Originally published on metropolis.co.jp on June 2010
Quattro is packed to the brim as we wait for piano-rock group Weaver to take the stage. This is the trio’s first one-man show since leaving their native Kobe for the capital, but advance word has clearly spread as tickets long ago sold out. A pause in the music about five minutes before show time starts the fans cheering in anticipation, though it proves to be a false alarm. By the time the band actually does appear, the giddiness is tangible.
Taking advantage of the crowd’s excitement, Weaver immediately launches into fan favorite “Toki Doki Sekai,” a high-energy pop piece that gives vocalist Yuji Sugimoto free reign on the piano. Weaver are at their best on songs like this, concerned with nothing more than having a good time and taking the audience along for the ride. Tonight’s performance also benefits from Quattro’s acoustics, which help keep the instruments from drowning out Sugimoto’s vocals (a problem at certain past shows we’ve seen).
Weaver tones things down for their third song, an intimate rendition of the ballad “Wraith.” A piece like this can be challenging in a live setting; we’re reminded of Weaver’s relative inexperience when Sugimoto goes slightly astray during the song’s slow, stripped-down intro. But he regains his bearings quickly enough and the audience doesn’t seem to mind. One of Weaver’s greatest strengths has always been their ability to draw in a crowd—shoegazers they are not. They constantly engage with the fans, with bassist Shota Okuno in charge of getting the audience clapping along to songs like “2 Jigen Ginga.” Thanks to Weaver’s unusual setup, even drummer Toru Kawabe—possessor of one of the largest smiles we’ve ever encountered—is easily visible from his downstage vantage point.
The rest of Weaver’s set covers a mix of songs from their recent mini-album, Tapestry, and single, How to Say I Love You~Iidasenakute, as well as older pieces like “Kokoro no Naka Made” and “Kanseito,” from their indie days. The live rendition of “Hakuchomu,” interrupted by a full 10 seconds of breathless pause just before the bridge, is one of the definite highlights of the second half.
The concert ends with an encore performance of the title track off Weaver’s latest single, also the theme song to Fuji TV’s primetime drama Sunao ni Narenakute. The number of first-timers in the audience is largely due to the heavy rotation this track has been getting since the program’s April debut.
Song finished, the band members come forward one last time to express their thanks and touch hands with a few lucky audience members before heading offstage. While tonight’s show came off a bit uneven in places, Weaver makes up for any shortcomings with an ability to recognize their strengths and use them to full advantage. With a few more months’ experience to solidify their performance skills, Weaver is poised to become one fantastic live band.
