高橋直純 Naozumi Takahashi – A\’LIVE 2011 \”MA-X\” at SHIBUYA-AX 2011.12.3 [2012.04.06] [2DVD ISO 14GB]

Singer/seiyuu/actor Naozumi Takahashi\’s 14th live DVD, released on April 6, 2012. Includes complete footage of the \’MA-X\’ tour final held at SHIBUYA-AX on December 3, 2011, as well as the usual sorts of extra features (commentary clips, kiai ire, etc.), plus a few performances from a prior date of the tour included as a hidden bonus.

The setlist this time focuses heavily on upbeat/\’bright\’ tunes or songs with a sense of drive; not for those in a mellow mood (though one of the four slower songs, \”Shizuri Yuki\”, is probably his best vocal from this concert), but good if you\’re looking for something sunny in this cold season.

In terms of performance, this one lands in a bit of an unfortunate position, in that it\’s nothing awful, but just completely overshadowed by both the \’infinity\’ tour which came directly before it and the \’PLUS\’ tour after it. While Naozumi quit smoking a while before the \’infinity\’ tour (and his performance improved as a result), he sadly picked the habit back up between then and this tour, so there\’s a bit of a sense of regression here, as his breath control/pitch accuracy doesn\’t hold up as consistently when he\’s under heavy movement.

Between that and the somewhat uneven setlist (your mileage may vary there, though), this wouldn\’t be my first recommendation for him, but there are some highlights here nonetheless. \”Shippai Shita mon Gachi da yo Jinsei wa\” and \”Ready Steady Go!\” are veritable shots of energy, and the somewhat modernized arrangement of \”Keep on Dancin\’ \” is one of the best reworkings he\’s done, imo. Other highlights underlined below.

A\’LIVE 2011 \”MA-X\” @ SHIBUYA-AX
2011/12/03 (December 3, 2011)

[D1]　~Opening~ (\”Tooku Made ~infinity~\” guitar inst.)
01.) Moon and Xebec ~Miracle birthday~
02.) Tooku Made ~infinity~ (遠くまで ~infinity~)
03.) Hashaida Taiyou (はしゃいだ太陽)
04.) O-tento-sama (おてんとさま)
05.) Keep on Dancin\’ -new arrangement-
06.) Tsuki no Niji -lounge ver.- (月の虹)
07.) butterfly
08.) I Superman (アイスーパーマン)
09.) Shippai Shita mon Gachi da yo Jinsei wa (失敗したモン勝ちだよ人生は)
10.) Ame Yumi (雨弓)
11.) Jabón-dama. (しゃぼん玉。)
12.) Shizuri Yuki (垂り雪)
13.) Tabibito (旅人)
14.) Ready Steady Go!
15.) OK!
16.) Ashita no Kioku (明日の記憶)
17.) SKY DIVE -Niji wo Kasanete- (SKY DIVE -虹をかさねて-)
18.) one on one
19.) Daijoubu (だいじょうぶ)
[D2]　20.) Yume-kibo Ressha (ゆめきぼ列車)
21.) Sandai-me (三代目)
22.) Arigatou! (ありがとう！)

Performers:
——-
Vo. Naozumi Takahashi
Gtr. Show Kojima (from BLU-SWING)
Gtr. and Cho. Hisayuki \”Raphael\” Kondo
Dru. Yasuhiro \”JIMBO-chan\” Kojima
Bass. Yoshiaki Yamazaki
Key./Cho./Manip. Yuichi \”MASA\” Nonaka
Dancers: Kodou Matsuda and Mitsuko Watanabe

[D2]　Other content (特典映像！！見応えあり\”MA-X\”):
– 10-nenkan wo Katari \”MA-X\” (10年間を語り\”MA-X\”)
– Kiai Irete! Nomi \”MA-X\” (気合い入れて！飲み\”MA-X\”)
– Members ga \”MA-X\” wo Katari \”MA-X\” (メンバーが\”MA-X\”を語り\”MA-X\”)