I LARPed as a bangya for 10 weeks straight, here’s what happened to my brain

ridley · October 14, 2024, 4:48am

Bangya drama is funny af. I come from the metalcore scene and there’s literally none of that I made sworn enemies with one because I saw a spot that was empty for 30 mins and yes it was on me for not asking but apparently her friend that wasn’t there was there. That was last December. She still hasn’t forgiven me.

I’m not even a Jiluka fan but they’re popular enough to start doing reservations for each member. It’s not like they started yesterday.

It’s interesting overseas on who you’d think the most popular member would be. I just wanted to buy merch & their new single from them one time and won a 2-shot ticket. I decided to go with whoever had the least people in line which was Sena. He had enough foreigners in the line so I chose Ricko instead

I love their Rose of Versailles costumes, Sena looks like a hybrid of Utena and Oscar with the pink hair.

GreatNorthernVK · October 14, 2024, 12:34pm

Merry Request One-man 10/14 @Ikebukuro Edge

Ikebukuro Edge, we meet again.

C7 this time. I’m not optimistic that I’ll get a great spot, but let’s be on time so that I don’t miss anything.

He counts up to 105 A tickets, some of which towards the end don’t show up.

Another fellow foreign fan approaches me asking if I speak English. I say “Eigo, hai”. Super normal of me. I let her know that he’s just called all A tickets.

And is now, announcing that B tickets can all go in. Crickets

No one? Okay C tickets 1-5? And now me.

Fifth row, between centre and left.

I must admit, not bad

The whole crowd starts clapping to Roppongi Jazzy Kissa, before they go into Happy Life -reprise-, the audience doing furi, and responding actively to call and responses from Gara for the first half of the set.

Today was one of the Request Nights, where fans could have submitted a questionnaire over a month ago with their song requests for the 11th and tonight (I would know…I asked for Gendai Stoic and Modern Garde songs)…and I was rewarded in the form of Haraiso!

By the middle of the set, Gara has ditched his suit jacket. Nero and him vibing during some points in the first half. Nero making sure the audience was hyped up from behind his kit.

They slow it down with Fuyu no Castanet, but pick it up again with the second half.

In hindsight, listening to the Setlist after the fact doesn’t really do the live experience justice. Some songs appear more mellow than they really are live. Gara does some monkey bar action with the pipe near the top of the stage.

By Mechanical Words, Gara has unbuttoned his shirt, looking slightly unhinged as he looks out at the audience.

After Komorebi ga boku wo sagashiteru, they exit the stage, Nero throwing a drumstick an arms reach away from me.

They don’t keep us for very long, coming out after a minute of encore calling to perform Aikoku Koushinkyoku, Gara having fully lost the shirt by now.

After a long MC where they discuss the process of putting together today’s Setlist and discuss their upcoming events this year, they call for one last song, Karappo na Uta

Setlist
Roppongi Jazzy Kissa
Happy life -reprise-
Hamelin
Oriental BL Circus
Dekiai no Suisou
Haraiso
Tsumi
Fuyu no Castanet
Tooi Mukashi no Renai Song
So…
Slow Dive
Mado -replay-
Identity
Mechanical Words
Komorebi ga boku wo Sagashiteru

Encore
Aikoku Koushinkyoku
Karappo na Uta

Today is a merch lotto day, so I decide to pull some to see what I would get. Aaaaand, it’s sticker sets and a Yuu bracelet.

And I just realize that I forgot my Cheezies at home. Oh well, there’s always next time…

GreatNorthernVK · October 15, 2024, 4:11pm

Hitchcock/Ms Eva/Hakidame/La’ Veil MizeriA/Na.Na/Lay About World Hysteric Media Zone 10/15 @Ikebukuro Edge

I get to Ikebukuro edge early this time! No risk of missing anything this time…

Nobody’s here.

I check on Twitter, doors delayed until 4:30.

The crowd never really picks up either. 50 A numbers are called before me, but about half no show. I’m the second B ticket in here, and grab an easy third row centre spot. I see that Hitchcock fans are getting handed a ticket, so I opt to pick them too. It’s a point card bonus! Too bad I’m not seeing them again this trip.

I see the cheki/phone tickets for sale too, but decide not as the merch guy tells me that there are no photos today and the window I could redeem it is October 18th - November 30th.

I decide to pick up a light stick, as at least I’ll be able to use it tonight.

Hitchcock begins, the members already in place on stage, Karasu sitting on a chair on the middle platform. Beginning to jerk around as if he’s trying to break free, Shintaishuukeishougai starts playing. The lighting hits him at this moment, and it’s one of the more memorable opening moments of the shows I’ve seen so far. No furi, just watching Karasu be an absolute showman.

The second song starts, and it’s time to light these guys up orange.

They then go into the two most popular songs on their latest EP, Sakurai-Byou and Thalido x mide, us hopping from one side of the room to the other. Right after Thalido x mide is over, Karasu calls for screams from the audience, which I oblige. The bassist, Yoi starts waving and pointing at me.
They then finish off the set after their last song.

It’s time for Ms Eva right away, probably the last time I’m seeing them this trip. They recently announced their upcoming disbandment, so might as well enjoy them while they last.

By now, I’ve almost memorized what to do for their furi even if I can’t quite still place the song names most of the time other than Ahodura.

My call and response volume catches Sana’s attention and he points directly at me for one of his call and response rounds to try and get my full volume.

Hakidame

I was mostly expecting Lay About World due to the gya of their’s in the Saizen, but oh well. By now, there’s this space on the second row just gaping wide open with no one to fill it, so I decide to step up to the occasion.

…that slightly off smell is back. I used to think it was just 20000V that smelled, but apparently it’s just Hakidame. Maybe it’s all those bandages.

So we’ve got plenty of windmill headbanging to mess my hair up, good thing I’m not taking any photos today.

En takes out a tinfoil hat and tries it on, getting a chuckle from the audience when he sets it down near his megaphone and causes some feedback before heading into Grand Guignol.

During Kokkuri-San , Okiku leans back into the audience and Kabane reaches out to people. En uses his megaphone for some added vocal effects.

Ouka
喪主、こぶ反吐
Grand Guignol
Kokkuri-san
Freak Show

After they finish up, I go pick up my cheki order and give them some Cheezies as a parting gift. I notice that Hitchcock is indeed taking pictures, because I misunderstood “18” as “The 18th is the next show”, and not “18:00”. However, there’s way too much going on at this time for me to even bother with Hitchcock photos, so there’s that.

La Veil Mizeria

I’ve had multiple opportunities to catch La’ Veil Mizeria but never took it until now.

La’ Veil Mizeria come out, Kikyou dressed in this full lace outfit with face mask. They capture the first two rows right away with headbanging and diving furi. During the last song, they call people up to ram the Saizen. I join in by filling up the gaps in Saizen for the last couple of rounds. Can’t say many people rammed into me. Nor can I say that there were a ton of people joining me in ramming the Saizen.

After ordering three autographed cheki and a demo single, I decide to finally open my Hakidame cheki envelope to see what’s inside.

And, I have two free 2-shots. I go to ask when they’re taking photos and she says “Oh, now”. So I take my place in line, and what do you know? The other band is about to start when there are four of us left in line.

So we end up getting cut off, En telling us “next time”. As in, next concert? Next interval? I don’t know. But there’s not much I can do about it now.

So I take my place near the back of the venue for Na. Na.

Na. Na

It’s always funny watching the concerts from the back of the venue, as you start to see just how the crowd is thinning out, how it compares with earlier sets.

Na.Na are a bit more on the pop-rock side compared with the other bands here. With four dedicated Saizen fans and some other scattered fans doing the furi, they probably had one of the weaker turnouts tonight.

Now, what their Saizen lacked in size, it made up for in dedication. Particularly the middle fan, who was one of the more enthusiastic members of anyone’s cheering squad that night, practically hyperventilating near the end of the set in front of the vocalist.

A decent enough band, but if I had to pick any band to go take 2-shots during, it would be them.

いらない命
代償
先天性倫理観欠損症
いつか僕たちは死んでしまうんだ
世界の終わり

They finish up, when what do I see but Okiku and Mikoto from Hakidame walking into the main area. They just say “Sumimasen” generally, and then walk back outside. En is also peeking his head in, so I figure I might as well go follow.

“2-shot?” I ask “Hai!”.

Now where did I put those tickets? I fish around “Sumimasen” I say apologetically.

I finally find them and hand them over, choosing Okiku and Kabane to take pictures with. Okiku moves like he’s trying to spook me from behind with his mummy ghost bride get up, so I make a surprised face…which he copies.

Kabane then asks me what kind of pose I wanted, to which I let him choose. He takes a bloody bandage of his drapes it over my head, then pretends to be pulling/choking me with it.

I use my minute of free time to tell them a bit about myself, when I came to Japan, when I was leaving, that I was here on a long vacation and that I saw them last month with Senketsu Ako Chan.

Nice guys, I hope they enjoy my Cheezies.

Lay About World

The crowd was only about half of what it was when the concert started, but who was left were an interesting bunch.

There were a few older gya in the crowd, including a lady in the middle who was a bit more on the touchy feely side. Not common here, from what I’ve noticed. But hey, I’m cool with it.

But it does certainly make the set a bit more fun when you can do the call and response while side hugging someone.

Tons of energy from the reduced crowd, Kyoutarou only taking one song to take a more somber tone before going nuts again. Finishing with his signature move of pretending to shoot himself in the mouth and collapsing onto the floor as the curtain closes around him.

Throwback
Glare
Behind you
Inside out
Tightrope
Fuckin’ day
Clingy

Bunny-Usagii · October 15, 2024, 4:20pm

This sounds so on brand I am not surprised hahaha
I’m planning to go see them next year when I go to Tokyo. Maybe I can confirm it that their costumes have an odd odour to them…
I would say they could consider that vodka spray hack they use in theater…

GreatNorthernVK · October 16, 2024, 6:01pm

Kane to Juusei - Request One man 10/16 @Higashi-Koenji Den-atsu 20,000V

I venture out this early afternoon on a two part mission.

A) Find some cheap face makeup for my partial costume on Friday and

B) Get my polish re-done and repair my one chipped nail.

After walking around the neighborhood trying to find a nail salon that had openings and was somewhat accessible to the public and not finding anything, I head to Daiso for Objective A. I get handed a political flyer on my way there. Bold of you to presume that I can vote.

So this is my first show of the trip that I’d call my “conundrum” days.

One where I bought something just to fill the day previously with bands that I hadn’t seen before but don’t actually care about.

Only to hear about a live weeks later and be like “ffff, that actually sounds better than what I have”.

So, I take the risk and double book myself.

Next conundrum, do I even bother catching the opening act of the original Taiban, or do I go get a 2-shot with another member of Kane to Juusei?

Sorry, Hide and Seek Dorothy.

Uru’s a pretty nice guy. I waited until 5:20 to go in, and I had him to myself for a good minute. Basically, introducing myself again, told him about the times I saw them before “oh, so this is the fourth time?” he asks in Japanese. We talk a little more about how long I’ve been in Japan, and he asks when I’m coming back. I do end up having to use some English words, but he seems to understand well enough.

After grabbing some ramen for dinner, I head back to the venue to wait out the next 30 minutes. I’m B7 today, which I suppose I’ll have to see how many A tickets are ahead of me.

As it turns out, 80 numbers called but I still estimate myself to be about person #70 in the venue given the A no shows and me being the first B ticket holder to show up. People aren’t as packed as sardines as last time, and I am still a bit farther up than I was for The Great Flood.

We start up with…an MC session from Uru. He introduces the rest of the band and they chat for just a bit longer before introducing the first song, Shitsu -Shitsu-

Bit of an odd song to start with, right? That’s because today is a Request live, much like Merry held a couple of days ago. Only as part of the ticket process, we needed to provide our pick of three songs out of a potential 45 they were willing to play, and the top results got into the Setlist.

This is the factor that sold me on it, really. Get a chance to see something other than the same songs from their first two EPs, prominent singles and a few new tracks. People are very likely going to pick lesser played songs.

So they finish up Shitsu -Shitsu-, and they talk a bit more about the live. I suppose they might be talking a bit more about each song, previous lives, etc. After a good five minutes, they announce the next one, Sakura Pink, which may be their older live limited single Sakura. So rare, I can’t even track it down on Spotify or YouTube.

But still, it seems to have furi.

They begin with another MC, and urrrrrghnnn, are they going to be doing this all set? The fun part of a Kane to Juusei live is that they are normally pretty good at knowing when to keep momentum and when to give the audience a break and goof off. Doesn’t really work if you’re talking more than playing, just saying.

We finally get our third song, Kanzen Ikusei Keikaku Bibouroku. This one was played during The Great Flood, and it was just as fun this time around. I think I earned a smile and nod from Chill at one point.

Back to chatting, and Yuriko brings out this hand towel to show us of one of the members dressed as a cowboy riding a cartoon pony. Everyone thinks this is hilarious.

They then call the drummer Eishin up from his kit, and after another minute, announce the next song, Ame no Hi

A track off of one of their 3 latest EPs, they let the backing track for the instruments do the work while they take turns singing the verses, while everyone in the building sings the choruses, much like the studio version. On Eishin’s turn, he is rather nervous and isn’t very good. The audience forgives him.

He returns to his kit, and after a shorter talk this time around, we head into Yonai no Eki’in ha Taido Warui, which despite being a super catchy song from the second EP, has yet to make it onto a Setlist from this trip until now. Guess people thought we were due.

So Chill starts talking to us, and he mentions that he wants to do a proper Member Call. No, not just people yelling their favourite member’s name into the void between songs, but an actual song where we have build up before yelling people’s names. Hey, it worked on me.

That finishes up five minutes later, and we head into Rusubandenwa, another popular second EP track. It becomes obvious to me that Chill may be coming down with something with how often he’s coughing between songs.

Zansetsu no Haru is next, a song that only seems to exist live and no one did any furi for, followed by Sadistic Boy. By now, I’m definitely getting some approving looks from Chill and Uru for following along to these songs not even available online.

The main set finishes off with Haikei no Sora, before they head off, Chill seeming to struggle at some points gesturing around his ear piece.

A couple minutes of clapping, and they come out for the last of the night. Chill instructs us to part for…what else but Watashi no Shinikata. Gotta find a way to get a first EP song in there somewhere. The audience hops together, and then side to side and back to front, cheering out ay-ay-ay-aye’s the whole time. The band seems happy to see us enjoying ourselves.

I get some quick cheki on the way out, but part of me wonders if I made a misstep tonight.

Yes, I got to hear a handful of tracks that are rarely played and some more that either didn’t get a physical release or weren’t put online for foreign fans. Maybe Chill coming down with something was partially to blame here, but I still feel like the set length was a bit shortchanged.

There was also another “maybe” date that I was eyeballing to switch my existing plan out for Kaneto on the 29th at Spotify O-West, and I’m thinking I maybe should have done that instead.

But, there’s no use wondering about the “what ifs”, sometimes you’re going to feel like that regardless of what you do.

GreatNorthernVK · October 17, 2024, 5:34pm

Vampire Rose Bloody Halloween ～ローズ伯爵生誕祭～ Featuring 椎名ひかり, Rorschach Inc, Neth Priere Cain, Shingeki no Awake, Nightmare Darling 10/17 @Shibuya Rex

So I decide to fix my makeup a bit in case I take a photo with Vampire Rose today, I get on the Hanzomon line for Shibuya, time to spare. I then get about half way and aw, shit, I realize I forgot the ticket at the apartment.

So much for catching the first act.
I hurry back, ticket in hand and get back on.

I should be just in time for Nightmare Darling to finish up. Which, according to my digging, are a men’s underground idol group. Hard Pass. That’s pretty much one degree of separation from being a Host boy, and I need at least two degrees of separation.

It’s mid October, why am I still sweating so much?

I finally get there, and take my place in the back corner for Shingeki no Awake

They head on stage, in Vampire costumes this time instead of their usual pastel decora monstrosities (lovingly). The first two rows all have light up rings and light sticks, using them right away for Kuroi Shiito to Suicide 2, and their newest single, Rinne tensei onigokko.

During the MC, Erunyan stumbles over his words and accidentally calls the host “Rose vampire” before quickly correcting himself, asking everyone if they’re having a good time. They introduce their third song, In this World. The most fun of the set though is going back to their two most popular singles, Kamioshi Baby and DD de GO, gya doing group furi while arm in arm with one another.

I asks afterwards if there are just plain cheki, to which she asks which member. When I say Erunyan, she said “oh, tsugi ni, next time”. So, I asks again “oh, 今日のチェキがありますか2-shotだけですか

It seeeems, like it was only 2-shots. Nope, don’t like you guys that much.

Neth Priere Cain

I move up closer and get a fifth row spot, committed to doing the furi for this set. They don’t seem to have their bassist today. Syuri just decides to split his time between each side of the stage to get closer to people. I was grateful for a full version of Hoozuki this time around.

Utsuro
Hoozuki
Baku
Toge
Ato

At the end of the set, there was no day of cheki, but they were selling old ones for half price, so I help myself to one of each member.

Rorschach Inc

It’s Lolita themed night, as they start up with Usagi, followed by Okuri Ookami

During the MC, Yuuri gives us a demonstration of the furi for the next song at one point fake crying because of how complicated it was, and we have their newest single, Anti!

After the song, they briefly talk again. The guitarist, Shogo, does his best Dobby impersonation before they go into Mecha Usagi.

During their last song, Watchmen, they got us on the floor a few times before bringing us back up.

Shiina Hikari

Two flag bearers come out, before Shiina Hikari makes her way on stage, wasting no time showing her screaming prowess as the backing track of J-pop vocals plays and the flag bearers start dancing on either side of her. I think I can see just about every man in the venue at the front, although not everyone up front is male. During the second song, she starts adding clean vocals in with the screaming.

For the final song, she instructs everyone to get on the ground and then goes into the crowd, stepping over people while singing/screaming, some people having to help her with her footing.

(picture taken via TV monitor outside the main area. New VK concert life hack unlocked)

Rose Vampire, eeto…Vampire Rose

We’re delivered an important video message from Vampire Rose, in the form of a song, Bloody Halloween, with some furi that he guides us in. The screen goes back up.

But that doesn’t last for long, as he and his band come back on with Bloody Halloween, him repeating the furi just in case we forgot from two minutes ago.

There were a couple of Saizen ramming parts this set, makes me regret not staying around to get a spot farther up front for that.

The set finishes up with members from all participating groups taking the stage for a reprise of Bloody Halloween, after bringing a cake out for him, with the other band’s members pelting the crowd with candy for the whole of the song.

I get in line to buy a 2-shot ticket, and head outside of the main area to wait in the lobby. I see a fan that I saw at Jiluka’s fan meetup, before the line really starts developing. It was then that I realized that I was in the wrong line. No big deal, I’m still sixth.

I wish him a Happy Birthday, tell him a bit about myself and talked about the last time I saw him the previous month.

Now, to enjoy my candy.

GreatNorthernVK · October 18, 2024, 3:09pm

Plastic Tree Ryutaro Arimura Presents Jellyfish Breed FC Live in Halloween 10/18 @Tokyo Kinema Club

So I make sure to double check my ticket this time, before I do my makeup for today. It’s full/partial costume required today, so I use what I could grab to get something makeshift going incorporating my Plastic Tree/Ryutaro merch.

I decide to head there for around 3:00, as I’m meeting up with a Japanese fan that I’ve been talking to for a bit. I spot someone who seems like she may be her in the fanclub authentication line, where she lets me know that the third thing they’re looking for is my ID (other than concert ticket and fanclub card, of course).

After buying a little ornament and getting my free stickers, I head back outside and message her that I’m here, to which, yes, it was in fact her, Magu-San. She introduces me to her friends Nao and Luna and some presents are exchanged. She tells me that they’re going for coffee, so I join them for a bit.

We talk for a bit about concerts I’ve been to, pictures, bands, etc. I ask if October is always this warm, to which they agree that it definitely isn’t.

On the way out, snapping pictures with the panda mascot, we make our way back to Kinema Club and get lined up by ticket number (towards the end for me, as there’s about 400 people here)

Numbers start being called, and I notice about 15 people who have decided to hang behind. I wonder why? Maybe meeting up with a friend with a later entry ticket? Maybe seeing that this isn’t a sold out live, wanting to chill at the back of the crowd where they’ll have more room?

And they’d have a point with that. Super chill back here. A tech crew guy walks across the stage, in a vampire cape.

They get started 15 min late, Ken Ken as Dorothy, Akira as the joker, Tadashi as Cinderella and Ryutaro as Edward Scissor hands. Wonder if he’s gonna try the guitar with those claws.

After Nemureru Mori and Paranoia, he does ditch one of the gloves and say that he’ll try his best to play with the other one on, before starting up Irogoto. He takes a bit of a break after Zawameki (the only newer song played tonight, might I add) only to pick it back up in the middle of Medusa.

The next couple of songs definitely are drawing on the Halloween theme, as we get both Thrashing Pumpkin Death March and Ghost. If only a pit broke out for Ghost. Oh well.

After Ghost, Ryutaro goes down to the barrier to pick a black rubber cat off the ground. There’s just a little bit more banter, when KenKen starts leading the cheer “Meran!”

“Koriku!”
“Meran!”
“Koriku!”

Really? Gulp, please tell me we’re not finishing. They usually end entire shows with this one.

Fortunately, we aren’t, as we still get Thirteenth Friday before heading off stage.

Five minutes afterwards, a caped MC comes on stage to thank us for coming. Something, something about someone’s penis, something something, and then the members come back on stage.

After a little banter, they start calling the numbers of those who entered the Costume Contest (which could be entered in advance, costume not needing to be replicated on the day, though some did)

The first, a giant blue and red flower, is awarded a decorated plastic umbrella, the second, a couples costume of two diapered rabbit characters, is given the same (not sure how they’ll split that one). The next, a mascot, a differently decorated umbrella with characters meant to represent the members.

The last, the Meruhen moon man from the PV, carrying a little Theater is awarded the special Halloween event branded plastic umbrella.

But wait, there’s one more draw…ticket number 100. A girl from the crowd is led away by a staff member, and they banter until she’s finally in her costume…a lifelike looking brown bear…to which she is given a black cat and rain decorated umbrella.

They take a photo and bid the finalists farewell, seeming to be worried as to how three of them will get down the stairs. The members seem unsure of whether they should leave the stage or not. Looks like they’re playing a couple more for us.

The first one is kind of a quirky little song about a black cat? Not sure if it’s an official release or not.

A bit more talking commences, mostly about upcoming activities and thanking everyone for coming out and being a fanclub member. They announce our final song of the night…Maimu.

All in all, while there were a couple of repeats from the Autumn tour, they still threw in plenty of other songs from different eras to keep the crowd satisfied. This may actually be a Setlist where I could identify pretty much everything without needing to check official sources. Was it worth the fanclub price? Subjective, but personally for me, it was for Setlist variety alone. Wasn’t as much play run time as their typical one man tours, though.

Nemureru Mori
Paranoia
Irogoto
Kyokuron
Zawameki
Bambi
Sumin yaku
Medusa
Thrashing pumpkin death march
Ghost
Melancholic
Thirteenth Friday

I must have been blanking, because people also said that Pied Piper was in there somewhere, but I can’t for the life of me remember where.

Encore
Kuronekoのタンゴ
Maimu

rukarukaruka · October 19, 2024, 10:37am

Poetic. I’m going to use this line the next time an idol boy tries to hand me a flyer.

GreatNorthernVK · October 19, 2024, 2:11pm

Diaura Instore/Gravity Roku’s Birthday 10/19 @Shibuya WWW

It’s time to redeem my Diaura Instore ticket, which according to their website, should start at 4 pm. Number 4, which I’m encouraged by. Assuming that I’m finished by 4:40 ish, that should still leave me enough time to sneak in for Gravity before it’s too late.

So I get there, and no…not quite. See, there are two types of Session 2 tickets, orange ones that give access to the talk, and blue 5-shot tickets which do not include the talk. I’m told by staff, “oh, another 20 minutes”, as the long-ish lineup of orange ticket holders go in first.

Another staff member tells me that the lineup is actually next to a nearby park, so I head over there and join three others. So I’m feeling a bit more encouraged. Maybe I can take them at their word that the people in there right now are not getting the five shot and I will actually be able to leave in time for the show. Because if not, well…

And then, everyone kind of just disperses. So much for waiting here. Kind of hanging around the street, an elderly Japanese man comes out of a door at a shuttered business and tells me what I can only presume is “don’t stand in front of my property” from his tone. More accurately, it ended with a question which I can only presume was rude, as he walked right on by as soon as he said it.

So orange ticket holders are being told to lineup back outside the park…and it looks like…they are still being let back in first.

Looks like I’ll be late. Hoping this isn’t one of those ones where they let you stay and chat with the guys.

Excuse my RBF

I quickly take it, and run for the Yamanote. Arriving 15 minutes late, in time for first MC. Light up rings and coloured fans being held by most of the audience.

They play a couple more songs, before vocalist Roku decided to climb up the stairs, passing right by me, on his way to the second tier of flooring during Jinrou Game. Singing the rest of the song, and all of the next one from the barrier, before returning to the stage.

The rest of the band vacate the stage, to give Roku a solo MC, followed by a piano version of D for U.

The band returns, to perform Originate ni Kisu, the two guitarists and bassists all playing back to back with one another.

After a couple more songs, encore lighting goes up and they announce that they still have a few songs left. I was expecting some kind of birthday cake acknowledgment like at most VK birthday shows, but nope apparently.

Coming back out with another version of Ketsubetsu, they eventually finishup with 52Hz.

Seeing the cheki/merch line already all the way up the stairs and outside the building by the time I get out, I figure “screw that noise”, and just opt to go home.

I actually get into a conversation with a regular foreigner outside though, as she’s curious as to what exactly was going on down there. So I do a mini info dump on visual Kei, and showed her pictures of the band and she asked me more questions about my trip. That was nice.

Setlist

Dengeki Shougeki Lightning
Wanwan Punch
Out of Out
Owacchan chan!
Kashi Kashi
Jinrou Game
Ri no Uso no Aite
D for U (Piano version, Roku solo)
Originate ni Kisu
Asobitai Byou
Ketsubetsu
Ketsubetsu (Another version)
Boko ni Dekiru Koto
Dadaddada
52Hz

badymaru · October 20, 2024, 9:17am

So jealous of your pic with Diaura Shouya looks really handsome there

GreatNorthernVK · October 20, 2024, 3:00pm

SID’s Monochrome Theater 10/20 @Kanagawa Kenmin Hall

So I wake up, my chest congestion back in full force. I honestly don’t know if I should return back to the doctor and tell them that the exact same thing is back or if I should just tough out the next three weeks.

After doing laundry, I figure that I should probably head out even though I’m a bit light headed and not super excited.

After getting a couple of pictures, including a couple of the mascots for this tour, the show is finally underway.

The members enter, wearing all white outfits. The people in front of me (thankfully) opt not to stand up. Opening with No LDK, for the first couple of songs the audience doing some light furi to the songs, even all the way up on the second balcony.

For the most part, SID are really kind of a chill, non offensive band. After the first couple of songs, the audience lost most momentum until Dear Tokyo, which had everyone singing along. After that and Slow, Mao heads off stage and we’re given a chance to hear solos from Shinji, Yuuya and Aki before a brief intermission.

The white mime from before the show is back, doing some kind of skit with a mime dressed dressed in black. I thought for a second that the mime dressed in black was meant to represent a police officer, attempting to arrest the other mime. The mime got away, though. Must be a Koban officer.

They come back out dressed in black this time, and Shinji is juggling both acoustic and electric guitar for a couple of songs in the second set, reaching around to play his acoustic in front of the electric.

The excitement from the crowd starts to build again during Music, with Mao heading into the crowd for Akagami Shuffle.

Then, we get our two only headbanging songs of the night, Park and their 2003 first single, Yoshigai Manabu 17sai.

After an encore call lasting between 5-10 minutes, they come back on, mix of black and white this time. Aaaaand, it’s Mao’s birthday. They wheel out a cake and everything. After more banter, they finish off with Kimi iro no asa.

It feels chillier than it ever has, walking outside in Yokohama, crushing a vaguely nut like substance under my feet. It’s my birthday tomorrow, the big 3-8. Should I be happy or sad to be spending it like this? Doing what I’ve always wanted to do, but alone, in a foreign country with some kind of mystery illness that has barely gone away?

We’ll see what tomorrow brings.

GreatNorthernVK · October 22, 2024, 2:14am

DaizyStripper Member’s Produced 5 days The Egoist Colours 2024 10/21 @Holiday Shinjuku

I’m venturing out masked today, just in case I happen to be contagious.

Already, in the crowd seeing a lot of white, even some nun costumes. A few salaryman types in the crowd too. Gotta admire the dedication of that one Ojisan guy in his work shirt in the Saizen.

C1 today, pretty much among the last 20 to enter. Oh well, I wasn’t desperate to be close.

Church music playing in the background, the members come out dressed all in white.

Not going to go over the set that much, as the energy was pretty consistent throughout, but as a personal observation, DaizyStripper really do sound better live than their recordings give them credit for.

At about the halfway mark, they have an MC talking about today’s Christian aesthetic theme. Unless he was actually talking about Chris-Chan, but I think my first interpretation is probably the correct one.

They play some more, me heading to the washroom as I just feel too sick, seeing a hole in the stall next to the men’s room that looks like a glory hole attempt that gave up half way.

I get back in time for the encore call, to which then we get a loooong MC, before they surprise us with a cover of L’arc en Ciel’s Ready Steady Go followed by Kiss You and Stay Gold.

So that’s that. But it is still my birthday, despite me feeling too sick to do much during the day. Do I?

A) Find an English friendly host bar (given the tons of them in my vicinity), and give them whatever I have.

B) Find a slightly overpriced yakiniku place to get drunk and eat self-grilled meat.

Or

C) Go back to the apaato to Wolt delivery McDonalds to me again.

You know what’ll I’ll choose.

The meat was quite tasty and the alcohol quite potent.

In fact, the host at the exit could tell that I had been drinking “oh, I have been drinking too much, haven’t I?” I say in Japanese. I think…

I stumble back to Higashi-Shinjuku station and get my way back home with no issues. The next morning? Issues.

GreatNorthernVK · October 22, 2024, 5:45pm

Hevn’s Festival Let’s Fly to Heaven Tour featuring Azavana/Jinkaku Radio/Dog in the PWO/v[Neu]/Unite/Tokyo 花嫁 10/22 @Ebisu Liquidroom

After spending all morning and early afternoon trying to rest off whatever this is (with the inevitable bad decision that was last night coming back to bite me), I decide to get going to the show.

First time at Ebisu Liquidroom, won’t be the last. I’m ticket 214, which still gets me sixth row. I’m standing next to a guy that I can only presume is a band guy, and his energy for the bands really gave me the boost I needed. Couple of potential band guys in the audience actually.

Tokyo 花嫁

Pretty good opener, playing three songs, they still made the best possible use of their time.

1.マリアージュ
2.脳内感染オーバードーズ
3.妄想ランデヴー

V[Neu]

Playing pretty much the same set as Vijuttoke Fest, which isn’t necessarily a bad thing, as those songs were pretty catchy. Instead of inviting people to come ram the Saizen, they invited people to come grab their hands, which I was unfortunately too late on twice, due to the fourth and fifth row people not wanting to budge. Second to last song had this really elaborate hand furi. A real sea of light up rings.

Jinkaku Radio

During the second song, the vocalist Yuuki pulls out this large plushie effigy of him, and swings it around into the crowd before carrying it for most of the song. Not much furi nor response from the audience, but a humorous MC gets a few laughs from most of the crowd. Really liked their set, even if I’ve slept on their stuff up until now. Kind of tragic, they are the longest running band here.

Unite

Really fun, right from the start. The audience enthusiasm was definitely renewed. Some kneeling for Shiina Mio at times during his solos. Better for me to see, I guess.

Azavana

The lights go down, and the screams are instant. Azavana, I presume. No offence to Dog in the PWO but I don’t think they pull that many screams.

It in fact, is Azavana. The re-branded Ashmaze, after switching out vocalists.

They seemed to be playing a combination of brand new songs and previous Ashmaze songs that were re-recorded with Ryo.

Looking forward to their full show in a couple of days…

Dog in the PWO

Okay, there are a few screams. The guy beside me hasn’t lost momentum once. He must really like VK…

The music starts…and I’m like “Am I at a concert or am I about to bid on some sick Rarez?” Stomp Stomp woof, Stomp Stomp woof

Am I ready for Doggy Style? Maybe. Hey, it’s not my fault they keep naming their EPs that.

Haru might not have been dressed up as extensively as most of the other frontmen that night, but you wouldn’t be able to tell based on the audience’s reactions.

Cyclase
Last is a session band featuring members of Ayabie, Vistlip, Kiryu, The Beethoven/Jinkaku Radio, and R-18.

They played songs from each of their bands, but I’m not going to presume to be able to name them.

During the MC, Aoi mentions that this will be their last live…to a chorus of ええええ from the audience. He also pulls out two Lolita bonnets and asks who should wear them. They decide on him and the bassist, as the guitarist of vistlip tries to wear it on his wrist, to audience protests. They try to stick it on his head, but he cringes away from it.

An encore is called for, and they come back out for a long MC. They invite two members of Tokyo 花嫁, the guitarists of Azavana, two members of Unite, what looks to be a random white blonde guy, and the vocalist of Dog in the PWO on stage to perform one final song.

After grabbing a few post-show cheki, and grabbing a gift bag of skincare products!!, I head home, remembering to check my Azavana ticket for Thursday.

Guess no luck there either.

zeetabyte · October 23, 2024, 5:26am

Dear Lily! That must be the brand that Hiro of V[neu] owns as he runs an aesthetic clinic or something now. So nice they have it as freebies for this show, I wonder if it’s a tie up?

I’m making a quick guess that this must be Umi of Vistlip, the guy with glasses and a goatee me thinks. Cool that he’s hanging out with his juniors!

Happy to read your experiences as always. Thank you for always sharing!

GreatNorthernVK · October 23, 2024, 2:48pm

[Aiming] Zombie/Xanvala 10/23 @Ikebukuro Edge

Decided “Hey, whatever this is…it sucks and I don’t want to deal with it anymore”, so I made an appointment yesterday for the clinic again in hopes that they’ll take me seriously.

And so it seems like they do this time. Question is? Will all of you once I bust out the nickname that Discord chat gave their working theory?

V[Neu]~mo.nia

Yep, spending most of my days reclining and scrolling on my phone is bad for me, who knew? So now with some fresh meds, including antibiotics in hand, I can stop hacking and wheezing in a couple of days and actually go enjoy my last…19/20 days?

But alas, today is raining. Guess I’ll have to leave it until tomorrow.

Getting to Ikebukuro Edge right on time for my number call, I take my place a couple of rows from the back on the first tier flooring, on the right side.

So Zombie come on, some members living up to the image more than others. Opening with Koukyou Kyokudai 9Ban Mayonaka No Dai ni Ongakushitsu, they managed to get a decent portion of the crowd engaged despite their fans being in the minority at this show.

By the fourth song, vocalist Kanata had brought out this crucifix mic stand.

During Gomen nasai no Melody, the zombie like guitarist Izuna eyes us carefully during the electronic breakdowns, as if carefully judging our enthusiasm. By the end of the last electronic part, he seems impressed.

And just like that, we’re putting up zombie hands for the next song, Yuuyami Koushinkyoku.

By the eighth song, I can’t help the feeling that he’s staring directly at me, wanting to eat what’s left of my brain.

For the last song, people try and get down to the floor before Kanata stops them. As if they were expecting a different song than what we got, Kusottarega.

I head for the merch table, and they have a Gacha chance game. These normally don’t go great for me, but I’m told that I can get a free cheki for every 3000¥ spent on it, which gives me six pulls. And…

Not bad

So I grab a Setlist picture and head back to my spot, waiting for Xanvala.

Today is not quite your average Xanvala. For the month of October, they’re Zomvala, making this choice of show partner especially appropriate.

Coming out in their Halloween costumes, they get right started on Trick, enthusiasm building from Zombie’s previous set.

The strongest reaction seemed to be from their two older songs though, starting with Desperate as their second song.

I don’t know whether the members could tell if I was call and responding or not through my mask, but their faces when they glanced over me seemed to think so.

The rest of the main set is from their latest two albums, but the encore has them splitting the crowd in two (a fan frantically heading back to the middle to pick her fan off the ground, which guitarist Souma seemed to appreciate), before being told to charge at each other with zombie arms outstretched to Bamby. The set ends with an extended version of Culture, fans being encouraged to repeat furi cycles.

Taking a look at that lineup at the end, and I’m thinking “you know what, I’m good for now. I’ll just get some stuff at the next Taiban I see them at”

Hopefully I won’t be a zombie by then.

ridley · October 23, 2024, 3:01pm

I’ve seen Xanvala a few times but they seem to go all out even for taibans. That’s like a full concerts set list

GreatNorthernVK · October 23, 2024, 3:02pm

Two mans are life. Perfect sweet spot for total satisfaction in set length and total show length.

GreatNorthernVK · October 24, 2024, 2:24pm

Azavana First One Man 10/24 @Harevutai

Day 2 of committing to taking all of my meds on time.

I force myself out of the apartment by 1:30 today, committed to hitting up Pure Sound Shinjuku.

After passing another foreign X Japan fan in the wild and taking a picture for her by an intersection, we part and I head up to Puresound, realizing that it’s actually just on the next street from Like an Edison.

It’s a bit of an odd place, 70% dedicated VK store, with some anime and (what looks like) idol DVDs in the back. Then, next to the VK…the adults only curtain. Didn’t bother venturing in there, but I’m sure it wasn’t ultra rare bandman yaoi tapes. Still, I’m sure that my visit here can be a fruitful endeavour.

And yes, a fruitful endeavour indeed.
Tapes from Plastic Tree, Due le Quartz, Madeth Gray’ll, Rouage, and Kagerou, as well as a few Plastic Tree and MUCC albums that I don’t own yet.

I decide to stop at Ichiran Ramen, as there’s no lineup (a rarity), but by the time I get to Shinjuku Gyoen Park, they’ve stopped letting people in. Guess it’s time to head to the venue for advance merch.

Nice. Now…I wait. For 75 minutes. Only so long buying two acrylic stands and taking pictures of the bouquets can pass. There’s always Family Mart. I try to download the ChargeSpot app, as my phone is down to 20% but it seems like I’m being throttled again, because the internet is barely working.

I’m lining up for Azavana. Relegated to the A300+ section, I turn my head just in time to see none other than the VK Oyaji himself, checking in as a guest.

For those of you who don’t know who that is, Seiichi Hoshiko, the founder of Shoxx magazine, in 1990, coined the terms Visual Shock and Visual Kei and was really instrumental in bringing these bands who played different styles of music but with a focus on visual presentation together as a scene/community via his magazine.

He is still active via radio and online content, but Shoxx unfortunately filed for bankruptcy eight years ago.

We have a Linkin Park live album as our music for the next 30 min. They get to the part of the concert where Chester asks how many musicians there are, then turns the volume up right for the “just persevere and one day you’ll be up here like us” part.

Probably not intentional. But still an odd little touch that I feel added to the intro experience.

The curtains open, them standing in place, large screen behind them, Cattleya starts playing, animations playing in the background, followed by Genom and then Ignite, another Ashmaze re-recording that they haven’t released for streaming yet.

Moments like this make me really wish that I had placed a bit higher to get closer to where people wanted to move. It’s tough being stuck between people who want to participate in the furi fully and those who don’t.

Things slow down a bit on the furi front by Q, and picks up again by Ueta Kyutai.

Around this time, a member call break happens, Shiyu leaning in to the crowd, telling people to turn their volume up, I’ll admit, I gave him a couple hollers. Boy can get it.

They perform two more before they finish, and…50 minutes? Oh, you better believe that’s an encore-eh’in.

They come out eight minutes later, almost everyone wearing an official tshirt.

After replaying Azavana originals Aien and Ueta Kyutai, the first actual MC of the show starts. After chatting for a bit, they head into a replay of Noise, and the only other original to not be played yet, Azabana!

They say their goodbyes, Shiyu saying that the encore wasn’t quite over. When everyone was off stage, we got one final video message. Advertising their 2025 one man tour! Ending on April 30th at the Ebisu Liquidroom.

So it’s now a shuffle to the cheki table. While in line, the men’s room door opens and three men, including VK Oyaji, come out. I want so badly to just say “Oyaji-san” in recognition, but the poor man already looked so alarmed seeing a whole crowd of bangya in two lines around him that I didn’t dare. Really short man. Doesn’t need a big, scary gaijin startling him more.

The line moves relatively quickly and I grab five, taking my parting fake flower.

I look around to see if there are any visible band canvassers around. Not specifically seeing any around the corner, I stop looking and turn around towards the courtyard. When who do I see?

Yep, he’s a regular fixture of my trip by now. The universe must really want me to declare an official honmei.

I told him about my pneumonia yesterday, so he asked if I was alright and if I’d been taking care. I reassured him that I had been and that I was still a little sick though (hence the mask). It’s difficult, because most of my time other than concerts has been laying down in the apartment, and that isn’t exactly great. I also told him about the speedy maneuvering of mine that’s going to be required for attending an upcoming show of his…but I’ll make it work.

Somehow it always does.

GreatNorthernVK · October 25, 2024, 2:56pm

Jiluka vs 0.1g no gosan…Naruto coin flip! 10/25 @Shibuya Garret udagawa or @Spotify O-West

Odd title, I know, but I’m going somewhere with this.

So this is my first and only day where I truly could go either way in terms of alternative plans. Two tickets, close to the same cost, both not amazing placements, for bands that I have seen at least once and met at least once.

When I first told someone about this, it was the Japanese exchange student at Jiluka’s meetup event. “oh, so you’re like Naruto?” she said. “You have to flip the coin”. Yeah, guess I do.

After looking into both lives, advance merch sales, to know when I have to leave…I make my choice. 100, is Jiluka, wreathes is 0.1g no gosan.

Choice locked

I remember passing by Shibuya Garret Udagawa once before, and a metalcore show with Dexcore as the opener was going on at the same time as Kakumay, just two buildings over. Much like WWW, it is in the basement, although the passageway is much…cozier than WWW’s.

The amount of space downstairs is no less cramped. Seems to be a two tiered flooring, and I really have no choice but to be towards the back of the room. Even then, seeing above the couple of rows in front of me is proving near impossible. I’m glad I got here early to get the EU Karma shirt, because I don’t want to hang around here when this finishes.

Starting fifteen minutes late, the screen gradually raises up, and the guys come out. Bloody Nurses/Doctors this year. Seems like what a lot of bands are going for this year. Zyean is kind of serving “Illuminati Mana” vibes, though. “This is Halloween” plays in the background, and they even give us a few riffs before officially opening with Necropolis.

I can get a half decent visual on Sena and Boogie, it seems like this is the most “covered” that I’ve seen Sena in particular. Actual full coverage pants too.

Oh? You thought the next song was called “Bloodshot?” Well too bad, according to Ricko, it’s now “Butt fuckin’ Shot”.

The back section here are mostly trying our best with furi, here. The two ladies in front of me peace out a bit early because of people headbanging around them, so I move up for the second half.

Finishing off the main set with “Fucking……venom” and “Fucking Savage”, we get a five minute encore call before they come back out with Twisted Pain and Suzaku saying their goodbyes.

I debate whether I should stick around for a chance at winning a Zyean two shot to complete my set via cheki pulls or if I should just get back to my apartment before I feel too sick again. I also have a decent amount of Jiluka cheki this trip, and conserving funds gets extra important in the last two weeks.

Maybe I should flip a coin?

On second thought, some decisions are best not left up to chance. Back home for me.

GreatNorthernVK · October 27, 2024, 12:13am

Leetspeak Monsters Halloween Party featuring Luv Parade/Xanvala/Divers Croix/BabyKingdom/Wanvan 10/26 @KMA Paradise Hall

Starting to feel…a bit better. A trip to Shinjuku Gyoen Garden seems in order today.

B14 today. I seem to be in the final trickle of people into the venue, as most people just got these on first lottery.

I still get a half decent spot, right side of the stage, maybe nine rows back.

Wanchanwanwannekonyannyan

Mouth full, ain’t it?

I looked around, and I still couldn’t figure out if this was a VK band that just hasn’t been entered into VK.gy yet, or a pop rock band dressing up for Halloween as a VK band with vague military uniforms.

They open with a pretty jazzy song, before going into some more standard catchy pop rock songs. A decent portion of the audience seemed to know the furi to their stuff, but the vocalist did still guide us through it.

During the final song, he points to a fan in the audience who had been doing it right the entire time and gives her kudos. Now, that’s how you know these guys aren’t VK. In most VK bands, girl would have had a target on her.

I did leave with something, though! A pick!

BabyKingdom’s sound check is now, sounds like someone tripped the fire alarm. A staff member reassured us that nothing is wrong, but I can’t help but smell…something. Kind of a maple syrup after smell, accompanied by warm air.

By the time they get it shut off, we’re nearly 20 min behind schedule.

BabyKingdom do come out, vocalist Shogo with Joker hair and makeup to compliment his Muddy Candle era costume, the bassist Monyo with a pumpkin head covering this time.

After three songs, they head into Funny Circus and then some stereotypical Mexican music plays while they introduce their newest single, Calavers.

Afterwards, Shogo asks the crowd who was seeing BabyKingdom for the first time. After a bit more hype, they finish off with Haikara.

So after BabyKingdom finish, the entire crowd pretty much moved forward three rows as they file out for merch. The curtain still open, changeover is happening and right after the Shiki and Monyo of BabyKingdom come back out to grab some leftover stuff, the members of Divers Croix have also come to help set up, to the audience’s cheers and amusement.

An old school throwback style band, Divers Croix did announce something undecidedly new school in its approach, for their performances, recording and non-flash photography is allowed.

Opening with Kourashita Yogurt, the 90s vibes already reverberate through my body and I just can’t bear to record the whole thing, needing to stop and do the furi.

The vocalist Tink pulls out his Card Captor pole during the third song, Tamakin, and pretends to play it like a guitar during the guitar duet.

Halfway through the set, they do a short skit to GTO, where the bassist Misuji and drummer Dagaki pretend to be racing through the desert on bikes, while the guitarists Kikato and Tacato keep the rhythm.

Eventually finishing up with their last song, 6 Nensei wo Okuru Kai.

They’re off, and we’re movin on up again. This time, to fifth row.

Time for Xanvala, oops, I meant “zomvala”.

What else can I say? The energy from just a few nights ago definitely hasn’t diminished, with Desperate being the closing climax of the audience’s enthusiasm. Just can’t say we got anything different.

I’m getting the feeling that this is going to be one of those lives where the bands just sell their stuff directly after their sets, then piss off. Oh well, I don’t feel like running up and down the stairs for a 20 minute window just to buy cheki.

Lines are starting to get more cramped now, but I still move up one for Luv Parade, and looked slated to move up even closer for Leetspeak.

But I’ll admit, the lack of drink and constant standing is wearing on me.

At the time that Luv Parade goes on, we’re a full 50 minutes off schedule.

After their opening cover song, we get a listen of their upcoming single, Shoot it Down.

The second half is definitely where the set takes off, though.

Poker face (Lady Gaga)
Shoot it Down
Bad Guy (Billie Eilish)
Joker
Trickster (D’espairsRay)
Tonight Tonight Tonight

Karyu’s pick bounced off my shoulder and the chick behind me dived to get it. Pissssssed.

Second row Leetspeak. These sets are really awesome and everything, but I don’t know how much more I can take of this super annoying Halloween backtrack.

So I get to be in Yoshi’meer’s private cheering squad today, instead of just behind them like for Kansai Rock Summit.

It’s almost as if the guy has separate furi just for him, as his cheering squad kept moving even when everyone else in the crowd stood still.

I’ve seen these guys often enough at this point that I’m like “Oh, he’s telling us to make bobbing motions with our hands, must be Mr Halloween”.

Towards the end, they started trading off vocal parts between D13, Yoshi’meer and Euskyss.

Monsters Party
Black Owl
Room 666
Mr Halloween
Night at the Museum
Trick or Treat
Gothic

So we’re finally finished, past 10 pm, and I rush to go see what’s left. Quickly grabbing four Leetspeak cheki, I manage to pull a two shot ticket and a “special event” ticket…provided I’m going to the Halloween show…which I’m not.

Oh well, at least there’s still the 2-shot…

Oh wait, no? They want everyone to leave, because it’s so late?

Then why even give this to me?

Things to ponder in a couple days…

After showing a fellow foreign fan to the station and exchanging lines, I’m rewarded with a free Euskyss cheki?! She apparently had plenty of him.

Turns out, we also leave the same day. After saying a quick goodbye, my headphone batteries running low, as well as my own, I manage to get home before midnight. I’m still craving pancakes.