Well I'm happy with the amount of playback they used in the last concert!
Drain - totally justifiable, it's hide's song after all
Kurenai - the most beautiful footage of hide I've ever seen, Sugizo would be murdered if he ever played that beginning solo instead of hide; I wish they'd include the piano+violin beginning in the lives as well though
X - the tobetobetobe is hide's and I can see no one taking that part from him, nor any reason to
Rusty Nail solo - meh, they could do it without hide's playback, probably, then again the Last Live version of the solo is just so perfect... I do think it's ok for hide to have this one solo
So that makes one playback part where they might stop using hide, but I personally don't care. In all other places it's justifiable and, for me, the right thing to do. Many people here sound like it's the end of the world. Come on, it's one (really awesome) solo. I'm sure Sugizo would play it just as awesomely, but I mean, he gets to play 99% of the time anyway. Plus, he has all the new songs. He joined in 2009 and he has played in all songs since then AND in tons of songs that came before him. That's awesome, in a way, already.
I sort of agree here with Hypno, Drain was fair enough (a one off performance of one of hide’s own songs), tobetobetobe was a fun addition to X and the kurenai intro was lovely - in fact I really liked the way they did it and thought it was a lovely touch. However, I don’t think they need to use his solo(s) now as Sugizo is more than capable and it would be good to get his interpretation of the song – yes hide’s Last Live Rusty Nail solo is awesome but if we want to hear a clone of the Last Live version then we can go watch/listen to that version.
I am disappointed that Taiji only appeared for X. I don’t know if it was bad planning (no time to sort out songs, arrangements etc) or that was all that was agreed to in the first place but it does seem like they had this big announcement and a lot of fuss etc just for one song when perhaps it would have been better saying nothing and having him appear (imagine the wow factor then).
Anyway, aside from that I really enjoyed the concerts; I thought Toshi sounded fantastic - really strong vocals. From the pictures/videos etc the concerts look awesome. Glad they mixed up the setlists a bit. Loved Unfinished!! It would be nice for a bit more variety – some Blue Blood, Sadistic Desire etc but I suppose at the moment they are focussing on this new album and new songs so I.V., Born to be Free, Jade etc are more likely to be played and I totally understand that! Born to be Free is really growing on me! It is so catchy! Anyway, I am really impressed with how they performed and I think future shows should go well – hopefully a few more songs and a few less breaks! Lol!
Some footage of Taiji and "X" is finally on youtube...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uXK19jQuYys
Thanks for posting! That video seems to have been taken from quite a distance away and it still looks so good! Really good atmosphere! Cool to see Heath and Taiji playing beside each other!! Who would have thought that would ever happen??