Final count on music: 61 CDs/DVDs (counting cd/dvd sets as one, of which I have five or six), and one VHS - the Miss Carmilla box set. ^_^;;; . And not counting the random demo cds, msg cds that I picked up free, either.
I wrote this on the plane yesterday and was unable to post it, so it's a bit belated. ^_~
Feb 25th - last day in Tokyo.
Oh god, my body is one entire lump of ACHE. ^^; What a great night!
So. The 25th was my last full day in Japan, so true to my crazy style this vacation I crammed it full of stuff to make the most of it. In the morning I picked up a few last things like MSC, and dropped about $35 on random snacks at the conbini, haha. Then I skillfully arranged my luggage, straightened my hair and put it up, and headed out to meet up with Line and Clees. ^___^
We went to karaoke XD played around, did some fabulous renditions of Dir en Grey, I made them suffer through my Yuki, it was all good. Then we hit up some crazy Japanese restraunt for dinner, and I just ordered blindly, HAHAHA. It ended up being like... cream rice omuraisu dealy with little mushrooms, it was really good.
After dinner we went to the Butler Cafe in Ikebukuro, B-Lily Rose. Sadly it was getting pretty late, so we couldn't stay too long or get a poloroid taken with the butlers, but I did enjoy the most delicious iced mocha I've had in a very long time, and... oh my god, that place has the sexiest staff ever.
B-Lily Rose is kind of... the women's alternative to a maid cafe. Staffed with tall androgenous Japanese Tomboys. ^____^ Our server was a dark haired girl with glasses, I forgot to get her name, but I was very impressed with her style and grace.
(It all really made me want to go home and molest my girl.... #^_^#;;; ) It was really cool.
I took off for my live at Shinjuku Holiday after that. I arrived really damn late, hahahaha. But! I did arrive in time to see The Piass perform, which was my main motivation for going. Pau pulled us all saizen on Ruiji's side... she said since I was wearing red plaid it was perfect, haha. I was a little aprehensive as I was entirely unsure of what to expect from The Piass, especially standing saizen, but it was all good.
We just moshed our brains out. HAHAHA. Seriously, good god that band is heavy! So much more than I expected, but it was SO fun! I think I did more headbanging in that 45 min segment than I have in every other concert put together ^^;
The guys were really great. I didn't get much of an impression from the support guitarist, but as for the rest... Takayuki (vo/gu) has a hell of a lot of stage presance, it's obvious that he takes a lot of ownership for the band. He plays the frontman well and can scream like a mofo.
Ruiji (ba) was really damn sexy, and seemed to have a lot of fun at the live dispite being sick ;_; He had a lot of poise and grace on stage, and seemed to really love his saizen, flirting and making eyes at us throughout the performance, licking his lips (like Kika does... ohgodyum) and so forth.
Shizuke (dr)... Shizuke was a crazy motherfucker. Thinking back on it, he really reminded me of my boss Dave (also a metal band drummer, go figure). He's huge and really buff for a Japanese man, metal all the way. And went through about 8 drumsticks, which he threw out into the audience afterwards. And handed one out to me. :D I love tiny venues. *cuddles splintery drumstick* ^^;
I picked up a photoset and a DVD for the band, and we set out afterwards to chill at McDicks while we waited for Star Cafe to open. Spent about an hour at Star Cafe, chatting and drinking and watching some girls change Oo; after the live, then headed over to the Uchiage(sp?).
I wasn't quite sure what to expect of the all night afterparty, especially since I wasn't really familliar with any of the bands beyond The Piass, and even then they're really new to me ^^; We sat with some Japanese fans to begin with, friends of Pau. Ate and chatted. I took off my jacket and suddenly had a table full of little Japanese girls with boob envy ^^;; calling me 'sekushii'. Once everyone got significantly tipsy, we all started switching up tables and chatting with the band members. This is to say, I mostly just listened to Pauliina chat with people, haha. Met Takayuki, who was really nice and very intense about his band, very handsome man. But his visual pictures kind of shock me now, as I remeber him very clearly being a serious 40something man, and not a 15 year old wide eyed girly boy. XD Even on stage, it's amazing how different a lot of these boys... er, men... look out of makeup. Still handsome, all the same.
There was this cute little drummer boy sitting with us who was all of 19 and put me in mind of Nobu from Nana. And I totally don't remember who he was or what band he from. ^^;; Then we chatted for a couple of hours with the vocalist from Parfait, who was super sweet and nice and had big brown puppy dog eyes. Aww. ^_^
When the uchiage started to wind down, we headed back to Star Cafe, where the rest of the band was hanging out. The place was absolutely packed. We were greeted at the door by Shizuke, the drummer, who was the funnest crazyass drunk mofo XD. He and his blonde friend managed to arrange spots for Pauliina and I at the bar, and then he sat and chatted at us in mostly english about the band and drumming. And how I needed to come back to Japan and marry him and bare his children. HAHAHAHA. He was really great, really really nice.
Eventually we had to head out with the sunrise. I had to drop off a letter at another club which Pauliina helped me find again, and then we limped back to the Yamanote-sen and home.
I caught two hours of sleep at the hotel before crawling out of bed for a quick shower and to check out. Then I went back to Harajuku one last time. Had a crepe for brunch, had no luck finding pants for my girl :(, but I did pick up great engrish shirts for Michelle and Paris, and a pair of crazy tabi socks for Joe.
Then I stopped by Shinjuku Closet Child to get 'Vain' and the other pair of Rice chopsticks for Rae. Of course, buying 1 CD turned into buying four CDs. But I figured that was ok, they could go in my purse. Only CDs. I purposefully ignored the $50 "X Japan Complete File" that was probably a really great deal but weighed more than my younger brother ^^;; . Went to pay.
Cute little closet child girl: Thank you for buying more of Kisaki's schtuff! Here's a free Phantasmagoria poster!
Zoi: Yay poster! It can go in my.... oh, motherfucker!!
So I had to repack my luggage. ^^; but I did bring a poster tube with me this time for incidents such as these, though I brought home less posters than last time, not including the Due poster file.
Sadly, at this point in time I was entirely out of cash, so I didn't manage to pick up any more cigarettes for myself or Dave. This is probably a good thing when it comes to me, since I went through like 3/4 of a pack in one night on the 25th ^^;;; holy shit. I think that's my smoking allocation for like, the next two months.
Caught a cab to Tokyo station, caught the express train to the airport. Got on the plane and cried when we took off. Ah, Zoi....
Such a good vacation, though. I don't think I could have managed to have a better time than I did here... it's been a really great three weeks. :)
Tuesday, 27 February 2007
Saturday, 24 February 2007
Dralion
This afternoon's outing was to see Cirque du Soleil's 'Dralion'. Don't think of it as odd that I'm going to see a show by a Canadian company while I'm in Japan... Cirque's only been to Calgary three times, and never Dralion, which has been second on my "must see" list of Cirque shows for a long time.
I couldn't exactly remember why though ^^; Apart from the asiatic theme. But then once it actually started, I remembered - the score. Dralion definitely has, IMHO, the best score of all the Cirque shows, hands down. Favorites being Stella Errans, Ballare, Miracula Aeternitatis, and Ninkou Latora <3
So I bought it. And the DVD. ^^;;; I'm really looking forward to watching it on DVD... I find that the DVD recordings of the Cirque shows are good at highlighting little nuances of the story and art that are easy to miss in the glamour of the live performances.
Act wise, it was really solid - the list of acts for Dralion don't -sound- as impressive as some of the other shows, but in reality they're really really good. Juggling for instance, rarely turns my head, but their Juggler was REALLY really impressive.
The other one that I wasn't too sure on was the Ballet on Lights - but seeing it live - imagine a bunch of tiny little girls in blue spandex making amazingly intricate human pyramids, while standing en pointe on fucking LIGHTBULBS. It was crazy!
Favorite act was the 'Aerial Pas de Deux' - not surprising considering my love for the Flying Man act in Alegria. There's just something about watching someone wrap themselves and hang from billowing curtains of silk as they dance and fly about the stage that is very very breathtaking to me. In THIS case though, it was a pair - the air sprites, a sweet couple whose dance was as intimate as it was skillful... their caresses, the way their bodies tangled together in mid air was really beautiful. It made that act win out for me over the Double Trapeze - which was also amazing, but lacked the artistry and human element of the Aerial pair.
The clowns really impressed me as well, one of them in particular - at the beginning of the show, they pulled an 'average guy' from the audience, and get him to read the welcome (turn off your cell phones, etc), pestering him the whole time. He's very good spirited about it, a bit reluctant, embarrassed.... Later on in the show they pester him again... and then in the third act, and 'normal guy' played his part SO WELL that it wasn't until he actually broke into a choreographed dance with one of the other clowns that we finally realized that he was actually a performer. He was fabulous!
The show overall... left me with such a beautiful sense of glamour. I definitely don't regret going to this as I begin to close out my vacation. But I can't say I'm not a little afraid to go back home... everything has been so beautiful here, that I worry that I'll slip back into regular life and lose the sense of wonder and glamour that I've found here.
Thank goodness for the love that I have to return to. I don't think I could bare to go home if my heart were not already there.
Thoughts on tonight's live to follow :)
I couldn't exactly remember why though ^^; Apart from the asiatic theme. But then once it actually started, I remembered - the score. Dralion definitely has, IMHO, the best score of all the Cirque shows, hands down. Favorites being Stella Errans, Ballare, Miracula Aeternitatis, and Ninkou Latora <3
So I bought it. And the DVD. ^^;;; I'm really looking forward to watching it on DVD... I find that the DVD recordings of the Cirque shows are good at highlighting little nuances of the story and art that are easy to miss in the glamour of the live performances.
Act wise, it was really solid - the list of acts for Dralion don't -sound- as impressive as some of the other shows, but in reality they're really really good. Juggling for instance, rarely turns my head, but their Juggler was REALLY really impressive.
The other one that I wasn't too sure on was the Ballet on Lights - but seeing it live - imagine a bunch of tiny little girls in blue spandex making amazingly intricate human pyramids, while standing en pointe on fucking LIGHTBULBS. It was crazy!
Favorite act was the 'Aerial Pas de Deux' - not surprising considering my love for the Flying Man act in Alegria. There's just something about watching someone wrap themselves and hang from billowing curtains of silk as they dance and fly about the stage that is very very breathtaking to me. In THIS case though, it was a pair - the air sprites, a sweet couple whose dance was as intimate as it was skillful... their caresses, the way their bodies tangled together in mid air was really beautiful. It made that act win out for me over the Double Trapeze - which was also amazing, but lacked the artistry and human element of the Aerial pair.
The clowns really impressed me as well, one of them in particular - at the beginning of the show, they pulled an 'average guy' from the audience, and get him to read the welcome (turn off your cell phones, etc), pestering him the whole time. He's very good spirited about it, a bit reluctant, embarrassed.... Later on in the show they pester him again... and then in the third act, and 'normal guy' played his part SO WELL that it wasn't until he actually broke into a choreographed dance with one of the other clowns that we finally realized that he was actually a performer. He was fabulous!
The show overall... left me with such a beautiful sense of glamour. I definitely don't regret going to this as I begin to close out my vacation. But I can't say I'm not a little afraid to go back home... everything has been so beautiful here, that I worry that I'll slip back into regular life and lose the sense of wonder and glamour that I've found here.
Thank goodness for the love that I have to return to. I don't think I could bare to go home if my heart were not already there.
Thoughts on tonight's live to follow :)
Mago on hiatus :(
Phantasmagoria was really, really great. Shibuya AX is the biggest venue I've been in so far here, and they -packed- it. The stage was very sexy, with collums of chains hanging everywhere, and Kisaki had a grand alter with candleabra to stand in front of, the works.
Same setlist as Nagoya, it seemed far, far too short this time ;_; Iori and Matoi did MC's at the beginning of the second encore, and it seems like a lot of the fans just lost it at that point in time, I could hear girls sobbing behind me all over the concert all. Still, we did our best for Kami Uta, the last number again, rocking out with all our might and barely staying on our feet in the crowd.
Afterwards, fans were crying on each other all around me. There were girls still clustered at Iori's side of the stage, calling for him and Matoi and crying.
I felt... a little choked up, and a little awkward at the same time... like I should give them all hugs. I love Mago... they have great music, and I LOVE seeing them live, so... I'm really sad that their going on hiatus now, and even if they do play again, with two of the members gone it'll never be the same. But... I'm so happy to have been able to see them play again this month - three times, none the less, before this hiatus.
But... if I were really passionate about them, like I am about Rice, like I was about Malice Mizer... it was so hard for me when Malice Mizer broke up, and I never even saw them live. I can begin to imagine what it must be like for these girls, who love this band SO MUCH and have followed them for so long, to watch them at their last live. So... I really feel for them. And I hope Phantasmagoria plays again, for their sakes.
I was pretty late to the concert - it took longer than I expected to get ready ^^; My dreads kept coming lose last night when I was moshing, so I wanted to make sure they were anchored super securely. Wore one of my lacy work tops with my waist cincher, my ripped up velvet skirt over pants, anddd, these super super cute tiny little h.Naoto leggings that I picked up at closet child thinking that they'd make really great sleeves. XD They're gorgeous. ^_^
Anyway, even with being really late, I still had half an hour before the band went on, and managed to wiggle up into the crush on Jun side ^__^ I love watching him play, he's so damn cute and bouncy, rocking out back and forth as he plays, so much that I'm bouncing from side to side as I write this, listening to Mago. ^_~ It was also really cool to hear 'at the ends of the rest period' live, the more I listen to it the more I love it, it's a really pretty song. Maybe I'll buy 'Vain' if I see it for sale before I leave...
Annnd, they were filming the live HARDCORE tonight - so hopefully we'll see another Live DVD released of Mago's last live with the line up. I'm super looking forward to it, partly because I LOVE Mago's live DVDs, and partly because my floofy black lacy arms and whirlwind of moshing bright red dreads might be in it ^___^
Afterwards, I chilled with Chibi and her friend, went for McDicks and chatted about the live and Kisaki, it was really good just to relax, and to see her again ^__^
Mago still wins out for having the most energetic lives and energetic crowds of all the bands I've seen here, they're so fun to see live. I'd pay to see them again and again, just to be in that crush, moshing and lunging to Kami Uta, barely staying on our feet, screaming our hearts out for those magnificent boys. ^___^ I'm SO glad I was able to see them again this trip. ^__^
Tomorrow is Cirque du Soleil in the afternoon, maybe that random event at Shinjuku Holiday in the evening. Then Sunday I'll pick up Heather's PS2 and hopefully Marie's DVDs if I can find them, before meeting up with my girls for Karaoke~~~~ and a live and all night afterparty in the evening. oo;
Sunday morning I'll drag myself back to the hotel... maybe nap for a couple hours, check out at 10am... hit up Harajuku one more time before retrieving my luggage and leaving for the airport around 1:30. Home to see my girl.... <3
This has been a hell of a trip.
Same setlist as Nagoya, it seemed far, far too short this time ;_; Iori and Matoi did MC's at the beginning of the second encore, and it seems like a lot of the fans just lost it at that point in time, I could hear girls sobbing behind me all over the concert all. Still, we did our best for Kami Uta, the last number again, rocking out with all our might and barely staying on our feet in the crowd.
Afterwards, fans were crying on each other all around me. There were girls still clustered at Iori's side of the stage, calling for him and Matoi and crying.
I felt... a little choked up, and a little awkward at the same time... like I should give them all hugs. I love Mago... they have great music, and I LOVE seeing them live, so... I'm really sad that their going on hiatus now, and even if they do play again, with two of the members gone it'll never be the same. But... I'm so happy to have been able to see them play again this month - three times, none the less, before this hiatus.
But... if I were really passionate about them, like I am about Rice, like I was about Malice Mizer... it was so hard for me when Malice Mizer broke up, and I never even saw them live. I can begin to imagine what it must be like for these girls, who love this band SO MUCH and have followed them for so long, to watch them at their last live. So... I really feel for them. And I hope Phantasmagoria plays again, for their sakes.
I was pretty late to the concert - it took longer than I expected to get ready ^^; My dreads kept coming lose last night when I was moshing, so I wanted to make sure they were anchored super securely. Wore one of my lacy work tops with my waist cincher, my ripped up velvet skirt over pants, anddd, these super super cute tiny little h.Naoto leggings that I picked up at closet child thinking that they'd make really great sleeves. XD They're gorgeous. ^_^
Anyway, even with being really late, I still had half an hour before the band went on, and managed to wiggle up into the crush on Jun side ^__^ I love watching him play, he's so damn cute and bouncy, rocking out back and forth as he plays, so much that I'm bouncing from side to side as I write this, listening to Mago. ^_~ It was also really cool to hear 'at the ends of the rest period' live, the more I listen to it the more I love it, it's a really pretty song. Maybe I'll buy 'Vain' if I see it for sale before I leave...
Annnd, they were filming the live HARDCORE tonight - so hopefully we'll see another Live DVD released of Mago's last live with the line up. I'm super looking forward to it, partly because I LOVE Mago's live DVDs, and partly because my floofy black lacy arms and whirlwind of moshing bright red dreads might be in it ^___^
Afterwards, I chilled with Chibi and her friend, went for McDicks and chatted about the live and Kisaki, it was really good just to relax, and to see her again ^__^
Mago still wins out for having the most energetic lives and energetic crowds of all the bands I've seen here, they're so fun to see live. I'd pay to see them again and again, just to be in that crush, moshing and lunging to Kami Uta, barely staying on our feet, screaming our hearts out for those magnificent boys. ^___^ I'm SO glad I was able to see them again this trip. ^__^
Tomorrow is Cirque du Soleil in the afternoon, maybe that random event at Shinjuku Holiday in the evening. Then Sunday I'll pick up Heather's PS2 and hopefully Marie's DVDs if I can find them, before meeting up with my girls for Karaoke~~~~ and a live and all night afterparty in the evening. oo;
Sunday morning I'll drag myself back to the hotel... maybe nap for a couple hours, check out at 10am... hit up Harajuku one more time before retrieving my luggage and leaving for the airport around 1:30. Home to see my girl.... <3
This has been a hell of a trip.
Friday, 23 February 2007
Phantasmagoria in Nagoya
Phantasmagoria gets MAJOR props from tonight for going right into their concert with one of their HARDEST, most mosh happy songs - Neo Ark. Damn, those boys know how to put on a good show. The other great thing about starting out so hard was that it very quickly seperated 'those who want to rock the fuck out' from 'those just standing at the front 'cause they arrived early', so by the end of the song I was third row, squished up behind two cute little tiny girls, right in front of Jun.
Jun is still so fucking cute on stage. But suck a goddamn cock tease! He let us touch the head of his guitar once - but he must have taunted us with it about 10 times, holding it out just out of reach of our eager hands. But at the end he high fived us all, all smiles and bouncy and Jun.
There were two little Jun cosplayers tonight in my costume - er, I mean, the same one that I made (which a couple of my employees have affectionately nicknamed "the bird lady costume" ^^; ) They were super cute, I managed to get pictures of one of them with a really good Kisaki (I hope they turned out).
I was very satisfied to see that they'd made very similar fabric and construction choices as I did... (mine was actually much better made that one of them), and while I'll never be a cute little Japanese girl and as such will never be a truely fabulous Jrock cosplayer, I did feel a little vindicated in terms of my workmanship tonight. ^__^
It was intersting to be at the live and watch the reaction of the fans... right now, no one really knows if Phantasmagoria will ever play again beyond these last few lives. Even if they do, half the band will be different. :( So... there was definitely an air of sadness when the show was finally over, and there were a couple of very upset Matoi fans on my side. :(
The girl next to me was a Jun fan... we called for him long after the house lights had come up, and afterwards... she thanked me for it. :) It surprised me... but it was very sweet.
I hadn't really thought what it would be like to go to a band's last live, or at least something like this - though seeing Phantasmagoria again before their 'hiatus' was the secondmost driving factor for coming to Japan in February. I've been so happy for the chance to see them again that I haven't even thought that I might not ever see them again. Didn't think what it must be like for the long time fans that I saw the show with tonight, the cosplaying saizen in front, the girls who reached so desperately for Jun's hand.
Phantasmagoria has always put on a really, really great show. It's what made me love the band so much. But I think tonight's show was even better, more intense, than any other time I've seen them... due to the fans determination to have the best last live possible. It was... really great to be able to be a part of that.
The band played two encores - I was certain when they left after the first, that they would return for the second, as they hadn't played Kami Uta yet. Phantasmagoria CAN'T have a live without Kami Uta... and they usually finish with the high-energy crowd favorite, extend it until the audience is frenzied with moshing, lunging, reaching for the boys. Still, we called for encore with all our might, and rocked the hell out to the best Phantasmagoria song ever XD
Definitely a performance to rememember.
Jun is still so fucking cute on stage. But suck a goddamn cock tease! He let us touch the head of his guitar once - but he must have taunted us with it about 10 times, holding it out just out of reach of our eager hands. But at the end he high fived us all, all smiles and bouncy and Jun.
There were two little Jun cosplayers tonight in my costume - er, I mean, the same one that I made (which a couple of my employees have affectionately nicknamed "the bird lady costume" ^^; ) They were super cute, I managed to get pictures of one of them with a really good Kisaki (I hope they turned out).
I was very satisfied to see that they'd made very similar fabric and construction choices as I did... (mine was actually much better made that one of them), and while I'll never be a cute little Japanese girl and as such will never be a truely fabulous Jrock cosplayer, I did feel a little vindicated in terms of my workmanship tonight. ^__^
It was intersting to be at the live and watch the reaction of the fans... right now, no one really knows if Phantasmagoria will ever play again beyond these last few lives. Even if they do, half the band will be different. :( So... there was definitely an air of sadness when the show was finally over, and there were a couple of very upset Matoi fans on my side. :(
The girl next to me was a Jun fan... we called for him long after the house lights had come up, and afterwards... she thanked me for it. :) It surprised me... but it was very sweet.
I hadn't really thought what it would be like to go to a band's last live, or at least something like this - though seeing Phantasmagoria again before their 'hiatus' was the secondmost driving factor for coming to Japan in February. I've been so happy for the chance to see them again that I haven't even thought that I might not ever see them again. Didn't think what it must be like for the long time fans that I saw the show with tonight, the cosplaying saizen in front, the girls who reached so desperately for Jun's hand.
Phantasmagoria has always put on a really, really great show. It's what made me love the band so much. But I think tonight's show was even better, more intense, than any other time I've seen them... due to the fans determination to have the best last live possible. It was... really great to be able to be a part of that.
The band played two encores - I was certain when they left after the first, that they would return for the second, as they hadn't played Kami Uta yet. Phantasmagoria CAN'T have a live without Kami Uta... and they usually finish with the high-energy crowd favorite, extend it until the audience is frenzied with moshing, lunging, reaching for the boys. Still, we called for encore with all our might, and rocked the hell out to the best Phantasmagoria song ever XD
Definitely a performance to rememember.
Thursday, 22 February 2007
Oh yeah, and Kyoto pictures.
http://community.webshots.com/album/557439435ARByCK?start=48
:D Kyoto pictures! Almost more than I've taken so far on my entire vacation, haha.
Incluuuding, outakes from the Maiko photoshoot I did. The actual pics from the shoot are REALLY great, but I'll get them in about a month.
Cost about $115 (and another $26 to get the shots on CD as well), but it was definitely worth it, and a lot of fun to get pampered by cute little Japanese girls who did my makeup and wrapped me up in a kimono (but omg where did my boobs go? ;__;)
I'm not sure whether it was more drastic to get all dressed up, or take all my piercings out. and I mean ALL.MY.PIERCINGS. Good god, I had no idea I had so much metal in my face. oo; but I had to take it all off, and all my rings ;__; and everything.
Then I spent about 45 minutes with the photographer, a very sweet young guy in his mid 20's I think, who spoke cute english, and helped me teeter around in the super-tall (and super tiny) geta, and tell me how to pose. He was really great to work with... it was probably the most enjoyable shoot I've done, simply because I just did exactly what I was told and didn't have to think about it at all, haha. And he kept saying, "Oh, Kawaii kawaii. Kirei. Oh, this will be a postcard!" XD
I'll scan the proofs when I get home, I really liked them.
Afterwards when I had all my metal back in again, he started telling me that I should be a Suicide Girl.
HAHAHAHAHAHA
I told him that I had a friend who was, and he seemed very impressed.
It got pretty chilly once it got dark, so I headed home pretty soon after that. Kyoto was very pretty, but I can only handle so much 'culture'.
Oh, but Kiyomizu-dera was so very beautiful... and the Jisho shrine....
It... felt very good there, made me want to be home with my girl. And... that's really all I want to say about that right now.
:D Kyoto pictures! Almost more than I've taken so far on my entire vacation, haha.
Incluuuding, outakes from the Maiko photoshoot I did. The actual pics from the shoot are REALLY great, but I'll get them in about a month.
Cost about $115 (and another $26 to get the shots on CD as well), but it was definitely worth it, and a lot of fun to get pampered by cute little Japanese girls who did my makeup and wrapped me up in a kimono (but omg where did my boobs go? ;__;)
I'm not sure whether it was more drastic to get all dressed up, or take all my piercings out. and I mean ALL.MY.PIERCINGS. Good god, I had no idea I had so much metal in my face. oo; but I had to take it all off, and all my rings ;__; and everything.
Then I spent about 45 minutes with the photographer, a very sweet young guy in his mid 20's I think, who spoke cute english, and helped me teeter around in the super-tall (and super tiny) geta, and tell me how to pose. He was really great to work with... it was probably the most enjoyable shoot I've done, simply because I just did exactly what I was told and didn't have to think about it at all, haha. And he kept saying, "Oh, Kawaii kawaii. Kirei. Oh, this will be a postcard!" XD
I'll scan the proofs when I get home, I really liked them.
Afterwards when I had all my metal back in again, he started telling me that I should be a Suicide Girl.
HAHAHAHAHAHA
I told him that I had a friend who was, and he seemed very impressed.
It got pretty chilly once it got dark, so I headed home pretty soon after that. Kyoto was very pretty, but I can only handle so much 'culture'.
Oh, but Kiyomizu-dera was so very beautiful... and the Jisho shrine....
It... felt very good there, made me want to be home with my girl. And... that's really all I want to say about that right now.
D! In Nagoya!
Saw D in Nagoya today. :D They were actually really great, though I was a bit iffy for the first four songs of the concert. The second song the D flags came out, which look really cool - to have the audience be a sea of red and black flags - but that song and 'Nightship D' have become -very- flag heavy since I last saw D, which is sad as I remember 'Nightship D' having some really good moshing bits when I saw them at Big Cat in 2005.
Annyway, the fourth song turned me into Fangirly Squee, as they played 'Face' which is the first D song I ever really loved - the song that got me into D in fact - and quite possibly still my favorite. Yami~Aria is also a toss up. Face started with the moshing, finally. This makes for a happy Zoi, as I have realized that what I like best about concerts here is getting right up front crush and rocking out ^____^ And 'Face' was great.
They played a few songs from their new album like 'Art de la Pista'(much better live), but mostly old favorites.... 'Eden', 'Dagan', and 'Yami yori kurai dokoku no acapella to bara yori akai jounetsu no Aria', (which I love writing out in full occasionally just because the longest damn song title in the world amuses the fuck out of me. :D )
At the beginning of the second set, Asagi came out on stage with this GINORMOUS blue daisy, humming a (I believe...) Lareine song, and refrenced Kamijo. He harassed the other band members with it before Ruiza stole it and pretended to use it as a feather duster. Then Asagi gave Ruiza three backs of "HAPPY TIME" crackers, which lead to many bad jokes and Ruiza taking off his guitar to do a 'happy dance' on stage. totemo kawaii XD. They showed off the tourgoods, which included a super cute hoodie with roses on the back (I was tempted, but they didn't have it in large and well... I don't wear hoodies) armband, cell phone charms (got one for my camera XD) cell phone privacy screen (I was tempted, but Shin would kill me) and the usual assortment of CDs and magazines. I also picked up 'The Vocalists and D' photobook - the best of the series in my biased opinion, as it has Asagi (duh) and Kamijo, and... maybe it also has Yuki.... <3 <3 <3
I've also decided that D fans are the sweetest so far, as I had a girl randomly offer to lend me one of her flags (awww) and got my hands grabbed for random parapara.
The band members were great, looking fabulous, all wearing a little bit of blue as apparently this was the tour colour. I stood on the left side of the stage for Ruiza/Hideki/Asagi.... Ruiza was so fucking cute! I touched his guitar *glee*. And then he jumped on us. And we all fell over. Because little japanese girls aren't so good with crowd surfing.
Asagi sounded really really great. I have mad love for that boy's voice. And the red contacts were very sexy. He seems to be really favoring long jackets with really really floofy skirt-bottoms, which he likes to floof around like a cape. And drape around Ruiza during guitar solos in the cutest quazi-cuddle EVER. OMG. So cute. I'd give my eyeteeth for a picture of them like that. I think they totally win for cutest fanservice ever. :D
And I got a hand...shake? From Asagi. I like how he plays with the crowd. They all seem to really love their fans.
Hideki was much less 'Hard Gay' in this costume, but stripped down to a sleeveless, open vest halfway through so he could show off his muscles, hahahaha. Tsunehito looks MUCH less scary in person, and actually seems to be fitting in with the band pretty well, they all had a good presance together. And Hide-zou was very handsome, though I didn't see much of him on the other side of the stage. ^__^
Electric Lady Land also gets points for having Ume chu-hi on the drink ticket list. ^__^
I think that's about all I have to write on the live. I've been enjoying my Ume-shu and can't really think about anything else. :D
Tomorrow I have Phantasmagoria... friday, Mago again in Tokyo. Saturday is Cirque du Soleil in the afternoon, and I'm pondering going to a live at Holiday Shinjuku with like... Bergerac and Gilgamesh and... random other bands, haha. 25th is Karaoke with Line and Clees, and then another live at Holiday Shinjuku with the Piass and a bunch of other bands, followed up by an all night after party.
Somewhere in there I have to:
- get more cash
- get self to Tokyo
- Finish Shopping
- Pack (x2)
Good god.
Annyway, the fourth song turned me into Fangirly Squee, as they played 'Face' which is the first D song I ever really loved - the song that got me into D in fact - and quite possibly still my favorite. Yami~Aria is also a toss up. Face started with the moshing, finally. This makes for a happy Zoi, as I have realized that what I like best about concerts here is getting right up front crush and rocking out ^____^ And 'Face' was great.
They played a few songs from their new album like 'Art de la Pista'(much better live), but mostly old favorites.... 'Eden', 'Dagan', and 'Yami yori kurai dokoku no acapella to bara yori akai jounetsu no Aria', (which I love writing out in full occasionally just because the longest damn song title in the world amuses the fuck out of me. :D )
At the beginning of the second set, Asagi came out on stage with this GINORMOUS blue daisy, humming a (I believe...) Lareine song, and refrenced Kamijo. He harassed the other band members with it before Ruiza stole it and pretended to use it as a feather duster. Then Asagi gave Ruiza three backs of "HAPPY TIME" crackers, which lead to many bad jokes and Ruiza taking off his guitar to do a 'happy dance' on stage. totemo kawaii XD. They showed off the tourgoods, which included a super cute hoodie with roses on the back (I was tempted, but they didn't have it in large and well... I don't wear hoodies) armband, cell phone charms (got one for my camera XD) cell phone privacy screen (I was tempted, but Shin would kill me) and the usual assortment of CDs and magazines. I also picked up 'The Vocalists and D' photobook - the best of the series in my biased opinion, as it has Asagi (duh) and Kamijo, and... maybe it also has Yuki.... <3 <3 <3
I've also decided that D fans are the sweetest so far, as I had a girl randomly offer to lend me one of her flags (awww) and got my hands grabbed for random parapara.
The band members were great, looking fabulous, all wearing a little bit of blue as apparently this was the tour colour. I stood on the left side of the stage for Ruiza/Hideki/Asagi.... Ruiza was so fucking cute! I touched his guitar *glee*. And then he jumped on us. And we all fell over. Because little japanese girls aren't so good with crowd surfing.
Asagi sounded really really great. I have mad love for that boy's voice. And the red contacts were very sexy. He seems to be really favoring long jackets with really really floofy skirt-bottoms, which he likes to floof around like a cape. And drape around Ruiza during guitar solos in the cutest quazi-cuddle EVER. OMG. So cute. I'd give my eyeteeth for a picture of them like that. I think they totally win for cutest fanservice ever. :D
And I got a hand...shake? From Asagi. I like how he plays with the crowd. They all seem to really love their fans.
Hideki was much less 'Hard Gay' in this costume, but stripped down to a sleeveless, open vest halfway through so he could show off his muscles, hahahaha. Tsunehito looks MUCH less scary in person, and actually seems to be fitting in with the band pretty well, they all had a good presance together. And Hide-zou was very handsome, though I didn't see much of him on the other side of the stage. ^__^
Electric Lady Land also gets points for having Ume chu-hi on the drink ticket list. ^__^
I think that's about all I have to write on the live. I've been enjoying my Ume-shu and can't really think about anything else. :D
Tomorrow I have Phantasmagoria... friday, Mago again in Tokyo. Saturday is Cirque du Soleil in the afternoon, and I'm pondering going to a live at Holiday Shinjuku with like... Bergerac and Gilgamesh and... random other bands, haha. 25th is Karaoke with Line and Clees, and then another live at Holiday Shinjuku with the Piass and a bunch of other bands, followed up by an all night after party.
Somewhere in there I have to:
- get more cash
- get self to Tokyo
- Finish Shopping
- Pack (x2)
Good god.
Monday, 19 February 2007
More shopping and more great lives :D
My Last week here... it seems like the time has gone by so fast. But... gods, what a time it's been! And saturday... saturday was so, so great....
Just checking in to Nagoya. Tomorrow I'm going to do something cultural with myself and head out to Kyoto, until then I'm taking things easy. On Wednesday I see D at Electric Lady Land, and Thursday is Phantasmagoria at the same venue (I love ELL. So easy to get to. XD ). Then it's back to Tokyo on friday the 23rd for Mago's last live before their break ;__; and Iori and Matoi leaving... which will likely be my last live of the trip. Saturday afternoon I see Cirque du Soleil - Dralion :D , and Sunday I'm either hanging out and karaokeing with Clees and Line (I hope you both don't mind Raphael... HAHAHA) or if plans fall through with them, going to The PIASS live and an all night after party Oo;; for my last day here.
Monday... back to Canada, and back to my darling love. <3 <3 <3
Last night Barabara and I had the most AMAZING sushi, it was sooo good. We couldn't find a kaiten sushi (conveyer belt sushi) place in Himeji, so we just went to a sushi restaurant for a light sushi dinner as it was annoyingly expensive. ^^;; Buut, they had very very good unagi, and the most delicious salmon I've EVER had. I've had some really good, really tender salmon before, but what set this apart was that it was garnished with some small onion shavings and a dollop of Japanese Mayo! And it was SO DAMN GOOD like that. So much that we ordered more. #^_^# Then we went for dessert crepes. I love crepes. ^_^
Yesterday we chilled in Osaka for a bit. I bought a bunch more CD's #^_^# including Lareine's 'Bara wa' (gorgeous!), a Raphael tour brochure, and a little Due le Quartz calander. I also bought Celestial Gate's album, which is called "Sanctuary of jesus". XD
Now, I adore Celestial Gate. They were one of the first tiny little bands I saw in Saitama at my first live in 2005. Now, they're not particularly musically fabulous, but they're so very... very Visual Kei. Pretentious names, crazy stage antics, random punctuation and everything. The band members have the most amazingly mismatched style between them all - one Ego in a Suit, one misplaced 80's star, one grungy plaid boy, and one Shinjuku casual styled. The 80's guitarist, Jean Tohru Mannaly, consistantly has his deliciously pretentious name spelled wrong by magazines, and when I saw them, used a fabulous guitar made of skulls that sprayed dry ice fog out of the head. XDD The vocalist, Kin, is like... the love child of Yura and Sugizo, and swaggers like no ones business. Anyway, they amused the hell out of me, so I figured this time around I'd toss them some support and buy an album. ^__^
Sadly, I don't think my quest for a Kagrra phone strap is going to be successful, so I think I'll go back to the Shinjuku closet child and see if their Phantasmagoria one is still there. (or was it at Like an Edison? In any case...)
I've already way surpassed my CD/DVD total of 41 last time... mostly because I keep finding really cheap singles that I feel the need to liberate, like my 100 yen ($1) Buck Tick and New Sodamy CDs. I also bought another copy of Raphael's Sweet Romance, because it has the stickers with it and was again only 100 yen.
I'm hoping I can find a couple of Hora's releases, if not the Another Cell album (that would be VERY cool), as I want to pimp them out to people. *crosses fingers*
Oh! Saturday! Saturday was a REALLY great day, and I've totally neglected to write about anything other than... well, my saturday night *lol* But here's saturday in a nutshell.
I had to check out of my hotel in Tokyo at 10am, so I threw most of my luggage in a coin locker in Tokyo and went out in search of portable ashtrays and sexy clothes. In Harajuku, I revisited that one little clothing store right before Closet child that has used CDs at the back. It usually just caries rare-er stuff, and it's a bit more pricy than closet child, BUT I managed to get two Unzu CD's there earlier this week(!!) and this time, I found the Rice 2005 calander - the only release other than Angerudai that I didn't have - AND a signed copy of Haruka for 800 yen that I bought immediately ^_______^
Then I hit up the Closet Child, and found another secondhand H.Naoto top <3 for myself. I also picked up this really cute olive green H.Naoto top for $5 in the hopes that my girl might wear it... I try to avoid buying second hand for other people, but at the holyshit cheap price of $5 I figured that if she didn't want it I could just sell it on ebay. XD
I spent some time in Shinjuku and picked up a couple of cheap portable ashtrays for Paris and Jon, and a black metal cigarette case for myself which I've packed my Rice lighters in, in the hopes that it'll squirell them past any possible airport confiscation in my checked luggage. *crosses fingers* I also had Takoyaki with Egg Salad on it, which sounds kind of strange but was actually pretty good.
After lunch, I set off to find the Takarazuka theather - more specifically, the Quatre Reves store, to find the Black Lizard program for Tristen Citrine (found and bought!). I went the entirely wrong direction (stupid of me because the map was quite good), but it ended up being a good thing, as when I got there I ran into Chibi! and her friend.
This was, however, very bad for my wallet, as Chibi's friend helped me find Yoka Wao stuff. *blushes* I picked up the Tokyo program for Cosmos Troup's 'Phantom', as well as the Moon Troup 'Phantom'... a couple postcards, the cosmos troup hello kitty cell phone charm... a Phantom... pencil board? And... um... I splurged and bought Cosmos Troup's 'Phantom' on DVD.
Now, this might not sound like a big splurge... but Takarazuka DVDs run about $100 a show. *cries* But, but... Yoka Wao as Erik! I couldn't resist. :(
In the evening was the Hizaki Grace Project live. Sadly, their last live... it was only meant to be a small project, as the members have their own work - Juka announced a solo release, which I'm very excited about. But it was a really, really great live.
The stage was decorated with even more flowers than normal - I found out they were all of Lareine's flowers, all the flowers that the Fleur had given them over the years. The first time I saw Hizaki Grace Project peform, they really made me think of Lareine in style... I figured it was probably due to Kamijo's influence. So... I'm very happy that I was able to see a little part of the World of Romance reborn in Hizaki Grace Project, even if it was just for a short time. The songs were fabulous - I got to hear 'Winter Farewell' twice, which is my favorite... Juka and Yuu flirting like mad, and the others were just too cute. Hizaki did a costume change halfway through into the most fucking gorgeous red/gold/green gown.... if I thought I had a chance in hell of matching the pattern, I would totally cosplay that, blonde hair and all. (dammit, what's with all these blondes with irresistably beautiful costumes... -_-; )
I wanted to stick around afterwards to see how the costume auction went, but decided to go drinking in Kabukicho with Pauliina instead ^_~ We... had a really great time.
Just checking in to Nagoya. Tomorrow I'm going to do something cultural with myself and head out to Kyoto, until then I'm taking things easy. On Wednesday I see D at Electric Lady Land, and Thursday is Phantasmagoria at the same venue (I love ELL. So easy to get to. XD ). Then it's back to Tokyo on friday the 23rd for Mago's last live before their break ;__; and Iori and Matoi leaving... which will likely be my last live of the trip. Saturday afternoon I see Cirque du Soleil - Dralion :D , and Sunday I'm either hanging out and karaokeing with Clees and Line (I hope you both don't mind Raphael... HAHAHA) or if plans fall through with them, going to The PIASS live and an all night after party Oo;; for my last day here.
Monday... back to Canada, and back to my darling love. <3 <3 <3
Last night Barabara and I had the most AMAZING sushi, it was sooo good. We couldn't find a kaiten sushi (conveyer belt sushi) place in Himeji, so we just went to a sushi restaurant for a light sushi dinner as it was annoyingly expensive. ^^;; Buut, they had very very good unagi, and the most delicious salmon I've EVER had. I've had some really good, really tender salmon before, but what set this apart was that it was garnished with some small onion shavings and a dollop of Japanese Mayo! And it was SO DAMN GOOD like that. So much that we ordered more. #^_^# Then we went for dessert crepes. I love crepes. ^_^
Yesterday we chilled in Osaka for a bit. I bought a bunch more CD's #^_^# including Lareine's 'Bara wa' (gorgeous!), a Raphael tour brochure, and a little Due le Quartz calander. I also bought Celestial Gate's album, which is called "Sanctuary of jesus". XD
Now, I adore Celestial Gate. They were one of the first tiny little bands I saw in Saitama at my first live in 2005. Now, they're not particularly musically fabulous, but they're so very... very Visual Kei. Pretentious names, crazy stage antics, random punctuation and everything. The band members have the most amazingly mismatched style between them all - one Ego in a Suit, one misplaced 80's star, one grungy plaid boy, and one Shinjuku casual styled. The 80's guitarist, Jean Tohru Mannaly, consistantly has his deliciously pretentious name spelled wrong by magazines, and when I saw them, used a fabulous guitar made of skulls that sprayed dry ice fog out of the head. XDD The vocalist, Kin, is like... the love child of Yura and Sugizo, and swaggers like no ones business. Anyway, they amused the hell out of me, so I figured this time around I'd toss them some support and buy an album. ^__^
Sadly, I don't think my quest for a Kagrra phone strap is going to be successful, so I think I'll go back to the Shinjuku closet child and see if their Phantasmagoria one is still there. (or was it at Like an Edison? In any case...)
I've already way surpassed my CD/DVD total of 41 last time... mostly because I keep finding really cheap singles that I feel the need to liberate, like my 100 yen ($1) Buck Tick and New Sodamy CDs. I also bought another copy of Raphael's Sweet Romance, because it has the stickers with it and was again only 100 yen.
I'm hoping I can find a couple of Hora's releases, if not the Another Cell album (that would be VERY cool), as I want to pimp them out to people. *crosses fingers*
Oh! Saturday! Saturday was a REALLY great day, and I've totally neglected to write about anything other than... well, my saturday night *lol* But here's saturday in a nutshell.
I had to check out of my hotel in Tokyo at 10am, so I threw most of my luggage in a coin locker in Tokyo and went out in search of portable ashtrays and sexy clothes. In Harajuku, I revisited that one little clothing store right before Closet child that has used CDs at the back. It usually just caries rare-er stuff, and it's a bit more pricy than closet child, BUT I managed to get two Unzu CD's there earlier this week(!!) and this time, I found the Rice 2005 calander - the only release other than Angerudai that I didn't have - AND a signed copy of Haruka for 800 yen that I bought immediately ^_______^
Then I hit up the Closet Child, and found another secondhand H.Naoto top <3 for myself. I also picked up this really cute olive green H.Naoto top for $5 in the hopes that my girl might wear it... I try to avoid buying second hand for other people, but at the holyshit cheap price of $5 I figured that if she didn't want it I could just sell it on ebay. XD
I spent some time in Shinjuku and picked up a couple of cheap portable ashtrays for Paris and Jon, and a black metal cigarette case for myself which I've packed my Rice lighters in, in the hopes that it'll squirell them past any possible airport confiscation in my checked luggage. *crosses fingers* I also had Takoyaki with Egg Salad on it, which sounds kind of strange but was actually pretty good.
After lunch, I set off to find the Takarazuka theather - more specifically, the Quatre Reves store, to find the Black Lizard program for Tristen Citrine (found and bought!). I went the entirely wrong direction (stupid of me because the map was quite good), but it ended up being a good thing, as when I got there I ran into Chibi! and her friend.
This was, however, very bad for my wallet, as Chibi's friend helped me find Yoka Wao stuff. *blushes* I picked up the Tokyo program for Cosmos Troup's 'Phantom', as well as the Moon Troup 'Phantom'... a couple postcards, the cosmos troup hello kitty cell phone charm... a Phantom... pencil board? And... um... I splurged and bought Cosmos Troup's 'Phantom' on DVD.
Now, this might not sound like a big splurge... but Takarazuka DVDs run about $100 a show. *cries* But, but... Yoka Wao as Erik! I couldn't resist. :(
In the evening was the Hizaki Grace Project live. Sadly, their last live... it was only meant to be a small project, as the members have their own work - Juka announced a solo release, which I'm very excited about. But it was a really, really great live.
The stage was decorated with even more flowers than normal - I found out they were all of Lareine's flowers, all the flowers that the Fleur had given them over the years. The first time I saw Hizaki Grace Project peform, they really made me think of Lareine in style... I figured it was probably due to Kamijo's influence. So... I'm very happy that I was able to see a little part of the World of Romance reborn in Hizaki Grace Project, even if it was just for a short time. The songs were fabulous - I got to hear 'Winter Farewell' twice, which is my favorite... Juka and Yuu flirting like mad, and the others were just too cute. Hizaki did a costume change halfway through into the most fucking gorgeous red/gold/green gown.... if I thought I had a chance in hell of matching the pattern, I would totally cosplay that, blonde hair and all. (dammit, what's with all these blondes with irresistably beautiful costumes... -_-; )
I wanted to stick around afterwards to see how the costume auction went, but decided to go drinking in Kabukicho with Pauliina instead ^_~ We... had a really great time.
Saturday, 17 February 2007
"I Hate Myself And Want To Die"
The best song title EVAR. Only better when found on a tshirt with hearts and rainbows XD
TL:DR Version: Rentrer en Soi was awesome, Satsuki screams verrry nicely, people that imitate stonehenge in the mosh pit need a good kick in the ass, and my dreads are hawt.
Entry:
So, tonight I saw Rentrer en Soi. Who were awesome, despite the fact that their set wasn't NEARLY long enough considering all the crap bands we had to sit through to get to them. (I lie, the other bands were actually pretty decent... nothing spectacular, but a fun time anyway. ^_^ )
Shinjuku Loft is, in fact, a basement. HAHAHAHAHAHA. The venue was... a cute little bar. probably comparable in size to AREA - a little bigger, but set up more like a bar so there was less actual floor space for seeing the show, IMHO.
Of the other bands, Dio and Sel'm both put on a good, high energy, head banger show. I wore my new dreadfalls tonight, which I reincarnated from the dreads I had last february in a moment of "omg my hair is boring" right before I left on vacation. I have decided they are vastly superior to my previous pair of dreadfalls, which are falling apart and I think I'm going to trash when I get home. The dreads are much tighter (since they were professionally rolled and not by me, haha) and they're just the right length to mosh.
I haven't moshed with dreads since Tea Party. Since I actually had dreads. I forgot how fabulously fun it was. ^___^ Also, since you have to treat moshing with dreads a certain way, I think it completely elliminated all whiplash.... yay :D
So while I had no clue who the other bands were, I went up for most of them anyway and moshed my little dread head off ^____^ So fun. I swear, if I could go to this many lives all the time I'd lose so much weight... XD At one point in time during Dio's set I even found myself caught in a crowd of... fans jumping about and trying to commit hari-kari by slamming into each other. It wasn't nearly as WTF as it seems while watching from the sidelines. HAHAHA.
What puzzled me was that the fans seem to have developed a new process for body-slamming for the smaller bands... the saizen will jump and throw themselves over the pit barrier, essentially making themselves into human bumper-pads for the rows behind to run and slam into. And I mean RUN AND SLAM INTO.
At first I thought, good god you're all sadistic.
Then I thought that... given the choice between having the second row throw themselves violently against my spine, or against my ass.... I'd take the ass too. ^^;;
Anyway. Gossip opened and were... standard visual kei fare. Gift(ギフト) followed, and were a bit more remarkable, though this is mainly because the guitarist on my side (in green) was the cuuutest thing ever. He looked like he weighed about as much as a stick, and was wearing a little tummy-baring top and a floofy belt of a skirt (thankfully with shorts underneath...), and when he wasn't hiding behind his mass of teased hair, had a huge infectious grin(a la Jun, Kazui) to go with his sweet doe-eyes. ^_____^ so cute. *pets*
Sel'm had a surprising number of male fans, and a couple of gaijin... one of whom.... just stood there. -_-;
I have decided that one of my pet peeves is gajin who go to lives, push their way up to the front to get omg close to their band, and then just... do nothing. Now, I don't expect everyone to be into trying to learn parapara on the fly, but, you know... at least move a little??? Especially with this band, iIt's not hard to pump your fist in the goddamn air. Now, if you really want to stand there like Stonehenge, that's all well and fine... BUT DON'T STAND IN THE PIT. Take five steps back, and leave the pit for the people who actually want to enjoy the pit. Plus... it just seems rude to me to go to the front for a band and then not to show any enthusiasm. Is that weird of me?
Dio were fourth, and were super 'kakkoi' in terms of image... black and gold costumes, very hot designs. They put on a good show and were a lot of fun, but the vocalist... um... needs to work on his pitch. ^^; Maybe it was a bad night... or just too much screaming.
Rentrer en Soi, of course, were last, and were really great. They were pretty dressed down, apart from Satsuki in a faaabulous lepoard print suit. XD The band members interaction was very cute... and I got to hear Bunretsu LE+DD Jinkaku live <3 <3 among other numbers, though sadly they didn't play Usu Koushouku or Protoplasm. :( They did one encore - apparently the new single, it was pretty tight. But apparently I wasn't the only one who thought the set was to short, as the crowd called for another encore long after the curtain had dropped, so long that an announcer was finally like "ok... that's really it.... -_-;" (I assume.)
On the way back, I had to go through Kabukicho to get back to the station. Kabukicho = host club district ^_^;;; So I took to heart the best advice ever when dealing with Kabukicho: If someone strange tries to speak english to you, pretend you only speak french.
Strange big black guy: Hey Honey.
Me: (oh shit.) Bonjour? *walks faster*
Him: You're looking good.
Me: (Yeah, 'cause you're desperate and no jp girl would look twice at you) Je suis de fromage!
At that point he gave up and I hurried away into the crowd with my Ginger Chicken McBurger, which was rather disappointing and not gingery at all. :( So I think I might hit up the conbini in a bit.... mostly I just don't want to take off this sexy fabulous shirt quite yet.... ^_^
Tomorrow I get to... try and fit lots of stuff into my luggage. I think I'm going to leave it at Tokyo station in a coin locker so I don't have to worry about it until before I get on the bus tomorrow night ^^; I also need to try and find more nailpolish (or maybe I'll just buy a set of super blinging fake nails... HAHAHA) and a duffle bag.
I'd also really like to pick up a couple of portable ashtrays to take home for smoking friends... if they aren't horribly pricy and I can figure out where to get them. They seem like such a great idea. ^___^
Also need to figure out how to get to the livehouse tomorrow. Yay Hizaki Grace Project! ^__^
TL:DR Version: Rentrer en Soi was awesome, Satsuki screams verrry nicely, people that imitate stonehenge in the mosh pit need a good kick in the ass, and my dreads are hawt.
Entry:
So, tonight I saw Rentrer en Soi. Who were awesome, despite the fact that their set wasn't NEARLY long enough considering all the crap bands we had to sit through to get to them. (I lie, the other bands were actually pretty decent... nothing spectacular, but a fun time anyway. ^_^ )
Shinjuku Loft is, in fact, a basement. HAHAHAHAHAHA. The venue was... a cute little bar. probably comparable in size to AREA - a little bigger, but set up more like a bar so there was less actual floor space for seeing the show, IMHO.
Of the other bands, Dio and Sel'm both put on a good, high energy, head banger show. I wore my new dreadfalls tonight, which I reincarnated from the dreads I had last february in a moment of "omg my hair is boring" right before I left on vacation. I have decided they are vastly superior to my previous pair of dreadfalls, which are falling apart and I think I'm going to trash when I get home. The dreads are much tighter (since they were professionally rolled and not by me, haha) and they're just the right length to mosh.
I haven't moshed with dreads since Tea Party. Since I actually had dreads. I forgot how fabulously fun it was. ^___^ Also, since you have to treat moshing with dreads a certain way, I think it completely elliminated all whiplash.... yay :D
So while I had no clue who the other bands were, I went up for most of them anyway and moshed my little dread head off ^____^ So fun. I swear, if I could go to this many lives all the time I'd lose so much weight... XD At one point in time during Dio's set I even found myself caught in a crowd of... fans jumping about and trying to commit hari-kari by slamming into each other. It wasn't nearly as WTF as it seems while watching from the sidelines. HAHAHA.
What puzzled me was that the fans seem to have developed a new process for body-slamming for the smaller bands... the saizen will jump and throw themselves over the pit barrier, essentially making themselves into human bumper-pads for the rows behind to run and slam into. And I mean RUN AND SLAM INTO.
At first I thought, good god you're all sadistic.
Then I thought that... given the choice between having the second row throw themselves violently against my spine, or against my ass.... I'd take the ass too. ^^;;
Anyway. Gossip opened and were... standard visual kei fare. Gift(ギフト) followed, and were a bit more remarkable, though this is mainly because the guitarist on my side (in green) was the cuuutest thing ever. He looked like he weighed about as much as a stick, and was wearing a little tummy-baring top and a floofy belt of a skirt (thankfully with shorts underneath...), and when he wasn't hiding behind his mass of teased hair, had a huge infectious grin(a la Jun, Kazui) to go with his sweet doe-eyes. ^_____^ so cute. *pets*
Sel'm had a surprising number of male fans, and a couple of gaijin... one of whom.... just stood there. -_-;
I have decided that one of my pet peeves is gajin who go to lives, push their way up to the front to get omg close to their band, and then just... do nothing. Now, I don't expect everyone to be into trying to learn parapara on the fly, but, you know... at least move a little??? Especially with this band, iIt's not hard to pump your fist in the goddamn air. Now, if you really want to stand there like Stonehenge, that's all well and fine... BUT DON'T STAND IN THE PIT. Take five steps back, and leave the pit for the people who actually want to enjoy the pit. Plus... it just seems rude to me to go to the front for a band and then not to show any enthusiasm. Is that weird of me?
Dio were fourth, and were super 'kakkoi' in terms of image... black and gold costumes, very hot designs. They put on a good show and were a lot of fun, but the vocalist... um... needs to work on his pitch. ^^; Maybe it was a bad night... or just too much screaming.
Rentrer en Soi, of course, were last, and were really great. They were pretty dressed down, apart from Satsuki in a faaabulous lepoard print suit. XD The band members interaction was very cute... and I got to hear Bunretsu LE+DD Jinkaku live <3 <3 among other numbers, though sadly they didn't play Usu Koushouku or Protoplasm. :( They did one encore - apparently the new single, it was pretty tight. But apparently I wasn't the only one who thought the set was to short, as the crowd called for another encore long after the curtain had dropped, so long that an announcer was finally like "ok... that's really it.... -_-;" (I assume.)
On the way back, I had to go through Kabukicho to get back to the station. Kabukicho = host club district ^_^;;; So I took to heart the best advice ever when dealing with Kabukicho: If someone strange tries to speak english to you, pretend you only speak french.
Strange big black guy: Hey Honey.
Me: (oh shit.) Bonjour? *walks faster*
Him: You're looking good.
Me: (Yeah, 'cause you're desperate and no jp girl would look twice at you) Je suis de fromage!
At that point he gave up and I hurried away into the crowd with my Ginger Chicken McBurger, which was rather disappointing and not gingery at all. :( So I think I might hit up the conbini in a bit.... mostly I just don't want to take off this sexy fabulous shirt quite yet.... ^_^
Tomorrow I get to... try and fit lots of stuff into my luggage. I think I'm going to leave it at Tokyo station in a coin locker so I don't have to worry about it until before I get on the bus tomorrow night ^^; I also need to try and find more nailpolish (or maybe I'll just buy a set of super blinging fake nails... HAHAHA) and a duffle bag.
I'd also really like to pick up a couple of portable ashtrays to take home for smoking friends... if they aren't horribly pricy and I can figure out where to get them. They seem like such a great idea. ^___^
Also need to figure out how to get to the livehouse tomorrow. Yay Hizaki Grace Project! ^__^
Thursday, 15 February 2007
Mmm, expensive sexy clothing
This? This is mine.
(though the belt is slightly different.)
The back of it says "exists since the pirate glory age". XDDDD
This beautiful peice of work is the $250 jacket I would have bought in a heartbeat had it fit me. *pets it* ;_;
My other top isn't on the website, but the rest of the catalogue is a good drool anyway.
Yumyumyum.
And before I go to bed: Anna Tsuchiya - Kuroi Namida ~deep sadness version~ - one of the most fabulous songs ever to come out of a female artist in Japan, imho ^_~ Uploaded for your listening pleasure.
(though the belt is slightly different.)
The back of it says "exists since the pirate glory age". XDDDD
This beautiful peice of work is the $250 jacket I would have bought in a heartbeat had it fit me. *pets it* ;_;
My other top isn't on the website, but the rest of the catalogue is a good drool anyway.
Yumyumyum.
And before I go to bed: Anna Tsuchiya - Kuroi Namida ~deep sadness version~ - one of the most fabulous songs ever to come out of a female artist in Japan, imho ^_~ Uploaded for your listening pleasure.
Today I was a brand whore.
I was a brand whore for a good purpose, though. <3
I found the main h.Naoto store in Harajuku. ;_; I didn't have time to see everything, so perhaps I'll have to go back.... ^^;
But I went to 'hEAVEN'. Good god... it was beautiful. They had a row of display models hanging from the ceiling... I can't even begin to describe it. Compositions of fabric and lace and chiffon, layers of ruffles, trim... so amazingly innovative... at that point, something is no longer fashion... it's art. Studying those creations, an overwhelming sense of wonder came over me... that such beautiful things could exist in the world, and that I could see them.
It was a little overwhelming. I don't know if I've ever had that strong a reaction to something non-musical before.... it was the kind of thing that you need a cigarette after. <3
Kind of a religious experience. :D
There was a jacket there, for sale... I would have dropped the $250 on it in an instant if it had fit. A suit jacket, with the left half and the back sewn into a black lace bodice, trimmed with layers of chiffon ruffle at the bottom. The fabric of the suit part of the jacket was woven so incredibly fine, embroidered with tiny silk crosses, and the back of the bodice even had hook and eye closures.
Unfortunately, it didn't fit over my boobs. ^^;
So, I oogledg everything a little more, and checking the men's store 'h.' next door (very sexy, but the theme at the moment is is autumn colours and a deconstructed kind of mottled dye look, bot really suited to anyone that I'm shopping for.
Then I went back to the h.Naoto store in Shinjuku and bought the 'H.Anarchyism' jacket, and the 'h.Naoto East' that I had been drooling over earlier and trying to resist the urge to buy. The cute little goth shop girl said I looked "Kakkoi!" and excitedly went on about a bunch of stuff I couldn't understand before giving me a free h.Naoto print cloth bag and ringing me up. ^_^;
The 'Black Peace Now' shopgirl also wins total cute points for happily practicing her english on me, and putting awsesome gift-wrapping on my purchase. (I didn't really mean to request it... just indicated it was a gift so she wouldn't try to make me try it on or anything... ^^;;)
At the moment I'm having an early night, drinking Umeshu and watching strange Japanese TV with little old ladies that play Pong for hours on end, and tigers and piglets that are best friends. ^^;
Tomorrow I'll probaby do a little more shopping... then Rentrer en Soi in the evening. :D
I'm not sure how I'm going to get this all back to Bara's place... and in my suitcase... -_-; Maybe I'll have to go shopping for a cheap duffle bag. ^^;
(damn, I still haven't really had sushi.)
I found the main h.Naoto store in Harajuku. ;_; I didn't have time to see everything, so perhaps I'll have to go back.... ^^;
But I went to 'hEAVEN'. Good god... it was beautiful. They had a row of display models hanging from the ceiling... I can't even begin to describe it. Compositions of fabric and lace and chiffon, layers of ruffles, trim... so amazingly innovative... at that point, something is no longer fashion... it's art. Studying those creations, an overwhelming sense of wonder came over me... that such beautiful things could exist in the world, and that I could see them.
It was a little overwhelming. I don't know if I've ever had that strong a reaction to something non-musical before.... it was the kind of thing that you need a cigarette after. <3
Kind of a religious experience. :D
There was a jacket there, for sale... I would have dropped the $250 on it in an instant if it had fit. A suit jacket, with the left half and the back sewn into a black lace bodice, trimmed with layers of chiffon ruffle at the bottom. The fabric of the suit part of the jacket was woven so incredibly fine, embroidered with tiny silk crosses, and the back of the bodice even had hook and eye closures.
Unfortunately, it didn't fit over my boobs. ^^;
So, I oogledg everything a little more, and checking the men's store 'h.' next door (very sexy, but the theme at the moment is is autumn colours and a deconstructed kind of mottled dye look, bot really suited to anyone that I'm shopping for.
Then I went back to the h.Naoto store in Shinjuku and bought the 'H.Anarchyism' jacket, and the 'h.Naoto East' that I had been drooling over earlier and trying to resist the urge to buy. The cute little goth shop girl said I looked "Kakkoi!" and excitedly went on about a bunch of stuff I couldn't understand before giving me a free h.Naoto print cloth bag and ringing me up. ^_^;
The 'Black Peace Now' shopgirl also wins total cute points for happily practicing her english on me, and putting awsesome gift-wrapping on my purchase. (I didn't really mean to request it... just indicated it was a gift so she wouldn't try to make me try it on or anything... ^^;;)
At the moment I'm having an early night, drinking Umeshu and watching strange Japanese TV with little old ladies that play Pong for hours on end, and tigers and piglets that are best friends. ^^;
Tomorrow I'll probaby do a little more shopping... then Rentrer en Soi in the evening. :D
I'm not sure how I'm going to get this all back to Bara's place... and in my suitcase... -_-; Maybe I'll have to go shopping for a cheap duffle bag. ^^;
(damn, I still haven't really had sushi.)
*thparkle*
So, Clees and I saw Kaya (ex.Schwarx Stein) perform live tonight. I wasn't quite sure what to expect because I thought he'd only released like, 4 songs (it's really more like 9...) and wondered how that could fill a one man.
The answer? Drag. Lots, and lots of drag. And little gay gogo dancers boys. ^^; Kaya's three drag queen friends (Scarlet, Galley and I didn't catch) were madly adorable, full of sparkles and ruffles and showgirl glam. Like, high drag. Faaaaabulous. The opening act was just them dancing and lipsinking with the gay gogo dancers (We are Family! I'm Bringing Sexy Back... etc) and then they randomly did numbers with Kaya.
Kaya... is adorable. He Thparkles. Rainbow thparkles. He even beats out Kamijo's "Bonjour Honey~~~~" for flamboyancy. ^^;; But it was very cute. And he sounds really really good live, which made me happy, as I've always really liked Kaya's vocals.
Musically there's some Schwarz Stein in there still - understandable as Hora wrote some of his work - but overall a more... upbeat, theatrical quality to it. I kind of like it. I bought his album. Will probably share a couple of the more SS songs... when I get around to pimping out Hora's albums.....
Oh, and watching him and his drag queens do "Lady Marmalade" was -awesome-. Kaya in a pink sparkly tux jacket with tails and matching tophat is the win ^___^
He also did more costume changes than any other artist like... EVER. sad because the outfit he wore for the first number was absolutely GORGEOUS - cage skirt and matching collar and elabourate crown - but he took off the cage/collar/crown after the first number to just wear the dress underneath. still pretty... but I wanted to stare at the cage more ;_;
Time to catch some zzzs... meeting Chibi in the morning in Shinjuku. ^_^
Oh, and 'Glitter' and the new Kagrra album bring my purchased cd/dvd count on this trip to 34. oo;; (and I'm only halfway through! ;___; )
The answer? Drag. Lots, and lots of drag. And little gay gogo dancers boys. ^^; Kaya's three drag queen friends (Scarlet, Galley and I didn't catch) were madly adorable, full of sparkles and ruffles and showgirl glam. Like, high drag. Faaaaabulous. The opening act was just them dancing and lipsinking with the gay gogo dancers (We are Family! I'm Bringing Sexy Back... etc) and then they randomly did numbers with Kaya.
Kaya... is adorable. He Thparkles. Rainbow thparkles. He even beats out Kamijo's "Bonjour Honey~~~~" for flamboyancy. ^^;; But it was very cute. And he sounds really really good live, which made me happy, as I've always really liked Kaya's vocals.
Musically there's some Schwarz Stein in there still - understandable as Hora wrote some of his work - but overall a more... upbeat, theatrical quality to it. I kind of like it. I bought his album. Will probably share a couple of the more SS songs... when I get around to pimping out Hora's albums.....
Oh, and watching him and his drag queens do "Lady Marmalade" was -awesome-. Kaya in a pink sparkly tux jacket with tails and matching tophat is the win ^___^
He also did more costume changes than any other artist like... EVER. sad because the outfit he wore for the first number was absolutely GORGEOUS - cage skirt and matching collar and elabourate crown - but he took off the cage/collar/crown after the first number to just wear the dress underneath. still pretty... but I wanted to stare at the cage more ;_;
Time to catch some zzzs... meeting Chibi in the morning in Shinjuku. ^_^
Oh, and 'Glitter' and the new Kagrra album bring my purchased cd/dvd count on this trip to 34. oo;; (and I'm only halfway through! ;___; )
Tuesday, 13 February 2007
Updates from Osaka (ish)
It's been a couple days of VERY BUSY so I figured I'd take a moment and check in. I'm at Barabara's place in Teramae right now, which is a couple hours outside Osaka. nice to relax (and hopefully do some laundry once my luggage arrives)
I'll post some pics once I can get Imai on the internet (am on Bara's computer atm), they're pretty random; pre-live shots, a couple of smexy cosplayers, mostly keitai pics
annnnnd, one gloating shot of the Due'le Quartz stuff I cleaned out of the Ikebukuro Closet Child. Sometimes I'm happy to love a forgotten band. ^^;
2 postcard sets, the Memorial Box for $18 (DVD, collection of all their magazine apperances, postcard set) Annnnd, the most exciting thing, the poster file.
Most importantly, THIS poster.
*squees and wiggles happily* My most absolute favorite shot of him EVER. It's getting dry-mounted. Or framed. Or framed in Gold, as Barabara sarcastically suggested. <3 <3 <3 $13 for the whole file.
I'm going to sell the Miyabi ones on Ebay. XD
I went to the Undercode event in Osaka last night to see Vidoll, Phantasmagoria, and 12012. All the bands were great, though 12012 seems to be going towards the "bang your heads against everything" performance angle, so I much preferred rocking out with Phantasmagoria. Got to hear them perform 'Glitter' live, which was great... I stood Jun side of the stage (he's so fun and bouncy and adorable ^__^ ) There were a LOT of foreigners there last night, which was kind of cool to see, I met a group of JETs and a couple of home stay students.
I've also decided that while fake nails look awesome at a concert, they're a pain in the ASS to type in. ;_; and to change out piercings in. For the next week or so I will have one spikey lipring <3 <3 <3 I wanted a spikey labret, but sadly bought the gauge too big and can't get it in. ;_;
I also picked up an Undercode Grab bag for 3000yen ($30) which had 5 'making of' DVDs, one omnibus, a Kisaki Project PV, and Vidoll's 'Deathmate' album! along with a whole shitload of pretty photosets. Best deal ever. <3 I'm going to come home with so much merchandise.... ^^;;;
I should really get a big pocketed photoalbum to put them all in...
still worried about work and everyone back home... but there's not really anything I can do, so I'm trying not to think about it too much...
I'll post some pics once I can get Imai on the internet (am on Bara's computer atm), they're pretty random; pre-live shots, a couple of smexy cosplayers, mostly keitai pics
annnnnd, one gloating shot of the Due'le Quartz stuff I cleaned out of the Ikebukuro Closet Child. Sometimes I'm happy to love a forgotten band. ^^;
2 postcard sets, the Memorial Box for $18 (DVD, collection of all their magazine apperances, postcard set) Annnnd, the most exciting thing, the poster file.
Most importantly, THIS poster.
*squees and wiggles happily* My most absolute favorite shot of him EVER. It's getting dry-mounted. Or framed. Or framed in Gold, as Barabara sarcastically suggested. <3 <3 <3 $13 for the whole file.
I'm going to sell the Miyabi ones on Ebay. XD
I went to the Undercode event in Osaka last night to see Vidoll, Phantasmagoria, and 12012. All the bands were great, though 12012 seems to be going towards the "bang your heads against everything" performance angle, so I much preferred rocking out with Phantasmagoria. Got to hear them perform 'Glitter' live, which was great... I stood Jun side of the stage (he's so fun and bouncy and adorable ^__^ ) There were a LOT of foreigners there last night, which was kind of cool to see, I met a group of JETs and a couple of home stay students.
I've also decided that while fake nails look awesome at a concert, they're a pain in the ASS to type in. ;_; and to change out piercings in. For the next week or so I will have one spikey lipring <3 <3 <3 I wanted a spikey labret, but sadly bought the gauge too big and can't get it in. ;_;
I also picked up an Undercode Grab bag for 3000yen ($30) which had 5 'making of' DVDs, one omnibus, a Kisaki Project PV, and Vidoll's 'Deathmate' album! along with a whole shitload of pretty photosets. Best deal ever. <3 I'm going to come home with so much merchandise.... ^^;;;
I should really get a big pocketed photoalbum to put them all in...
still worried about work and everyone back home... but there's not really anything I can do, so I'm trying not to think about it too much...
Saturday, 10 February 2007
yes, still alive ^_^;
The concert tonight... was absolutely -amazing-. The hall was packed, and I don't think I've ever seen Yuki perform better, he worked the crowd SO well, it was an awesome high-energy pit through the entire show. He saw me again at the beginning, we exchanged nose wiggles? Hahaha.
The setlist was the same as Nagoya, I got it a bit more, ah, exact this time, so I'll post it and edit the Nagoya list later, when I'm not so tired and tipsy from post-Rice celebration.
New guitarist's name is Taishi.
I love the way Yuki and Hiro interact in stage, it's so fucking cute. Hiro always seems a lot smaller in person, I guess photos make him look taller than Yuki? But he's adorable, big puppy-dog brown eyes. They tease each other insessently, it's so great.
I picked up a very unique souvineer from the concert tonight, but I'll leave that bit out of my public blog.
Also, I got 2 postcard sets. And Rice lighters!! Crossing my fingers that they won't get confiscated on my way back to Canada.....
The setlist was the same as Nagoya, I got it a bit more, ah, exact this time, so I'll post it and edit the Nagoya list later, when I'm not so tired and tipsy from post-Rice celebration.
New guitarist's name is Taishi.
I love the way Yuki and Hiro interact in stage, it's so fucking cute. Hiro always seems a lot smaller in person, I guess photos make him look taller than Yuki? But he's adorable, big puppy-dog brown eyes. They tease each other insessently, it's so great.
I picked up a very unique souvineer from the concert tonight, but I'll leave that bit out of my public blog.
Also, I got 2 postcard sets. And Rice lighters!! Crossing my fingers that they won't get confiscated on my way back to Canada.....
Thursday, 8 February 2007
Rice Live Report
Rice Live [0/~Lv: ika 10] - Nagoya, 2/8/2007
(why is there no infinity sign in windows?)
Setlist:
Usagi ni tsuno
Kokoro Ne
That New song off the 'best of' album
Mu to Jun
Angerudai - Tsuki no Sai
Sekireki no setsuna
Tsuji
Haruka!
Wasurenagusa
Square
Socrates
Fake Star
Re:Bye
Kigi
Air
Encore: Sunny Side Up
2nd Encore: Stay
3rd Encore: My Heart Always Be Your Side
(note that I can't quite remember when Tsuji and Mu to Jun were... this order is pretty close but may not be exact)
It took me about five minutes to title this entry, with Yuki's fabulous new bit of engrish winning out over "OMG HARUKA" and "BEST CONCERT EVER" XD
I was a little wary, going to see Rice, that nothing would be able to top the wonder of the first time I saw them. Oh god, oh god, how joyfully wrong I was. I feel absolutely SPOILT ROTTEN by this setlist, seriously. My four all-time favorite Rice songs, live. It was absolutely amazing, and if this live was the only thing I got to see on this trip, it would be entirely worth it.
The support band was in the white Rice jumpsuits, guitarist Paul wasn't with them (and I sheepishly can't remember the name of the new one, other than it starts with a 'T') Hiro was in cargo pants, a white cut-sew tshirt with a pink design, and a purple quilted vest with a fur collar that was shed almost immediately after he sat down behind the drums. His hair was fairly regular Hiro style, with black streaks dyed into the bangs.
Yuki's hair is still short and a dark staw/tawny blonde. He had the back all teased and spiked, reminded me of his Raphael days. He wore blue jean capris that... had the ass pulled down to reveal a multi-coloured asian floral pattern underneath (it was part of the pants, not his boxers XD). White t-shirt with a rather Yoshitaka Amano-esque lineart of a rabbit and some flowers on it, and a dark green velour jacket with a furry collar. Oh, and rainbow coloured high-top sneakers. And hairy legs. XD
They started out with 'Usagi ni Tsuno", fun and high energy, and I like the song infinitely better now that I've seen it live. Yuki was especially playful tonight, working and teasing the audience, thanking us for selling out the venue. I got the "Ooh, gaijin!" double-take, a grin and a wink.
After three high energy songs, they slowed it down with some old material: Angerudai - Tsuki no sai, (hearing this live has won me over, it was gorgeous), Sekireki no Setsuna (longtime favorite of mine to karaoke), and then Yuki announced Haruka, which made my heart stop in pure unadulterated joy, as I adore Haruka more than I can describe.... seeing it live was a very cathertic experience for me. They played Tsuji and Wasurenagusa (perhaps Tsuji before Haruka...), then picked up the pace again with Square.
Having Haruka on the playlist alone would have sold the show for me. But then, after moshing through 'Square', Yuki lead us into the high-energy crowd favorite, 'Socratic'. It was even more hard and amazing and high energy, and I had to re tye up my hair several times in the sea of little moshing Rice fans. Yuki leaned out a couple of times to put his foot on the bar and tease the crowd, letting people grope
his knee and grinning all the while. Thinking the set list couldn't get any better, Rice THEN proved me wrong again by going into 'Fake Star'. the transition from Socratic to Fake Star was perfect for the song, keeping the crowd's energy up, which had been sadly lacking the last time I saw them perform it mid-show.
By the time Bun-Chan's piano solo came up in the middle of the song, the fans and Yuki were verrry glad of the break. Bun-chan's piano work seems to change every time during this song, so it's really neat to hear it live again and again. Yuki followed it up as usual by treating us to a chorus sung micless, beautifully showing off the power and control behind his classical training.
Another live-only song followed, 'Re~Bye', building up to a finale of 'Kigi' - the last of my four favorite Rice songs, and an absolute treat to hear live, and sing live, as Yuki lead the audience to sing the main chorus, working his voice into descant. Rice's staging and set-up was very similar to the last time I saw them, and to the DVD - Rice backlights their shows, giving the band members a warm glow, and making the audience very visible. Yuki seems to love this, greets the audience as friends, joking and telling stories between sets. And when he sings, he'll catch and hold our eyes, making the whole experience amazingly intense.
Singing Kigi with Rice was absolutely, breathakingly glamourous and incredible.
After 'Air', Rice left the stage.
At this point in time, I wasn't sure if there'd be an encore, since it had been a nice long setlist. But we chanted anyway, and Rice came back out to encore with 'Sunny Side up", the boys changed into orange tshirts. The band left the stage, and Hiro happily conducted the cheers of the crowd before running off last.
But we called for another encore, and several minutes later Yuki came back on, giggling, bringing the game to perform "Stay". There were curtain calls to "One Box", Rice left the stage, and the house lights started to come up.
But we called for another encore. And called, and called, until some of the crowd started moving, and people started queueing for drinks. Until the roadies started futzing with Hiro's drums. But we kept calling.
And then the house lights went down again, and Rice came back on stage. Yuki worked us up with a laugh and a smile, making us call for Hiro and himself, and then announced that they would play one more song - brand new - called "My Heart Always Be Your Side."
I was second row by this time and might have gotten a very pointed look at this. ^_^; Ah Yuki, this strange foreign fan even loves your fabulous Engrish.
For all it's Engrish, "My Heart Always Be Your Side" was REALLY good, and quintessential Rice - catchy, upbeat verses, a sweet and melodic chorus that Yuki taught us to sing, and of course Yuki's delicious vocal flare and Hiro's drums. :D I hope this one actually gets released some time in the near future.
And then the live was finally over.
One thing that always strikes me about Yuki and Hiro, is they always seem so, so happy to perform and to be making music together. I hope these boys will be collaberating for a very long time.
And god I can't wait to see them again in Tokyo in 2 days. :D
Also, for anyone traveling to Japan in March or April, Rice announced two upcoming
events: April 7th they will be playing at an event called "Live Genesis Special"
Annnd, March 23rd, Rice will play an all night one-man "[CLUB rice Vol,1]". Reading the flyer afterwards, it opens at 24:30, starts at 25:30, and closes at 29:00.
Hahaha. What an awesome event that would be to attend! I hope someone here can see it and write about it.
crossposted to
(why is there no infinity sign in windows?)
Setlist:
Usagi ni tsuno
Kokoro Ne
That New song off the 'best of' album
Mu to Jun
Angerudai - Tsuki no Sai
Sekireki no setsuna
Tsuji
Haruka!
Wasurenagusa
Square
Socrates
Fake Star
Re:Bye
Kigi
Air
Encore: Sunny Side Up
2nd Encore: Stay
3rd Encore: My Heart Always Be Your Side
(note that I can't quite remember when Tsuji and Mu to Jun were... this order is pretty close but may not be exact)
It took me about five minutes to title this entry, with Yuki's fabulous new bit of engrish winning out over "OMG HARUKA" and "BEST CONCERT EVER" XD
I was a little wary, going to see Rice, that nothing would be able to top the wonder of the first time I saw them. Oh god, oh god, how joyfully wrong I was. I feel absolutely SPOILT ROTTEN by this setlist, seriously. My four all-time favorite Rice songs, live. It was absolutely amazing, and if this live was the only thing I got to see on this trip, it would be entirely worth it.
The support band was in the white Rice jumpsuits, guitarist Paul wasn't with them (and I sheepishly can't remember the name of the new one, other than it starts with a 'T') Hiro was in cargo pants, a white cut-sew tshirt with a pink design, and a purple quilted vest with a fur collar that was shed almost immediately after he sat down behind the drums. His hair was fairly regular Hiro style, with black streaks dyed into the bangs.
Yuki's hair is still short and a dark staw/tawny blonde. He had the back all teased and spiked, reminded me of his Raphael days. He wore blue jean capris that... had the ass pulled down to reveal a multi-coloured asian floral pattern underneath (it was part of the pants, not his boxers XD). White t-shirt with a rather Yoshitaka Amano-esque lineart of a rabbit and some flowers on it, and a dark green velour jacket with a furry collar. Oh, and rainbow coloured high-top sneakers. And hairy legs. XD
They started out with 'Usagi ni Tsuno", fun and high energy, and I like the song infinitely better now that I've seen it live. Yuki was especially playful tonight, working and teasing the audience, thanking us for selling out the venue. I got the "Ooh, gaijin!" double-take, a grin and a wink.
After three high energy songs, they slowed it down with some old material: Angerudai - Tsuki no sai, (hearing this live has won me over, it was gorgeous), Sekireki no Setsuna (longtime favorite of mine to karaoke), and then Yuki announced Haruka, which made my heart stop in pure unadulterated joy, as I adore Haruka more than I can describe.... seeing it live was a very cathertic experience for me. They played Tsuji and Wasurenagusa (perhaps Tsuji before Haruka...), then picked up the pace again with Square.
Having Haruka on the playlist alone would have sold the show for me. But then, after moshing through 'Square', Yuki lead us into the high-energy crowd favorite, 'Socratic'. It was even more hard and amazing and high energy, and I had to re tye up my hair several times in the sea of little moshing Rice fans. Yuki leaned out a couple of times to put his foot on the bar and tease the crowd, letting people grope
his knee and grinning all the while. Thinking the set list couldn't get any better, Rice THEN proved me wrong again by going into 'Fake Star'. the transition from Socratic to Fake Star was perfect for the song, keeping the crowd's energy up, which had been sadly lacking the last time I saw them perform it mid-show.
By the time Bun-Chan's piano solo came up in the middle of the song, the fans and Yuki were verrry glad of the break. Bun-chan's piano work seems to change every time during this song, so it's really neat to hear it live again and again. Yuki followed it up as usual by treating us to a chorus sung micless, beautifully showing off the power and control behind his classical training.
Another live-only song followed, 'Re~Bye', building up to a finale of 'Kigi' - the last of my four favorite Rice songs, and an absolute treat to hear live, and sing live, as Yuki lead the audience to sing the main chorus, working his voice into descant. Rice's staging and set-up was very similar to the last time I saw them, and to the DVD - Rice backlights their shows, giving the band members a warm glow, and making the audience very visible. Yuki seems to love this, greets the audience as friends, joking and telling stories between sets. And when he sings, he'll catch and hold our eyes, making the whole experience amazingly intense.
Singing Kigi with Rice was absolutely, breathakingly glamourous and incredible.
After 'Air', Rice left the stage.
At this point in time, I wasn't sure if there'd be an encore, since it had been a nice long setlist. But we chanted anyway, and Rice came back out to encore with 'Sunny Side up", the boys changed into orange tshirts. The band left the stage, and Hiro happily conducted the cheers of the crowd before running off last.
But we called for another encore, and several minutes later Yuki came back on, giggling, bringing the game to perform "Stay". There were curtain calls to "One Box", Rice left the stage, and the house lights started to come up.
But we called for another encore. And called, and called, until some of the crowd started moving, and people started queueing for drinks. Until the roadies started futzing with Hiro's drums. But we kept calling.
And then the house lights went down again, and Rice came back on stage. Yuki worked us up with a laugh and a smile, making us call for Hiro and himself, and then announced that they would play one more song - brand new - called "My Heart Always Be Your Side."
I was second row by this time and might have gotten a very pointed look at this. ^_^; Ah Yuki, this strange foreign fan even loves your fabulous Engrish.
For all it's Engrish, "My Heart Always Be Your Side" was REALLY good, and quintessential Rice - catchy, upbeat verses, a sweet and melodic chorus that Yuki taught us to sing, and of course Yuki's delicious vocal flare and Hiro's drums. :D I hope this one actually gets released some time in the near future.
And then the live was finally over.
One thing that always strikes me about Yuki and Hiro, is they always seem so, so happy to perform and to be making music together. I hope these boys will be collaberating for a very long time.
And god I can't wait to see them again in Tokyo in 2 days. :D
Also, for anyone traveling to Japan in March or April, Rice announced two upcoming
events: April 7th they will be playing at an event called "Live Genesis Special"
Annnd, March 23rd, Rice will play an all night one-man "[CLUB rice Vol,1]". Reading the flyer afterwards, it opens at 24:30, starts at 25:30, and closes at 29:00.
Hahaha. What an awesome event that would be to attend! I hope someone here can see it and write about it.
crossposted to
First Live - and luggage!
With my fondness for Takadanobaba Area, it seemed appropriate to be the first live house I visited on my return. ^__^ I met up with Inertia there tonight to see Hizaki Grace Project - who put on SUCH a good show that I afterwards bought a ticket for their One Man on the 17th - sadly also their last show together. This will mean a bit of schedule shuffling for me, but heyyyy, this is Japan! (as long as Barabara forgives me.... ^_^; )
It really sucks that it's their last live... they were REALLY good. I haven't been that plesantly surprised by a band's live performance since the first time I saw Phantasmagoria.
The other band that I quite liked ended up being Siva
Which is kind of ironic to me, though no one else would get it. I'd see them again if they were playing somewhere accessible again before I left.
Afterwards I chilled with Inertia and we went for Indian food. Before you laugh at me for eating Indian food in Japan, let me tell you that I've NEVER found Prawn Masala (or "PROWN MASALA" as the menu read) on home side of the ocean, and it was amazingly delicious. So there. ^__^
It was so, so good going to a live tonight. I'd forgotten how much I missed it.
Annnd, when I got back.... I had luggage! ^___^
Tomorrow.... Nagoya and Rice!! ^____^
Just a small goody:
Rice - Usagi ni Tsuno.mp3 <--- even if you're not into my music, download this. It's SO gorgeous.
It really sucks that it's their last live... they were REALLY good. I haven't been that plesantly surprised by a band's live performance since the first time I saw Phantasmagoria.
The other band that I quite liked ended up being Siva
Which is kind of ironic to me, though no one else would get it. I'd see them again if they were playing somewhere accessible again before I left.
Afterwards I chilled with Inertia and we went for Indian food. Before you laugh at me for eating Indian food in Japan, let me tell you that I've NEVER found Prawn Masala (or "PROWN MASALA" as the menu read) on home side of the ocean, and it was amazingly delicious. So there. ^__^
It was so, so good going to a live tonight. I'd forgotten how much I missed it.
Annnd, when I got back.... I had luggage! ^___^
Tomorrow.... Nagoya and Rice!! ^____^
Just a small goody:
Rice - Usagi ni Tsuno.mp3 <--- even if you're not into my music, download this. It's SO gorgeous.
Wednesday, 7 February 2007
Day 2 in Japan - shopping :D
I'm not allowed to buy any more magazines before the end of my trip. Period. Or else. 6 of the bloody things have already doubled the weight of my luggage, I swear. -_-; I found 'Like an Edison' really easily with help of my map that uses Mc Donalds and conbini's as landmarks *lol* It was CRAZY busy, as apparently both Dir en Grey and Gazette chose today to release a new CD. On the upside, I have new Gazette CD's :D
- Clees - I picked up tickets for Kaya when I was there (sooo much easier than trying to use the Lawsons computers!) - you're still cool to come with me, yes? ^___^
*pause*Oh my fucking god, the Acoustic version of Rice's 'Usagi ne Tsuno' is FUCKING GORGEOUS. I've never really liked this song before now. *falls over dead* It's soooo beautiful. ;___;
Ok, back to shopping. I found the 2007 Rice Calander obviously and am currently ripping it onto Imai. Found the Shinjuku Closet Child - second hand Visual-Kei CDs and goth clothes - (I only took the wrong elevator once!). They had Rice's 'Best of' album new, where it came with a postcard and a message CD (yay!) that I will rip and upload for anyone interested. Also found Lareine's 'Miss Carmilla' box set for $38 (!!) and the Lillie Charlotte book for $10.
Then I tried to resist buying half h.naoto items in the store. ^^; I actually found a couple of jackets that fit over my boobs, but I didn't like them quite enough to justify shelling out, since even second hand, H.Naoto is still pretty pricy for something I don't -love-. That, and while I have no problem buying secondhand clothing for myself (especially with Closet Child's quality) I'm not really into buying second hand clothing as gifts. (ohgod, but so many jackets that would be so fucking sexy on my girlfriend....)
I DID get a really really fucking sexy tie *licks* to dress up my shirt for tonight, and a sheer sweater/cardigan that buckles up at the throat, very cool. If my luggage doesn't get here tonight I'll find a black tanktop somewhere and wear it to Rice tomorrow in Nagoya. ^__^
sofuckingexcitedtoseericeagain #^_^#
The new Gazette single is really solid, IMHO. And as much as I normally dislike PSComapny's "rape you up the ass" approach to marketing their bands, I have to say that I REALLY like the path they've been taking with Gazette's recent releases, which consists of:Option 1: Optical Impression - Single, 1 b-side, and the single's PV on an included DVDOption 2: Auditory Impression - Single and 2 b-side tracks.
Auditory's run about $12, and Opticals about $16. Very fair, IMHO. I'm happy to shell out the extra $4 for a high-quality version of the PV (Gazette makes SEXY PVs) and then probably later download the missing b-side. hahaha.
Finally, I picked up Black Love's mini-album. *smokes a bowl for Yukito* ^__^ When I get back to Calgary, I shall accost Paris with it. The CD, not a bowl.... hahaha.
I've also come to the conclusion that having no one to talk to means that I'm going to be blogging A LOT. Imai is my new best friend and guardian against isolation ^^; But really, half the excitement of traveling for me is being able to gush about it to people :D
(in any case, if anyone doesn't want to have to scroll past my vacation ramblings every day, feel free to let me know and I'll filter you out.)
- Clees - I picked up tickets for Kaya when I was there (sooo much easier than trying to use the Lawsons computers!) - you're still cool to come with me, yes? ^___^
*pause*Oh my fucking god, the Acoustic version of Rice's 'Usagi ne Tsuno' is FUCKING GORGEOUS. I've never really liked this song before now. *falls over dead* It's soooo beautiful. ;___;
Ok, back to shopping. I found the 2007 Rice Calander obviously and am currently ripping it onto Imai. Found the Shinjuku Closet Child - second hand Visual-Kei CDs and goth clothes - (I only took the wrong elevator once!). They had Rice's 'Best of' album new, where it came with a postcard and a message CD (yay!) that I will rip and upload for anyone interested. Also found Lareine's 'Miss Carmilla' box set for $38 (!!) and the Lillie Charlotte book for $10.
Then I tried to resist buying half h.naoto items in the store. ^^; I actually found a couple of jackets that fit over my boobs, but I didn't like them quite enough to justify shelling out, since even second hand, H.Naoto is still pretty pricy for something I don't -love-. That, and while I have no problem buying secondhand clothing for myself (especially with Closet Child's quality) I'm not really into buying second hand clothing as gifts. (ohgod, but so many jackets that would be so fucking sexy on my girlfriend....)
I DID get a really really fucking sexy tie *licks* to dress up my shirt for tonight, and a sheer sweater/cardigan that buckles up at the throat, very cool. If my luggage doesn't get here tonight I'll find a black tanktop somewhere and wear it to Rice tomorrow in Nagoya. ^__^
sofuckingexcitedtoseericeagain #^_^#
The new Gazette single is really solid, IMHO. And as much as I normally dislike PSComapny's "rape you up the ass" approach to marketing their bands, I have to say that I REALLY like the path they've been taking with Gazette's recent releases, which consists of:Option 1: Optical Impression - Single, 1 b-side, and the single's PV on an included DVDOption 2: Auditory Impression - Single and 2 b-side tracks.
Auditory's run about $12, and Opticals about $16. Very fair, IMHO. I'm happy to shell out the extra $4 for a high-quality version of the PV (Gazette makes SEXY PVs) and then probably later download the missing b-side. hahaha.
Finally, I picked up Black Love's mini-album. *smokes a bowl for Yukito* ^__^ When I get back to Calgary, I shall accost Paris with it. The CD, not a bowl.... hahaha.
I've also come to the conclusion that having no one to talk to means that I'm going to be blogging A LOT. Imai is my new best friend and guardian against isolation ^^; But really, half the excitement of traveling for me is being able to gush about it to people :D
(in any case, if anyone doesn't want to have to scroll past my vacation ramblings every day, feel free to let me know and I'll filter you out.)
Morning 2 - TV!
I watched my first crazy Japanese game show last night before bed. It was actually really great because the first half of it, the contestants were presented with a 'squished' Japanese slang word, (like Cosplay) and a picture representing the word, and had to come up with the full name of it in under 3 seconds. Hopefully some interesting tidbits stuck in my mind. :D
Then they had to guess acronyms - for things like SMAP. Proving that you can't watch TV for an hour in Japan without seeing SMAP. hahaha. (strangely I haven't seen them anywhere else yet though.... Shiiiiingo, I miss you!)
Now I'm drinking a delicious blueberry yogurt drink, satisfying my dairy cravings.... going to head out to Shinjuku this morning, hit up studio Alta (tadaima!) and try to find Like an Edison and Closet Child. ^__^
Then they had to guess acronyms - for things like SMAP. Proving that you can't watch TV for an hour in Japan without seeing SMAP. hahaha. (strangely I haven't seen them anywhere else yet though.... Shiiiiingo, I miss you!)
Now I'm drinking a delicious blueberry yogurt drink, satisfying my dairy cravings.... going to head out to Shinjuku this morning, hit up studio Alta (tadaima!) and try to find Like an Edison and Closet Child. ^__^
Tuesday, 6 February 2007
Japan Day 1 - Safe Arrival! (well. mostly...)
Well, I'm still alive, and checked into my hotel with a minmum of trouble. And free internet. Yay! This is the smallest hotel room ever... but the bed is huge. oo;
As for the flight...
Dear Zoi:CHICAGO HATES YOU. No matter how much cheaper the fare is, don't be tempted! NEVER FLY THROUGH CHICAGO AGAIN.This time it wasn't a 28hr stop over. Rather, they had some fueling problem, so our plane sat on the ashfalt for almost an hour and a half before we could disembark. Thankfully, the Narita flight was also delayed, so the other Tokyo-bound girl and I managed to get on the flight, but....Our luggage didn't. -_-;;;
Apparently they're going to deliver it to my hotel tomorrow evening, though. *crosses fingers* Now I have to figure out how to express to the lovely counter ladies that my luggage will be arriving tomorrow - likely while I'm out seen Hizaki Grace Project. The cute little girl at the luggage counter was really nice (and seemed happy that I wasn't angry) and spoke very good english, which made it rather more reassuring to have no luggage.
I suppose I can thank the 28hour stopover for teaching me to pack a change of clothes in my carry on... because I don't think I'd find undies to fit my ginormous ass here. *lol* But I have no toiletries, and no hand cream *cries* and the ethernet cable for Imai is in there, and the charger for Shin-phone (who will be serving his stay in Japan as a glorified alarm clock, hahaha). It also has the charger for my camera and spare battery, which is annoying as the one that I just bought apparently wasn't pre-charged -_-;;; so other than taking a photo of the Spork they gave me on the airplane, I Might be photo-less for the next couple of days... or just using the camera on my Shin-phone.
I guess I should be glad that I didn't get tickets to see Rice in Osaka, or else I'd be freaking the hell out right now, there's no way they'd be able to get my luggage to me if I was off and running right away, without this first day in Tokyo. ^^;;
Beyond all the luggage trouble.... It's so, so good to be home back in Tokyo. <3>
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