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 Posted: Sun Mar 18, 2007 9:18 pm
Hey! Let's talk about live shows. Lots of Japanese groups have been playing overseas lately, and lots of fans have been going to shows in Japan. Post live reports, impressions, experiences, highlights, anything, whether in Japan or overseas. Any bands especially good/bad live? Upcoming USA Tours - for Japanese shows in the USA, here's a website keeping track: http://jrockeventsusa.lithium-tears.net/Note: There's a "Jrock in America" thread which discusses the idea of Japanese bands coming over, but that isn't really about the actual shows.
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Posted: Sun Mar 18, 2007 9:56 pm
The most recent one I went to was SXSW's Japan Nite in NYC
The lineup was Asakusa Jinta, The 50 Kaitenz, The Pistol Valve, The Emeralds, HY and Go! Go! 7188
It was a lot of fun...invariably, lives can even make sucky music sound great XD
The best of the lot, IMO were Asakusa Jinta and The 50 Kaitenz.
Although HY was very professional and very polished (maybe too polished) and extremely accomplished (Doug E. Fresh showed up to do a little rapping and beatboxing in their finale O_o). They sported a radio-friendly pop R&B sound. They're a little too pop for my tastes, although they were very good. I just can't listen to that kind of music all the time. Great musicians and performers, though.
The Pistol Valve, as one of my friends put it were probably a bunch of music university students who got together to put together a band. For anybody unfamiliar with them, they're an ensemble of nine or so good-looking girls who play brass instruments (trumpets, saxaphones, trombone, baritone). There's also a violin and a DJ provided their samples and rhythm section. The gimmick was amusing, and they could have been great (they sound like a watered down Pe'z), but their sound was unpolished and amateur and ultimately didn't reach the fans as well as they could have.
Asakasua Jinta are like a band of crazy Japanese gypsies...
They have a guitarist, a girl on tenor sax, a girl on accordian, a trumpet player, a crazy dude with a mohawk on baritone, and the lead singer played an open bass. Im not really sure how to describe their music...think gypsies and 1920's speakeasies on crack...its eclectic...but they were a great way t o start off the night. They stirred up the crowd with really fast paced, fun songs and engaged the audience despite the language barrier. There was even a choreographed dance at one point...
The 50 Kaitenz are a punk trio with Ramones style hair cuts. That night they were wearing ruffly white poet shirts and bolo ties and black blazers with tight jeans and converses...all three of them. Crazy crazy showmen...I like (real) punk a lot, so they touched my heart...goofy on stage...with crazy, loud music...all three of them were great musicians and interacted with the crowd well, even though they spoke barely a word of English. The audience got most animated during their set.
The highlight of their set was totally their punk enka song XD
They're also really great off-stage. I got a chance to stop and speak with them briefly in the bar area...the guitarist Danny is a nutcase off stage as well, but really really friendly.
The Emeralds sucked. Period. I don't remember them being this bad when they were at Japan Nite last year...and I don't remember the guitarist's ego being that big either. They were the closest thing to VK that night and the fangirls were squeeing over their open collared floral shirts and leather pants >P They even had the audacity to flat-out pimp their merch twice during their ******** awful set...each song sounded exactly the same...a mishmash of indistinguishible chords and lyrics screamed on the top of their lungs. The bassist wasn't half bad...but he didn't save them at all.
People stayed until late even to see Go! Go! 7188 come on last.
Eh...compared to Asakusa Jinta, The 50 Kaitenz, and even HY...they weren't top form...
The played some of their popular songs and their musicianship showed, but they weren't engaging the crowd at all. Some attempted English, but they mostly stood there and looked a little dour...only the bassist (Yuu I think her name is?) actually spoke or smiled. I guess if you're going for cool and aloof, Go! Go! had it down pat that night
I always like the Knitting Factory...its a small, intimate space with a cozy little balcony on the second floor that gives you a clear shot of the stage without having to be in among the throng for 5 hours...and best of all, the door to the dressing rooms is up there so you can catch all the bands going in and out XD
They also have a nice, homey and well-lit bar area (I hate dark, sleazy bars -_-) to mingle in and rather than bailing, the bands often just stay down there, so you can seek em all out and chat em up.
There was also a camera crew there that night. I'm not sure what they were there for...I don't think they plan on making a DVD out of the show...? O_o
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Posted: Sun Mar 18, 2007 10:43 pm
Yeah man, I was totally there! biggrin
Rofl, I think I was wearing a tiger shirt.
...And my jacket had a tiger on it. (I'm not a psychopath, I just have nothing to wear.) I probably stepped on your foot or pissed you off in some other way or something, lol.
Asakusa Jinta and 50 Kaitenz were my top favorites too! I basically went to see those two plus Go!Go!7188. Asakusa Jinta sounded amazing from what my friend told me about them, but on their site they only had that one little sample so I was really looking forward to it!
The thing about Asakusa... these kids are playing Middle Eastern USSR nations' melodies! Like... Georgia & neighbors. I guess you wouldn't know if you aren't familiar with it, but that part of the world really springs to mind. (I wasn't sure myself, but my parents said the same thing too!) In the booklet they say something about influences from folk music of the world. I really like that. 3nodding I knew they were "my style" before I even saw them, but they really blew me away.
Kaitenz... are ********' awesome. Period.
HY are really really huge. Just... super-popular. I really thought they were gonna be last! (Everyone did...) I know they're really polished and quality stuff, but I'd heard them before and it just wasn't my thing, so I wandered around during their set.
Pistol Valve... not all of them are that good-looking lol They started off REALLY shaky, and though they did get themselves together by the end, the songs really lacked something. Reminded me of PE'Z too lol, except ...bad. They said they were going major which really surprised me!
I had crazy high expectations for the Emeralds because I love a song of theirs, so I was looking forward to seeing them. What a disappointment :/ I don't think they were that horrible, but the bands they were playing with completely eclipsed them.
Go!Go!7188... I love them, but I never expected much from them live for some reason. They did do an amazing job, it's just that after Asakusa Jinta it wasn't very appealing.
I really love KF, but the guy at the door was the biggest dickhead ever. I gave him my ID and he looks at me and goes "Uh, no, you're not 21." and I'm all "........what?" "I SAID, you're not 21." ".......what?" Shouldn't people checking ID be able to count? Then he was a d**k to my friend too.
I was wandering around the bar during HY's set, and everyone was talking to Kaitenz and the other bands, but I was a total sissy for some reason and didn't even otsukare. :/
But yeah! It was crazy fun.
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Posted: Sun Apr 22, 2007 7:05 pm
I suppose this counts, but I saw Peelander-Z (for the 8th time!) the other day. I spent years trying to talk them into doing more all ages shows, but after seeing a 21+ one... @A@; So much better!
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Posted: Sun May 20, 2007 8:24 pm
Thanks for the link. Maylay <3 u 4ever~!111one lolz I don't have to go through butt loads of sites and booking companies. x3
Umm... I've been to a few lives I've been too...
Duel Jewel (anime expo): >.>; No comment.
Roop (anime expo): (disbaned and for a good reason)
D'espair Ray (the america music hall in SF): Okay okay. Kind of overrated and recordings really really really SUCK but their lives are fun and the lead singer is an excellent at scream singer. His vocals are actually very impressive. They remind me of Melt-Banana in that, when you hear their recording your like... ewww~ but when you go. Your like, HOMG you when did you sound this good. Decent crowd.
Polysics (knitting factor LA): Their lives are very fun and there music is very lively/hyper. I highly recommend them. Good crowd too~ my only sadness is the band that preformed before them were upper lame. One band played the same crod/melody for like 1 1/2-2 minutes because it was the only good melody they had. I was like WTF. Unless you know the opening bands, I suggest you go 2 hours late.
From Japan Nite 2006 (knitting factor LA)
Ellegarden: Okay... stricks me as a "pretty boy bad." Good musicians but ah~ just not my cup of tea. I dunno their music... compared to the others wasn't very impressive. I think this is the band that was able to sing decently in English... but then. I could be confusing them with the Emeralds.
Stance Punk: Music okay... like their energy. They had loads of it (since they were a "punk" band.) They have a certain style but nothing to amazing.
The Rodeo Carburettor: Great musicians... very exacty with all there melodies
P'ez: They were the best band all night in my opinion (and I think everyone elses)... sadly the strings of the bassist broke so the sax guy replaced him. He hit those notes pretty well regardless. The crowd was like WAHH~ awesome.
TsuShiMaMire: Not a fan of the lead singer. Good live.
The Emaralds: Meh~ I don't remember anything about this band at all. Sorry.
The Knitting Factory LA is a good venue as is The American Music Hall (I think I have the name right). Knitting Factory is near Hollywood and Highland (yeah the tourist/frea area) but a good location when bore before the show. Inside it's pretty small and intimate which is a plus. Also, the floors are wooden and when you are stand there you can feel the sound vibrate more.... feels like it's in your bones sometimes. The second floor/balcony area has a good view and just ignore the sigh things. You don't have to buy a drink to sit there.
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Posted: Tue May 29, 2007 6:11 pm
I've been under a rock lately, So I'll ask this: Did anyone go to the J-pop thing down in California?
If so, how was it? and who was there?
Also, Dir en grey are still touring, who's going? and where?
-
I'm hoping to go to the one up in Portland, Oregon in July. x.x
P.S.: Some of my questions might 've been answered.. Didn't feel like reading.
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Posted: Tue May 29, 2007 7:21 pm
^
Are you talking about JRock Revolution?
I went to it.
Friday was Kagrra, Duel Jewel, Miyavi, Vidoll, and Alice Nine.
I just saw Kagrra that day though, but they were really good.
Shin played a koto during Utakata.
<3
Saturday was Merry, Girugamesh, D'espairsRay, and MUCC.
I sat out D'espa, but the other bands were awesome.
All-in-all, it was a lot a fun.
As for DEG, I might see them in San Diego, but I haven't decided yet.
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Posted: Sat Jul 07, 2007 9:03 am
@AM: Cool. Where are you seeing them? Was it hard to get tix?
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Posted: Mon Jul 09, 2007 9:17 pm
Anyone going to Go!Go!7188 in August? (They're playing with Peelander-Z.)
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Posted: Sat Jul 14, 2007 2:38 pm
MadTiger Anyone going to Go!Go!7188 in August? (They're playing with Peelander-Z.) They're playing in Chicago but I can never go to shows at the Empty Bottle. I'm only 17. mad
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Posted: Tue Jul 24, 2007 1:12 am
It was a b***h getting the tickets xD
I had to get my friend Masami's parents to buy them, and them ship them to me
much love for them
Anyway i went to it on the 19th in Toyama, and i have to say it was worth all the money
the first thing i want to mention is Yukihiros drumsolo
He left the entire audience in awe, and i think most of us were almost worried about him near the end o-o;; it went on for who knows how long, and he just kept going faster and faster on his drums
amazing
The stage itself was really pretty, and had lots of colored lights, and a couch in the middle, in front of Yuki's drumset
They also performed some P'unk En Ciel songs in the middle, and then went back to their Laruku music.
They obviously still have many many fans
me and my friend where not the only ones traveling from Tokyo to Toyama that day to see them xD
And they attract fans of great variety (warning, stereotypes ahead.)
there were Pop girls, Punks, Lolitas, Goths, Hippie like people and even elderly people (elderly as in really really elderly), and many other kinds of people. It was really heartwarming to see so many different people all there for the same thing.
They sold some pretty good things before the concert too. I personally bought a book, towel, t-shirt, brooch and a wristband
cameras werent allowed, but i took a sneak picture of the stage as i entered anyway. It was, of course, before the uh.. blanket? -fell down though, so you cant see what's on the stage as it was behind the blanket thing.
i'll post it in an edit, when i get around to uploading my travel pictures today
edit;
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Posted: Wed Aug 08, 2007 6:54 pm
And now, about 4 hours ago at least, i got home from a concert with DEG
'did it for the lulz'? ._.
the live certainly didnt convert me to a fan, but i enjoyed myself while being pushed, stepped on, having my hair pulled and getting drenched in what i hope was water
I took a lot of pictures which i guess i'll post a few of some time later.
Hmm.. no one spoke to the audience. Like... hello. That was kinda unpersonal and cold in my oppinion. At least in my experience, it's rather normal that band members say hi or something.
I liked Shinya's drumming at least, he's a cool dude.
Being my height i couldnt really see much of Kaoru/Toshiya, and not-so-much-but-still-more-than-them of Die.
I'm kinda weirded out that i saw Kyo do his scratch-myself-to-blood thing
and hitting himself with a mic. I'm not into self mutilation sorry o-o;;;
Oh and he did the bucket thing too, though only briefly
The audience, made out of i'd say at least 95% actual fans, seemed to really enjoy it, so from their point of view i'd say it was a successful live
the audience communicated more with the band, than the band communicated with them though, as i sorta mentioned before with the whole lets-not-say-hi-to-the-audience thing >.>;;
i was kinda sad for them really as they seemed to really want that kind of bond with the band
isnt that one of the major reasons to go to lives anyway?
Howeeever, yeah they did a good job for being who they are and the fans enjoyed it, so it was a successful night
and they threw their stuff in the end too which i'm pretty sure made the lucky fans happy :3
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Posted: Wed Aug 08, 2007 8:48 pm
Hm.. I suppose on one hand, some people might not like it when the band takes up a lot of time during the show to MC, but I agree with you, I think saying hi is a must.
Beyond that, I don't care either way lol. Most of my favorite bands (Guruguru, Gargoyle, GELUGUGU) are veeeeery fond of talking through half of the concert time lol. In fact, I think at GELUGUGU it was literally, at least half the time. At least Mr. Genchama is effin' HILARIOUS.
Myself, I went to GO!GO!7188/Peelander-Z last night.
GO!GO!7188's set was a lot longer than their set at Japan Nite, so they stuffed it with quite a few rockin' solos and whatnot. They did a fantastic job, just what I expected.
The only thing was, at first the guitar volume was far too loud. You could barely hear the vocals. I believe it got better halfway through, though... but maybe it was me who stopped noticing.
Anyway, really fun time! Again, I used to be really into them a long time ago, but I don't know any of the new/relatively new stuff, so I only recognized two songs... but I still enjoyed every one they played.
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Posted: Sun Aug 12, 2007 8:54 pm
Diru NEVER seems to MC...at least during shows that aren't in Japan.
Blame it on the language barrier, but they should at least try a little, even if its just "Hello, we are Dir en grey."
I don't know if its them or its just my experiences with them, but while they are good musicians, only Kyo seems to be a performer.
I enjoy Shinya's technical skill during lives, but the guys just stand there. No one speaks, its just ::gets on stage, plays, gets applause, wanders back off::
Doesn't really give a good vibe about the band, it makes them feel cold and unappreciative of their audience.
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