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Audio tweaked.
Fourth show of this 50th anniversary tour at the 19,800 (concert) seat Scotiabank Arena in Toronto, Canada. Bassist Mike Levine was not at this show as well (it was announced prior to start of ticket sales that he would be at select shows; he's been recovering from whatever health issues that he has had). Additionally, from various interviews the band members have done over the past several months, these productions are meant to scale (a few of the larger arena sized shows are supposed to have a larger production). The added members was also a known; it's an acknowledgement they needed assistance to cover parts which they can no longer do by themselves (having also been out of any sort of long term touring with this level of production since 1988).
Guitarist Rik Emmett also was very transparent in various interviews from the time of the announcement that he'd be letting guitarist Phil X take the lead (guitars and vocals). Even since Emmett's last solo shows (well over 7 years ago), his vocal range has definitely gotten lower (he therefore sang a lot of those songs in a lower key). One of the other reasons he retired was the arthritis he's been experiencing in his hands (you wouldn't know it from these first shows). As he also mentioned in those interviews, he's long wanted to see drummer Gil Moore out front singing lead for those songs he sang lead on (now that they have a second drummer to also fill in for parts that Moore can no longer do, that allows him to do that). And Moore did a few (with a little bit of awkwardness to it).
Some of the rough edges from the U.S. shows were ironed out (they didn't have their usual techs and sound person for those two shows). For those expecting that old 3/4 piece Triumph with Emmett belting out those high notes, this is not what these shows are about. It really is about overcoming the past split, the unlikelihood that they would even go back out on tour again (after the two shows in 2008), and then finding a new formula that would work which would allow them to perform some of these songs live again.
For those of us who have long been fans of this band, just seeing them playing together in some capacity is a fitting way to put a bookend to their career. The music they created has most definitely endured where seeing these initial shows (imperfect as it may be) and seeing Rik and Gil having fun, was really the highlight. And the other three guys; they could definitely carry on the Triumph legacy if Gil, Mike, and Rik give their blessing. I know for purists, it's not the same without the original members (like there are many who see this as a glorified cover band and that maybe it shouldn't have happened). Myself, I see this as them at least trying to give their dedicated fans that one bookending tour.
(credits: FTCS.T)
Fernandes FST-60 (rhythm), Jackson Solist (lead)
Guest lipsync (but not synced exactly on purpose) + "dance" appearance by Shii (video clips recorded when playing this song)
Tweaked audio
Lyrics:
Something's at the edge of your mind
You don't know what it is
Something you were hoping to find
But you're not sure what it is
Then you hear the music
And it all comes crystal clear
The music does the talking
Says the things you want to hear
I'm young, I'm wild and I'm free
Got the magic power of the music in me
I'm young, I'm wild and I'm free
Got the magic power of the music in me
She climbs into bed
She pulls the covers overhead
And she turns her little radio on
She's had a rotten day
So she hopes the DJ's
Gonna play her favorite song
Makes her feel much better
Brings her closer to her dreams
A little magic power
Makes it better that it seems
She's young now, she's wild now, she wants to be free
She gets the magic power of the music from me
She's young now, she's wild now, she wants to be free
She gets the magic power of the music from me
You're thinking it over
But you just can't sort it out
Do you want someone to tell you
What they think it's all about
Are you the one and only
Who's sad and lonely
You're reaching for the top
Well, the music keeps you going
And it's never gonna stop
It's never gonna stop
It's never gonna, never gonna, never gonna, never gonna stop
The world is full of compromise
And infinite red tape
But the music's got the magic
It's your one chance for escape
Turn me on, turn me up
It's your turn to dream
A little magic power
Makes it better than it seems
I'm young now, I'm wild now, I want to be free
Got the magic power of the music in me
I'm young now, I'm wild and I'm free
Got the magic power of the music
I got the music in me
ZARD was one of my favorite JPOP artists in the 90's. While it was originally an actual group, vocalist Izumi Sakai was the only consistent member (and thus ZARD and Izumi Sakai became synonymous). Concerts (with guest performers from the same studio ZARD/Sakai Izumi has been contracted with) have been held to honor her memory while also keeping these widely known songs alive for many.
The ~What a Beautiful Moment 2004 Tour~ was ZARD's actual first large-scale concert tour encompassing 11 dates. The only prior live concert was on August 31, 1999 aboard the (now defunct as of 2023) Pacific Venus cruise ship where tickets were available via lottery to 600 attendees (I tried but wasn't one of the lucky ones).
I fortunately got tickets for the tour final Nippon Budokan show in July 2004. At the time, little did we know that Izumi Sakai (real name Sachiko Kamachi) had been suffering various health issues (related to her uterus) from between 2001-2003, and thus was not really at her peak even during this tour (but she took things like forgetting the lyrics or struggling to hit certain notes, all in stride). That final concert will forever remain a precious memory for me, a truly beautiful moment in time (this was Yureru Omoi from the Tokyo International Forum concert).
Unfortunately, in 2006, she was diagnosed with cervical cancer, promptly underwent treatment, and was initially thought to be clear. However, the cancer was found to have spread to her lungs where she was admitted to Keio University Hospital in April 2007 to undergo chemotherapy. Sakai unfortunately passed away on May 27, 2007, after taking a fall the day prior on a wet/slippery emergency exit slope at the hospital. The location was a place she would often walk around to meditate/relax during her treatment and rehabilitation. She was only 40, but her music has transcended time and still remains impactful even to this day.
These anniversary concerts over the years have gotten better in terms of the videos used (some of them have been enhanced OA performances, clips from old PV releases, and previously unreleased footage that has been found over the years).
G-Life DSG Life-Ash Bora Bora Ocean Blue + Midnight Blue Moon
G-Life DSG Premium + PRS SE Standard 24
LUNATIC FEST 2025 Writeup (in progress)
LUNA SEA's drummer Shinya (Yamada) made a "surprise" appearance at LUNATIC FEST 2025 after deciding to sit out from performing due to the discovery of a brain tumor several months ago. He decided to turn over the drumming duties to a long trusted friend; his former student and drum technician, Jun-ji (Sakuma) who was the drummer for SIAM SHADE (and has been support drummer for many different acts).
Doctors originally informed him that he might require the use of crutches for 3 months while undergoing chemotherapy (which began in September 2025), but he has been able to stand and walk unassisted after just the first month (back in early September, he still attended a festival in his hometown albeit in a wheelchair, and required assistance to stand for a short time to perform the opening ceremony/make a short speech). Part of me believes this rapid recovery is due to the inherent stamina required to even play the drums the way he does.
He made this appearance on day 1 of the festival (walking on stage, giving a short speech of thanks/gratitude, and announcing the bands Xmas concert where he hopes to be able to play the drums at least in a limited capacity), and did the same on day 2 (though it didn't have the same surprising/emotional effect). It was incredibly inspirational to have been able to experience this moment in person.
NOTE: excuse the raw audio vocal quality; it's basically minimally processed soundboard where you can hear how rough the vocals are (can still hear how Ryuichi's singing voice still hasn't recovered after past vocal chord surgeries). Will be interesting to hear the broadcast version in December and the future Bluray DVD release once the audio goes through its usual post-production processing.
This performance was for Triumph’s induction into the Canadian Songwriters Hall of Fame at the 2025 LEGENDS, held at the Meridian Arts Centre in Toronto Canada on October 17, 2025. Rik Emmett is Triumph's original guitarist and Phil X took his place in 1992 (after Emmett left in 1988). Triumph's recently announced 2026 reunion will have Phil X joining as a supporting musician.
This performance sort of highlights how both will compliment each other during that tour; Rik has definitely lost that high end vocal range for this song but Phil is able to cover a good part of it in his own way. Emmett's guitar was also definitely lower for the solo in this live mix, but his guitar playing still sounds true to form even after being in retirement for several years now along with the arthritis in his hands (not bad for someone who is 72 years old and beat his 2024 announced prostate cancer). Watching this gave me goosebumps for sure.
Live opening 2024 & 2023; ONE OK ROCK began doing these opening intros into songs transition starting around 2015 or 2016 tours. 2024 is from their Premonition tour (a really heavy jam that can get the adrenalin rushing) at Ajinomoto Stadium where I transitioned it to the more pop rock jam session they did for 2023's Luxury Disease tour at Tokyo Dome, leading into the guitar cover portion.
![(2024.12.14 The Republik, Honolulu, HI) 羊文学 [Hitsujibungaku] - First Live Concert in the U.S.](https://img.youtube.com/vi/9qa3HlsFwiU/maxresdefault.jpg)
Best Japanese Alternative Artist for the 2025 Music Award Japan (held May 2025 in Kyoto)
Setlist:
• Opening: Yokan (予感); instrumental
• Girls
• countdown
• Party wa sugusoko (パーティーはすぐそこ)
• Sabaku no Kimi e (砂漠のきみへ)
• Hikaru Toki (光るとき)
• Aimai de iiyo (あいまいでいいよ)
• Eien no Blue (永遠のブルー)
• tears
• honestly
• MAYOIGA (マヨイガ)
• Burning
• OOPARTS
• more than words
• GO!!!
• 1999
• Addiction- ENCORE -
• Jingle Bells
• FOOL