REPORT | THREE1989 “Down Town” Release Party

Text by Takazumi Hosaka
Photo by YURIE PEPE

On Saturday, February 22nd, a release party for THREE1989’s latest single, “Down Town,” was held at WALL & WALL in Omotesando, Tokyo.

“Down Town,” released in the same month, is a masterpiece that is loved throughout the ages and is also the founder of city pop. The music project Tokimeki Records, which has released many covers and original songs, with the concept of “delivering nostalgic music set in an urban nightbook.” This performance, which was held to commemorate the release of the film, will be a two-man live performance of the two groups.

The first one to appear was Tokimeki Records. The first song opens with the song “Weather Report,” produced by Kumahara Masayuki, released by Ichijujuichi in 2006. On this day, the four members consisted of Hikari, a vocalist who is also known for his activities in the band Mime, Miyawaki Shohei (Key./Mp.), Mori Masato (Dr.), and YUMA HARA (Gt.). The set is a more minimalist than usual, but the tight groove that emphasizes the beat is also good for the sound of the venue WALL & WALL (business as a club as VENT at night). The silky strings, four-beat beats, and Hikari’s catchy vocals quietly, gradually increasing the temperature in the venue.

“Thank you for coming to WALL & WALL. Let’s have fun until the end,” he said with a short greeting, then went to the title song of his first original album, “The Transparent Girl.” The powerful drums and the brilliant cutting guitar create the dynamism unique to a live performance. He also leapt hard guitar solos in the outro. As if to take over the vibes, the cover of Inoue Yosui’s “Make-up Shadow” was performed in a more harder and more rock arrangement than the original. The passionate synth solos look like 80’s stadium rock. In addition, as Hikari’s MC said, “Let’s dance together!”, he captivated the audience with his staging that also incorporates seductive movements.

Hikari left the mellow “Midnight Pretenders,” which was a song by Aran Tomoko and has recently attracted attention again after the sampled by The Weeknd. This is where an instrumental participant is interjected by Miyawaki Shohei, Mori Masato and YUMA HARA. The performance will be performed by Shakatak “Nightbirds,” which has also been released as a single. The streaming audio features Kuala Lumpur singer Froya, but on this day they featured a solid fusion-jazz funk series with only three people performing (and sync?). The guitar plays the main melody, which skillfully reproduces the charm of the original song, stirring up a sense of excitement for the second half of the series.

The second half of the match, when Hikari joined, started with a “puzzle” reminiscent of JR&B from the 90s to the 2000s. In the following, “Love Like a Bomb,” she shows off her emotional vocal work by Hikari, and in the city pop classic “Plastic Love,” the audience hums and sways her body to the side. The show will be marked the end with a groovy cover of Takeuchi Mariya’s “Tonight is Hearty Party,” which was released at the end of last year, and the original popular song “Sweet Escape.” As the words said, “Everyone let’s have a wonderful Saturday night,” the stage was full of euphoria, as if to capture the happy euphoria of the weekend and the sparkling moments that are an extension of everyday life.

With a set change, tonight’s host THREE1989 will be appearing. The familiar composition features Ryo on drums, and the first song is a jazzy arrangement of “Egoistic Shibuya” and creates a moody atmosphere. Then, the BPM is raised seamlessly like a DJ, and the speciality of the New Jackswing beat leads to a pleasant “UNIVERSE.” “All the people who are gathering at the ‘Down Town’ release party, please come and enjoy this evening,” vocalist Shohei said gently, greeting the venue with his soulful and groovy sound. Cheers erupted at DJ Datch’s scratching, and hands-ups occurred on hooks, making the audience feel welcoming as if to be expected.

The mellow R&B number “Aiiro” has a beautiful mirror ball, and the refreshing “mint vacation” has a charming beat switch that excels in the beats. “UMBRELLA” started with sampling that reminds me of the old school hip-hop classics. Shimo (Key.)’s talk box and live drums dynamism gives a different look than the sound source. The hooks that make full use of Shohei’s elegant falsetto are also extremely catchy.

During the MC, Shohei greeted Datch with a comment saying, “Thank you so much for coming together for the first time in Tokyo in a long time! Enjoy it until the end!”, and he cried out, “Are you feeling a bit bored?” He then expressed his gratitude to Tokimeki Records, saying, “There are so many Saturdays. I think there are many places I want to go and have fun. Among them, listen to our city pop part that we want to bring to everyone who chose this release party,” and from the middle of the show, he mashed up Yamashita Tatsuro’s classic “RIDE ON TIME.” The game changes smoothly from the end of the hook, and then returns to Kiss In The Sun from the end of the hook in “RIDE ON TIME” to “Kiss In The Sun” with its clever composition and arrangement skills that make you even hear the voices of the audience.

And “Down Town,” which is the highlight of the day, was performed with a simple arrangement that gives a sense of respect for the original song. The lyrics “It’s lively on Saturday nights” and “It’s apparently going to Down town” coincide with Shohei’s MC just a while ago. During the interlude, Datch’s scratching again sparked the audience, creating the highlights of the day with its airy sound.

“What did you think about our city pop part? We’ll continue to pursue the city pop path,” he said, and then began his final sprint. The film introduces the fast-paced “High Times” and “the final song is a promised song to see you again,” and concludes the main story with a romantic aftertaste with the ballad number “Rambling Rose.” …But, he spontaneously entered the encore, saying, “Can I play one more song?” He attracted Hikari together with the audience and performed the collaboration song “Sweet Sweet” with Toki Asako in a duet style with Hikari. The sweet harmony of the two enveloped the venue, creating a happy ending that made you look forward to the arrival of spring.

I think the faces of the performers, who seemed to be reluctant to say the final performance, showed the sense of fulfillment that day. Rather than riding on the passing trend, we look forward to further collaborations and new collaborations between the two groups, who understand the roots and background of the story, and play city pop.

[Event Information]

“THREE1989 presents “Down Town” Release Party”
Date and Time: Saturday, February 22, 2025, OPEN 17:30 / START 18:00
Venue: Omotesando, Tokyo WALL & WALL
Cast:
THREE1989
Tokimeki Records

[Release Information]

THREE1989 “Down Town (Prod. Tokimeki Records)”
Release Date: 2025.02.05 (Wed.)
Label: AVEX MUSIC CREATIVE INC.
Tracklist:
1. Down Town (Prod. Tokimeki Records)

■Distribution link

■THREE1989 Official Website