This unique approach brought a whole new level of excitement and immersion to the concert experience.
On December 27th, the industrial trio held their anticipated live, NUL. Live 2023 Resonance of Noise, featuring the duo Hello 1103 at Koenji HIGH (Tokyo). This special event was held in celebration of MASATO’s (Gt.) birthday. In accordance to his wishes, the concert featured a collaboration with audio and visual of Hello 1103. The duo, consisting of Hitomi (noise) and yukako (VJ & Vo.), had previously worked as VJs in NUL.’s live performances. However, this was the first time they appeared on stage together.
The concert kicked off with an ethereal performance by Hello 1103 setting the tone for the night. Then, NUL. took the stage and began with the mid-tempo song Noname SPECter followed by the emotional Ground Zero gradually warming up the crowd. The fourth song, From deep underground, took a darker and colder direction. The audience started to let loose, and chants of MASATO’s name filled the air as they celebrated his birthday. The fifth song, Zankou (残光), showcased the band’s power and beauty. The addition of a live choir chant added to the intensity, and every note fell perfectly into place. As the night progressed, the combo played upbeats tracks keeping the audience completely engaged. The crowd couldn’t resist dancing, bringing a smile to HIZUMI’s face. The musicians then delved into heavier songs: Karma-Agnostic, perfectly intertwined MASATO’s heavy riffs with Kishi’s melodic lines. The audience clapped in rhythm to the bridge of the song, DIVE, adding to the energetic atmosphere. The concert reached its peak with addictive beat of KaliMa. The song had the crowd jumping up and down. The audience was fully engaged, screaming along with the band. HIZUMI made eye contact with the crowd, exchanging smiles, while MASATO frequently approached the edge of the stage, connecting with fans. Kishi, clearly enjoying himself, air-guitared when he wasn’t playing. His talent, dexterity, and infectious smile were a testament to his dedication and love for music.
During the first encore, the audience sang “Happy Birthday” to MASATO until the band returned to the stage. When they did, HIZUMI brought out a birthday cake and three presents, adding to the celebratory atmosphere. Their banter almost felt like a stand-up comedy routine. Then, the three members of NUL. played EVILA, abnormalize, GREEDY BLOOD FEUD and I don’t seek, I find to energize the crowd. The chemistry between HIZUMI and MASATO was undeniable. Then, they welcomed the duo Hello 1103 again and performed BLACK SWAN and Plastic Factory. The guest appearance of the duo was a special collaboration: Yukako created mesmerizing real-time videos for the stage, adding a dynamic visual element to the show. This unique approach brought a whole new level of excitement and immersion to the concert experience. Additionally, Hitomi’s contribution with his modular-synth’s noise sound added a darker, colder and industrial edge to NUL.’s music. As a double encore, they ended with NUL.’s debut song XStream, creating an intense final scene. The venue was filled with happiness and enjoyment as the crowd gave their all for the last minute.
During the concert, NUL. mentioned that collaborations had always been a theme they considered, indicating the band’s direction. They also shared their plans for 2024, including monthly activities starting with a talk stream for a New Year’s gathering in January. HIZUMI’s birthday performance at Shibuya La.mama on March 7th was confirmed, with the promise of a new song for the occasion. 2024 will sure be interesting and to start the year in style, we are thrilled to announce a special giveaway : CLICK HERE !
Mandah FRÉNOT
(c) VMJ
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[NUL. | SETLIST]
01. Impro→Billion Balances
02. Noname SPECter
03. Ground Zero
04. From deep underground
05. Zankou (残光)
06. DIVE
07. Dictate
08. Karma-Agnostic
09. INFERNAL
10. KaliMa
11. Jill (ジル)
–ENCORE–
01. EVILA
02. abnormalize
03. GREEDY BLOOD FEUD
04. I don’t seek, I find
05. BLACK SWAN
06. Plastic Factory
–ENCORE–
01. XStream
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Photography by Yoann CLOCHON
