Maeno Kenta’s set was held under the beaming sun at Field of Heaven. No shade, though – literally and figuratively. He kept the set entertaining for his listeners as he took them on a journey that was like reading an epic novel. At times, he joked about how he talks too much, but for for everyone’s sake, it is safe to say that it made the set memorable and interesting. After all, he’s a seasoned veteran in the music world in Japan and around the globe.

He began his set by addressing the “crazy times” we live in currently, leading into an inspiring song about our generation called “Ima no jidai ga ichiban iiyo”.

As the ultimate storyteller, he incorporated personal stories and relatable tales in between every other song. His band passionately played just as hard as Maeno passionately told his stories. Some of the most memorable parts of the set came from the piano player, mixing up jazzy and classical sounds to complement the hard rocker vibes that the songs gave off.

Maeno addressed how special this year’s Fuji Rock is, as he began to strum a mellower tune. Soon enough, he began talking about a “sexy revival” as he rocked art one of his epic tunes, “Fuck Me”. The crowd was a mixture of men around his own age, as well as families, though it’s certain that as Maeno fans, they surely saw that song coming.

The stage and the crowd was just as heated as the sun and the grounds themselves. The set was filled with anger, frustration, love, passion, and excitement all at once.