2006.12.19 Live

Title: -Calmando Qual Sponsored Event Neo+Bible Vol.6-
Venue: Takadanobaba AREA
Bands: Calmando Qual,The Candy Spooky Theater,Sugar,emmuree,ZERO MHz,Shinkai
Open: 17:00
Start: 17:30
Price: 2,500 yen in advance or 3,000 yen on the day



Report by Orkus Magazine
Translation by:Khaoskinema304

"Neo Bible" is an event, sponsored by the band Calmando Qual, for groups who lie somewhere between gothic and Visual Kei. On the guestlist for the sixth outing were – not for the first time – also The Candy Spooky Theater.

While the four opening acts did without decorations or, with the exception of the always dramatically-styled kids from Sugar, costumes, The Candy Spooky Theater used opulent visuals to celebrate their appearance. The curtain opened to the sounds of Tchaikovsky's Swan Lake, giving a clear view of a scene between children's playrooms and a horror film: A pink mobile hung ["swung?" The article uses "baumelte" unless I'm reading it wrong...] from the ceiling, on the amps red candles and skulls [I think the article uses "Kürbisköpfe," I'm not sure what that translates as] flickered, and each centimeter of space was affectionately decorated with knick knacks [there's an adjective describing said knick knacks that I don't know the translation for]. In the center of the stage was a cage, in which singer jack Spooky lay lifeless on an electric chair; to the left stood Peggy, his double bass in the aiming position [I think the article is using a military term here. As I'm not in the military, I can't explain what I mean with the proper terminology even in English. Basically it's when you get your gun or rifle ready to fire. They're comparing Peggy's bass to a weapon.]; and to the right stood Zull, standing atop an old-fashioned high chair.

As the last notes of Swan Lake resounded, jack began to move, and delivered an MC about his forthcoming execution. [So, it seems like this is basically how TCST has been opening their recent lives.] He hardly finished speaking when his electric chair exploded in a true rain of sparks. Now, the fun could begin! Peggy and Zull played "Merry Go Round," and jack escaped his chains and seized his way to the microphone, whereby he twitched like a puppet over the stage.

The rest of the deathrock-inspired show was just as vulgar [literally "scurrile"] and macabre. jack's outfit consisted of black latex shorts, a corset, and an upper section with very long sleeves – with which he now whipped Peggy and Zull. Peggy wore a Lolita dress made from red latex, hopped like an ill-bred Gor, while jack and Zull raised his puffed skirt, and him, with a pitch fork. Between them they made the mandatory request to the public to attend the next gigs, but the turnout for The Candy Spooky Theater was different than expected, so the announcement was made not by the musicians, but seemingly from a dummy right out of a '50s-style B-movie. [Tsutomu]

Some hundred people filled the hall even at that early hour, and the unfortunate date (Tuesday) was filled. Compared with other visual events, the spectators were generally rather reserved and applauded between songs instead of – as happens usually – lifting their arms to greet the artists. There was also that feature which distinguishes this from other visual performances: The occasional, choreographed [I'm not sure how to translate the adjective the article uses] "para para" or "furi" hand motions in time with the music. Instead, one takes themselves seriously.

Although they played a very short set of only five songs altogether, this is completely normal for events like Neo Bible; with "Murder Toy in the Closet," they left a likewise inspired public, which immediately left to stock up on CDs and merchandise in the entrance hall.

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