Few things in this world feel as profound as seeing an expert at work on their craft. The Olympian who makes the limits of the human body seem beautiful, the painter who seems to unlock something secret and waiting within the canvas, the musician who makes creation seem as easy as breathing. Sakamoto Shintaro is one of these people, and this isn’t hyperbole. He performs like it is what he was bred to do. In fact his whole backing band, down to his lighting tech, seem incomparably good at their jobs. Festival competence porn.

As frontman of Yura Yura Teikoku, he had already established himself as the driving creative power behind a generation-defining indie group. Through that alone his legacy is secure. But he has continued to show the depth of his artistry with a solo career that might actually be better than the Yura-tei years. His Friday night Red Marquee set showed that he is far from running low on creative energy.

He opened with From the Dead, retooled into a loungier and somehow cooler version. Remarkable that cool can involve extended use of a rubber chicken squeal for percussion, but that is the magic of Sakamoto Shintaro. Most artists need splashy visuals projected behind them to help keep the audience’s attention held, but not here. Just well timed thick beams of colored light and the four band members. No need for embellishment. Oh, and some tasteful lasers as well. I’m looking at you Mask on Mask, a real mid-set showstopper. Disco Is was another late set highlight, getting that mirrorball going and starting a low key deep vibe midnight dance party. By the time set-closer You Just Decided rolled around it was clear that Friday at Fuji Rock was capped off as a good day.

A moment also to mention that as good as Sakamoto-san is, he owes a lot to his fantastic backing band, specifically Aya on bass. No, that’s not fair. Drummer Suganuma Yuga and sax/percussionist/etc Nishiuchi Toru also deserve shoutouts. Again, it must be incredibly hard to make things so precise look so effortlessly fun.

Sakamoto Shintaro is a national treasure, and we are lucky to have him at Fuji Rock so regularly. Let us add this to our personal lists of things to be thankful for and not just take for granted.