HYDE reveals raw emotion in Orchestra Tour JEKYLL (Live Report)

HYDE Orchestra Tour 2026 JEKYLL
Tokyo Garden Theater – January 29, 2026
Live Report by Nhu Nguyen

Fans from around the world celebrated Japanese rock star HYDE’s birthday on January 29 by watching his livestream concert “HYDE Orchestra Tour 2026 JEKYLL”, presented by Live Viewing Japan.

The vocalist from L’arc-en-Ciel, VAMPS, and THE LAST ROCKSTARS has established a solid solo career, and his performance at Tokyo Garden Theater was a generously long and musically beautiful 2-hour event. With an eighteen song set list, including songs from his upcoming album JEKYLL dropping this spring, like the new track also released on his birthday, “The Abyss”; “SSS (Sending Secret Signals)”, a song he featured on with popular Korean boyband, Tomorrow X Together (he sang both his and the boy band members’ parts); to many of his previous tracks rearranged into an orchestral version.

Touring with an orchestra is not new to HYDE — it’s been five years since his last orchestra tour — and it allows listeners to experience a lot of his hard rock songs in a different way: where one would usually head-bang, jump, and shout along to “Defeat”, the orchestral arrangements allow listeners to appreciate the nuances of the music in a totally new way. The tempo of the classic “Glamorous Sky”, slowed-down and softened as the strings played, infused the rock track with a bit of jazz with a trombone solo towards its end. In “LAST SONG”, the powerful conclusion to his main set, HYDE’s vocals were full of pain and agony as light projections of feathers fell around him.

Big and small moments made the concert extra memorable. Midway through the concert, a false-start by the orchestra transitioned to “Happy Birthday” as everyone sang along, fans held up flashy HYDE signs and singer-songwriter Daigo pushed out a cart with a candle-lit birthday cake for the man of honor. X Japan’s YOSHIKI, HYDE’s fellow band member in THE LAST ROCKSTARS, came out during the encore portion of the night to gift the vocalist a large bouquet of red roses, then played piano as they performed “Red Swan” together. HYDE even ate a donut during one of his MC breaks — the wholesome snacking choice was a break from the seriousness of what a full orchestra performance commonly brings. He coughed a bit in the beginning of “SMILING” but powered through the rest of the song with no issues. After the song ended, he shyly apologized for the little incident, but it makes one appreciate the fact that he still sings live, and so well at that — the orchestra’s raw power showcases his voice in such a unique way, it makes his performance irresistible.

HOME VIEWING/LIVESTREAM
Worldwide fans in selected regions can view the concert with unlimited replay viewing available through Monday, February 2, 23:59 *JST
Tickets and information:
https://liveviewing.jp/overseas/hyde-jekyll-eng/

SET LIST
1. DIE HAPPILY
2. SSS
3. MAISE
4. SO DREAMY
5. HONEY
6. GLAMOROUS SKY/FLOWER
7. NOSTALGIC
8, TATTOO
9. FINAL PIECE
10. DEFEAT
11. FADING OUT
12. SMILING
13. EVERGREEN
14. THE ABYSS
15. BREAKING DAWN
16. 夢幻 (MUGEN)
17. LAST SONG
18. RED SWAN