HOUYHNHNM

Unfortunately, it rained, rained, rained for almost all three days. It even became cloudy in between. I heard that rain gear sold well because of this. I thought this was the worst weather, but when I asked veteran Fuji Rockers (Fuji Rock fans) about it, they told me that sunny weather is very difficult because of the dust and sand. The high temperatures also robbed us of physical strength, so perhaps it was thanks to the rain that we were not exhausted after three days of full-on activity.

Coming out of the UK, the country that produced Massive Attack, The xx is now a world-class band with a large following in the United States. The band has changed a bit from the dark and melancholic sound of a few years ago when they first came out as a young up-and-comer, and has grown into a band that can be listened to as pop music and has a deep, nostalgic sound. The band's live show was interspersed with a good amount of old and new favorites such as "Intro," "On Hold," and "Angels. Their live show has a great sound, but it also has the power to make you listen to the members' sincere MC talks. Their words about the beauty of the world and love reach the ears in a very honest way. It is a well-known fact that John Lennon was not only a great musician but also a powerful agitator, and although their voices are very subdued, their voices resonate deeply without reaching the darkness of the night.

Everything about The xx's live performance at Fuji Rock that night was perfect, including the sound, the atmosphere, and the view from the audience. It was as if they were embodying the beauty of the world as they described it.

Rhye stole the show at the Red Marquee during the "daytime" in 2013, and this year they performed a captivating live show at the Field of Heaven at night. The band's sophisticated sound and luscious vocals are well suited for nighttime. The darkness of the night was even magical. The band's vocals are both bewitching and beautiful, and they sound much better live than on a CD. The strings, drums, and wind instruments seemed to melt into the darkness of the night, and I felt, even though it was my first time seeing the band, that the nighttime performance of Rhye was the true essence of their music.

At Red Marquee's late-night "PLANET GROOVE," yahyel engulfed the space with a flood of sound and images. yahyel's explosive sound that hit the floor hit you so hard that you had to choose between standing still or dancing with all your might. It was the first time for me to see a live performance, but it was as if I was being shown a live performance of the near future, with the anonymity of not revealing one's face even in a live performance, the mixture of graphics and bleached out grotesque images, and the installation using a light source. It was like a kind of contemporary art. However, when you are physically shaken by the thick-boned sound, you are compelled to experience rather than watch. I felt such strength from this band.

Looking back on my first visit to Fuji Rock, I was impressed by the nighttime acts. No matter how crowded the venue was, it was different from the dense urban space. The darkness and rain made me as an audience member feel more personal and free. The pleasant sense of freedom made the music and the scenery more deeply etched in my brain than any other place. Two months have passed since then, but I sometimes think back to the live shows I saw at Fuji Rock in my daily life. I wonder if this is a kind of "Fuji Rock Loss. (End)