Yoshiki is best known to the world as the founder of the Japan’s most successful and well known rock band that started the whole visual kei genre that many of today’s artists have followed. What some fans outside of Japan might not know is that he is also a classically trained composer and musician with over thirty million singles and albums sold under his belt. This was reflected in the Classical tour he had just concluded this year, which was what the Otakon Sunday Concert was based on.

Being treated to a fraction of the sold out world tour concerts that was just few months ago, we knew we were going to be in for a treat. Although the concert specifically highlighted his piano pieces, Yoshiki had invited a quartet of violin, cello, and viola players from his classical tour for the performance. He had even invited Katie Fitzgerald, a vocalist for Violet UK to perform a few of the pieces with him on stage. One song that they performed together would be recognized by anime fans was the theme song for the latest Saint Seiya movie, titled “Hero”. The combination of Yoshiki’s piano performance, the quartet, and the vocalist sure delivered an incredible range and depth for all the songs performed.

After “Hero”, Yoshiki and Katie performed an audience requested tune, “Tears”, which surprised the audience as it was performed with English lyrics instead of the Japanese lyrics fans were used to. Even so, there were many in the audience that tried to sing along to the performance in support of Yoshiki. The performance was later followed by another Piano solo by Yoshiki, “Swan Lake.”

Following the solo, came one of the more emotional part of the concert. It was during this time that Yoshiki spoke of his childhood, his father’s death, how X was formed, and and the reason for the hiatus of X Japan’s activities was in fact partially due to Taiji’s death. It was at this time that he decided to perform “Without You” in memory of his father, Hide, and Taiji. The piece was not only beautifully performed, but it was also accompanied by still images and video clips of X Japan lives with Taiji and Hide, and also of photos Yoshiki’s childhood. The combination of the images and performance left the entire audience in tears as you can see and hear.

Following the emotional roller coaster of the song, was a shortened version of “Kurenai.” What came after it though was the highlight of the concert as Yoshiki began performing “Art of Life,” which had special appearance of Pata and Heath to rock it out on the guitar with Yoshiki on the piano. This only pumped up the fans' excitement into a ferver as it was more or less a preview of what they could be expect from their Madison Square Garden show later this year. The concert concluded in one of the most classy way possible that I have seen in a convention concert in a long time. Yoshiki performed “Endless Rain” that was accompanied by a disco ball that really lighted up the whole venue.

Overall, I’m sure all the fans would agree that the hours of wait and lineup was well worth for the rare glimpse and experience of Yoshiki’s classic tour and a preview of what to come in the performance in New York. As with all of his previous live works, what performance would be complete without Yoshiki chanting “We ARE ALL X” into the audience and hearing the entire audience chanting it right back at him.

Set List:

• Forever Love
• Anniversary
• Hero
• Tears
• Swan Lake
• Without You
• Kurenai
• Art of Life
• Endless Rain