(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.
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