In 2016, Jimmy Page of Led Zeppelin caught a performance of Band-Maid in Tokyo and asked for a photo-op with their drummer, Akane Hirose. Reportedly he told her that she was like a reincarnation of John Bonham. For those who don't know, BAND-MAID played in the Classic Rock Awards 2016 and received the Japan Next Generation prize. After the show Jimmy Page, asked Akane for a photo.
Hey man, your are spot on to give their drummer Akane so much praise! You might be interested to hear that, the legend that is Jimmy Page actually saw Band Maid live and was that impressed by the drumming that he asked to meet Akane after the show, she obviously thought it was a joke at first but you can easily find a picture taken of the two of them together online if you search, so she must be doing something right lol
This song belongs to their last LP edited in january 2021 and called Unseen World. 14 songs in the special version, an absolutelly insane trip through the best rock music writen in a long, very long, time. Believe me, it´s a masterpiece of rock-prog-metal music songwriting with an excellent mix. Probaly this song has the simplest drum performance in the disc, you can imagine the rest. The drummer, Akane Hirose is for me the creativest in active.
The new album is fantastic. Two more for your viewing pleasure. "Warning!" and "Manners". I think you will like both. Thanks for the great reaction and your technical insights.
KANAMI TONO - LEAD GUITAR - plays PRS Custom 24 - Mesa/Boogie Triple Rectifier. - Writes the music (one interview she states that she has a database - 2 years worth?!?!) Miku Kobato - RHYTHM GUITAR - plays Zemaitis C24MF - EVH Amps - Writes the lyrics - Has only been playing guitar for about 7 years. Was the singer but took a back seat voluntarily! Misa - BASS GUITAR plays Black Cloud "Smoker" and Privat Reserve (SG Style) bass - Orange AB200B MKIII Amps Akane Hirose - DRUMS - Plays TAMA drums with Zildjian Cymbals Saiki - VOCALS - Sennheiser microphones and DPA Microphones
I'm a Japanese fan of BAND-MAID. I have seen a lot of reactions, but I am always impressed with your knowledge of music and honest reactions. I am looking forward to the reaction of BAND-MAID in the future.
In my book the best band on the planet right now. Everyone is an standout musician, the chemistry is wild, the music they are creating is CREATIVE and VERSATILE, they have an great presence on- and offstage and they improvise a lot in LIVE shows. There is no band like this and for me personally, they changed my perspective how i look at music, it´s not about the genre, they also do not care about it, it´s just: I LOVE the music or NOT, simple i know, but it´s an new experience for me and it´s the first band i really dived into and was looking for the reasons i LOVE this band so much and there are so many layers to it... Believe that... Greetings from Germany
First band to literally make me drop $$$$ on quality headphones so I can hear all the work going on in the background. There songs are like dense paintings with incredible little details.
Hey man, you know that I will have to comment. Really enjoyed your reaction. As others have said, Akane Hirose is the drummer. Kanami Tono is the lead guitarist and composed the song. A little trivia, this was filmed at the maid café where Miku Kobato worked when she formed the band with the idea of band dressed liked maids playing hard rock. The café is 5 stories and has like 380 maids. This is one of the slower songs off the new Album as I do believe that are 3 or 4 songs at 220 bpm or more. They have two other studio videos out from the album. "Warning" which I think you will thoroughlky enjoy as well. The other is "Manners" which is a hard rocking song with a more pronounced groove to it then "Afterlife". They did release a stand alone Ballad called "About Us" which they wrote to encourage fans because of Covid and to thank the fans. Thanks again! I will be seeing you Monday night!
One thing that I have noticed in Band Maid and with Jinjer, both groups have a fairly small drum kit. But the drummer makes use of all of it, as needed.
Akane Hirose, aka Gorilla, is the drummer. "Unseen World" is their new album and it is basically an Akane's showcase throughout, Po! Kanami Tono (Lead guitar) is the main composer. Miku Kobato (rhythm guitar, 2nd vocals, Flappy Pigeon) is the founder and lyricist, with the help of Saiki, pronounced pysche, (I think I remember you knowing Japanese, a bit). Misa (Bass) is the worshiper of the "Beam God." There you have it, Band Maid. BTW, there is even a better band called Band Maiko. You should check them out, Po!
I love everything each one of them does, but what always blows me away is how Kanami never overdoes it with her solos. They add to the song without taking away the focus from the song itself. They always give and never take.
Great to see you back on BAND-MAID. You were one of the very first people to turn me on to this band earlier this year. The bands catalog from the last few years is insane! Hope you have time to break down the incredible diversity they exhibit in composing their songs ;)
Not sure if you'll read this but I've watched a number of your reactions and I have to say that your reactions are much better than others. I really like how you're able to comment on a band's technique and what exactly they're doing. You're also able to pick out certain elements that people might not hear and highlight them. Solid step up from other channels.
You’re in good company commenting about the great drummer, Akane Hirose, Jimmy Page stated that she was one of the best drummers he’s heard and asked to take a photo with her.
Band-Maid's music is generally dense with fast tempos that can be a bit confusing at first. Yet it's played and integrated so well, we can (sort of) follow along on the first couple of listens and just be amazed with what we're hearing. After our minds settle down, we can run it through a few more times and start to hear individual parts, which are very complex for a rock band, but fascinating and satisfying. With more listens we begin to more fully appreciate just what's going on here - just how good and cleaver these five, unique and prolific rock stars are. Band-Maid is one of those rare bands, like RUSH & YES, for example, that create music one can listen to over and over, rediscovering, and still feel like it's fresh and exciting as the first time. I still get chills hearing B-M's early songs. That, along with the bright, fun and quirky personalities of each Maid, should be a golden formula for stratospheric success. Thanks, DJ, for bringing Band-Maid to your viewers!
If you want a groove rock song, you have to listen to BAND-MAIDs song Manners. I kid you not, it perfectly captures a 70s groove rock. That song was also recently released as part of their new album with this song.
The band is as follows with simplified pronunciation Saiki - lead singer - Sigh-key Kanami - lead guitar - Ka-na-mee Miku - rhythm guitar, backing vocals - Mee- Koo MISA - bass guitar - Meesa Akane - drums - Ah-kah-neh The location for the video is the maid cafe, @Home Cafe, that Miku used to work at. It's where she came up with the idea for starting the band and the "gap". That gap between what you see and what you hear. Nobody expects these maids to absolutely shred when they first see them.
Wasn't there a video recently of the girls visiting the cafe and found it has been turned into an information point for brothels? Miku looked a bit bemused!
If your into anime, check out "Different", the girls were approached to write the song for the opening of "Log Horizon" series 3. However the best MV is "Warning", the music and the video are of the the opening are perfection.
It's probably been mentioned in the comments by someone else, but this music video was shot in the Maid Cafe that Miku (rhythm guitarist, and founder of Band-Maid) used to work at back in 2012-2013 when she had the idea to create Band-Maid. This song is off their latest album Unseen World, which is absolutely amazing. I'd definitely recommend the other two music videos they've released off this album, Warning! and Manners, or pretty much ANY of their other songs. Seriously, you could go to their official RU-vid page and just randomly pick any song and be impressed. Some of my recommendations: Live: BAND-MAID / Choose me (Official Live Video) BAND-MAID / Play (Official Live Video) BAND MAID / REAL EXISTENCE (Official Live Video) BAND-MAID / onset (Official Live Video) (this one is an instrumental) Music Videos: BAND-MAID / Warning! BAND-MAID / Manners BAND-MAID / Dice BAND-MAID / 輪廻 ( RINNE ) BAND-MAID / Blooming
Yeah, dude you were sleeping on Band Maid! This song is off the latest album , Unseen World, which absolutely rocks very hard with an increased level of complexity and virtuosity across the board - instrumentation, composition, arrangement, songwriting, etc. They are raising their game with each release. The most recent 3 song release of Sense, Hibana & Corallium is absolute 🔥🔥🔥. Rock On 🤘🏼
Akane (Ah-Kah-Nay) or The Gorilla. Here are some more Band-Maid songs you might what to check out. Warning (official music video) faster pace song, with a cool music video. Black Hole, there is only an audio version of this song. Akane says she gets to about 220 bpm in this song. Onset (official live video) an instrumental.
So now that everybody has given you their names, let me just say that you'll love Akane's drumming even more when you hear the more subtle things she does during some of their more "straight up" hard rock songs. What I mean is that she rarely just locks in on the beat (whether it's 1 and 3, or 2 and 4) - she'll tend to constantly vary what she's playing, and the result is that she's like another "lead" instrument - even when subtle, it's just one of the MANY things that these ladies do to keep you from getting tired of listening to any of their songs. Their arrangements are like an onion - you just keep peeling off layers - and then they'll make you cry (with joy).
Would love to see you check out one of their newer songs "Warning" as well. You do such a great job of breaking things down, thank you for checking out my favorite band.
[Verse 1] Which path shall I take? I wonder, not yet I wonder, not yet, I'm fed up Just a bad dream? Confused in my dizziness Waste of time, waste of time [Pre-Chorus] The same merry-go-round every three seconds La-la-la, la-la-la How far are we going? Hey, hey, hey Ally? Enemy? Just go fight the fights you want to win Whoa-oh-oh-oh If I can, I'll greet the next world as someone different [Chorus] Love, its embrace, its fervor, or Whatever you want It's not important what you call it All ideals smothered with a joke If this is a drеam, just wake me, won't you? But love's еmbrace, its fervor I can't express myself like that With true and false words, shall I bet my feelings? Shall I? Like this, so vexing, my life Pride, met face to face I wonder, not yet I wonder, not yet, I'm fed up Nothing remains, you know? Waste of time, waste of time [Pre-Chorus] Every five seconds, glances slip past one other La-la-la, la-la-la No matter how far we go, Hey, hey, hey Ally? Enemy? Destroy all my worthless traits Whoa-oh-oh-oh If it's granted, I'll greet the new world as someone different [Chorus] Love, its embrace, its fervor, or Whatever you want It's not important what you call it All ideals smothered with a joke If this is a dream, just wake me, won't you? But love's embrace, its fervor I can't express myself like that With true and false words, shall I bet my feelings? Shall I? Like this, so vexing, my life [Bridge] I don't want to see you, just waiting I don't have to be something special Spring is gone (Spring is gone) Spring is gone (Spring is gone) You know, how about it? Whoa-oh-oh-oh Bring a smile to the coming world [Chorus] Love, its embrace, its fervor, or Whatever you want It's not important what you call it All ideals smothered with a joke (Don't say you love me) If this is a dream, just wake me, won't you? But love's embrace, its fervor I can't express myself like that With true and false words, shall I bet my feelings? Shall I? Like this, so vexing, my life
BAND-MAID makes a concerted effort not to focus on any individual in their videos. They rarely show more than a glimpse of faces, too, instead trying to make the music the focal point.
Excellent reaction. Kanami IMO is one of the most underrated guitar players today. Groove and chaos describes Akane's drumming and herself personally. She is the joker of the group.
Akane (drummer) has really worked super hard for this album upping her bpm by leaps. And you can hear it in every song as her double kick work is incredibly fast/accurate. I believe she is now up to the 220-230 Bpm range compared to her 160-180 range in past releases. For a display of that speed check out "Blackhole". Which is pretty much a feature song for her on the new album.
What amazes me is the fact that a waitress who did not know the first thing about playing a guitar created the musical LEGEND known as Band Maid. God bless you Miku Kobato, the small pigeon who soars like a mighty eagle! Live long and prosper! May the force be with you! Danger Will Robinson , danger! Kuruppo!
Ok guys, after a couple years watching BM, I've got to ask about Miku. She calls herself a "small pigeon" but I wonder if her parents told her that to help her feel better because in everything I've seen she seems to be actually "pigeon-toed". And YES I know her name Kobato means small pigeon, but then again there's her feet.... Just wondering.... BAND-MAID / Warning! (Official Music Video) ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-9yD3IqrLtPk.html BAND-MAID - Moratorium Live www.bilibili.com/video/BV15E411g7wY?from=search&seid=1203100999254571332
Akane really is the queen of groove and chaos as you put it. Another recent video for a song of theirs 'Warning' has some really cool drumming in it too.
Everyone will have different feelings about Band Maid... I personally feel Akane, Kanami, and Misa are world class musicians--as in literally among the best in the world. Saiki is a great singer, but most importantly, she is PERFECT for Band Maid. I cannot imagine any other singer for Band Maid. Miku is the newest musician in the group, but we have Miku to thank for getting this band together, and I find her the most intriguing personality in the group.
The best Akane solo? There was an old fan recording of them performing their song "Alone." It was shot mostly behind the speakers and to the side of Akane. In the recording, you mostly hear Akane and she was killing it.
You will find they just don't write bad songs. "Alone" was their first & it is well structured and shows a little of what they could do. At some point watch "about us" with the captions; it is a great indicator of the love they have for their fans and while not hard it is another well written and heartfelt song.
@@GaryHolloway-810 Thus my never ending Tri-start to TRY to shine some light on the Overlooked. It's great when I get replies from re-actors like I've looked everywhere and can't find that song send me the link
@@DavidMISAMISAMISACook Hmm a lot of reactors are too scared to reply to you. Actually Cut 'n Paste sent you a long reply the other day, but that was cos you chastised him for using the "P" word so i guess that doesn't count :)
I love to hear a musician's point of view when watching a BAND-MAID video. I have always known that they are good but you help me understand why they are good.
Funny story about the video: Miku (rhythm guitarist, backing vocalist, and band founder) got the idea for the maid theme from working in a maid cafe...THIS maid cafe. They actually filmed the video at her old workplace.
This video is only the second time Misa has used that red Private Reserve Black Cloud. Most of the time she uses her Black Smoker PR. The red SG PR was given to Misa as a gift by the owner of Black Cloud Guitars. Custom made for Misa, and given to her right before the concert you see in the Freedom video.
Love the Reaction. love it when real music teachers react. I think you would love Junna a very talented drummer from japan. she does a great cover to Dragon Force Though the fire and flames. she has so much energy. i think you would love it as a music teacher.
I recommend you react to Giovanni or h-g-k from their new album. This is 'less' crazy compared to many of their new songs. In the track called Black Hole the drummer Akane goes the fastest in b-m history at 220 bpm but personally I think Giovanni is the most interesting piece overall.
Thanks for the vid. Drummer is Akane. AH -KA-NEH. Guitarist is Kanami. KAH-NAH-MEE I suggest Warning, Manners, Play live, Real Existence live, Rinne. Then maybe Dice and then just wherever you want.
