Hayashi's Back

Last night, me and my mum went to a Taiko Drum concert. We were really excited. Unfortunately we didn't realize Eitetsu Hayashi was collaborating with the HK Philharmonic Orchestra. Not that the Orchestra's bad. Just that I'm not really into classical music. The promos for this have been pretty misleading. When you have a huge poster of Hayashi beating on a drum, you're not expecting the orchestra to play 3 REALLY long pieces before getting a glimpse of Hayashi!

After an hour (felt more like 3) of soothing classical music, zzzzzzzzzz. FINALLY it was Hayashi's turn. You could see everyone kind of sit up (wake up), and feel the energy in the hall. When his drumstick first connected with the drum, you could hear the vibrations bouncing off the walls because it was so quiet. The drumming represented the thunder, and the organ the wind. With a little bit of orchestra thrown in. AMAZING combination. Hayashi's just go this huge presence, which keeps you mesmerized, hypnotized to the rhythm of his drumming. So many different sounds were coming out of the drum too, awesome. Too bad it was his one and only piece.

We the audience madly clapped and cheered until he came back onstage for an encore. The encore was even better! Without the organ and orchestra. Just straight on Taiko drum. Which was later joined in by a younger dude in the back on another mini drum. Such an image, Hayashi in his traditional Japanese garb, with the younger guy dressed in a dark suit & tie, both beating in unison, demonstrating their physical capabilities, POWERFUL.