Last Live
08/2003
2800 yen (DVD; region 2)
Concert footage recorded on 04/02/2003 at
Nagoya's Apollo Theater

Is SOFTBALL’s final release a fitting end to their five years together?  Or does it just leave fans wanting more?

Introduction
 
On March 7, 2003, SOFTBALL, quite possibly the most popular “indie” girls punk band in Japan, announced that they were breaking up.  The news came as a shock to everyone who followed the band, as there was no indication of any intention to disband.  They had just released their third full-length album, Hakkou Ichiu, in January, and had plans to tour Japan beginning in March with dates in Australia and Taiwan following.  No concrete reason for the breakup was given on the band’s website, the message only saying that they hoped that others would carry on the flame that they had ignited, and that their final event together would be an April 2 concert at Nagoya’s Apollo Theater.
 
Luckily for those who couldn’t make it to Nagoya, this final show was recorded and released on DVD (though only in limited numbers through the band’s website).
 
Disc Rundown
 
Unlike their first DVD effort, Remember the Zero-Fighter (a decent disc, but edited and far too short), this is not an elaborate effort released by Avex.  This DVD was recorded by Einstein Records themselves with digital video cameras and then pressed onto DVD, all done by SOFTBALL/Einstein Records themselves with no involvement by their major label distributors, Avex/Cutting Edge Records.
 
Fitting for a final concert, the set-list includes a wide range of songs from their five year history.  26 songs were performed at the show, including tracks from their very first EP Kurage to their last album Hakkou Ichiu.  All of the favorites are there:  their explosive concert version of “Sheena is the Missile,” a punked-up version of the traditional Japanese song “Kokyou no Sora,” fan-favorite “Zero,” and even their cover of the Clash’s “Washington Bullets.”  Closing out the set is "Dig," the very first song that they recorded.
 
The presentation of the show is perfect.  The Apollo Theater isn’t a large club, and the camera work and close-ups make you feel like you are really there watching the band perform.  Any more real and the crowd surfers would be kicking you in the back of the head!
 
The only downsides to this disc are technical:  the film is encoded as one continuous track, with no chapter marks.  And, at least by watching it on my PC with PowerDVD, I couldn’t click on the status/tracking bar and “jump” to a scene in the concert.  This forces you to fast-forward through to the part that you want to view, which can be extremely time consuming and tedious when you just want to watch the last scene on the disc.  Also, since it was recorded on DV, the video quality isn’t as clear as some other more “professional” releases, but it certainly isn’t awful.
 
Conclusion
 
All in all, this is the DVD that their first one should have been.  The video quality isn't the best, but it's got that DIY feeling throughout.  It being their final concert together and knowing that you’ll never see them perform on stage together again, some scenes are extremely emotional
 
Final Judgement
 
The good: A great presentation of a great concert.  It’s just like you’re there watching the girls, but without the sweaty Japanese kids smashing into you.
 
The bad: No chapter marks make skipping to your favorite song difficult.  The fact that this is SOFTBALL’s last release.
 
9.0/10
 
Track list:
1. Remember the Hill
2. Washington Bullets
3. Sheena is the Missile
4. No Fall Back
5. Politics
6. Choice
7. Bright
8. Just Try It
9. 0228
10. Answer
11. Troop
12. Revive
13. Moment
14. Jibe
15. Things
16. Zero
17. Ignite
18. Baby
19. History
20. Prostrate
21. The Holy War
22. Vanity Ground
 
~encore 1~
 
23. Kokyou no Sora
24. Tokoshie ni
25. Warawabe
 
~encore 2~
 
26. Dig