s, but about modification and alteration. All building to their big one-man (evening with) show in May. “MOD” was also written by Hoshi, who was on drums this evening.

It was a hot evening, and the members of RAY took a moment to address the audience. Uchiyama talked about seeing Togawa, and also moreru’s singer bashing the mic against their head. It seemed like for a moment Uchiyama was going to give it a shot, but she thought better of it. After the show, there was a cheki session, which is typical for idol groups in Japan, where you can get a polaroid with a member of the group. (In case you’re wondering, Teppen’s choices for this evening were Kotoyama and Tsumugi.) RAY also has a program where first time attenders can get a free cheki with a member of the group!

If you’re in Japan, RAY perform almost constantly, just a couple of days after this show, they were at a small idol showcase, then at their own festival where Mao did her own noise set, and Kotoyama did her own acoustic set. You can check out their schedule here. For anyone on even the shortest trip to Japan, I can’t recommend seeing RAY enough. They’re a group that simply NEEDS to be seen, and they’ll more than likely be playing when you’re there and you get a free cheki!

Connect with RAY:
RAY: insta / x / site
Yua Uchiyama: insta / x / tiktok / note (music reviews)
Shizuku Kotoyama: insta / x / tiktok
Mao Tsukiumi: insta / x
Mikoto Tsumugi: insta / x / tiktok / blog
Yuki Harune: insta / x