The last two times I saw XANVALA they only sold cheki to people who pre-ordered them so you might not have had any luck anyway 
(You think I would have learned after the first time, but I thought maybe it’d be different at a taiban… it was not )
1 Like
One thing I learned about vkei concerts is you gotta fight for those picks lol
Meanwhile every metal concert I went to if it like went any way in your direction the crowd would help you and give it to you.
3 Likes
One time a girl ripped a pick from under my shoe lol. It bounced off me, I stepped on it and she still had both hands under my foot. I had 2 choices: let her have it or step on her hands, but I couldn’t bring myself to do the latter… still kinda mad about it.
1 Like
You question your morals when it comes to these picks but the drop rate is low you gotta fight lol jk
Honestly I would’ve done the same thing but i’d be mad about it too
3 Likes
Hate to be that person but Babykingdom was wearing their Muddy candle outfits, not Funny circus lmao
I didn’t have much issues with long sound checks/delay during that one concert I was at, so I guess they just had a one-off hiccup there with their equipment…?
Oh, it was absolutely the fire alarm that delayed things. Took them 10-15 minutes just to get it turned off.
And good catch, I’ll edit that.
1 Like
Crazy monsters Halloween Party Day 2 10.27 @Shinjuku ReNY
Towards the back for today as well, but it does give me the freedom to roam about and grab merch as necessary. Good, because Micro Head 4N’s and Metronome’s merch team aren’t there yet.
I grab four Crack6 cheki and a single/2 shot opp for Vampire Rose, when our two MCs, Dancho from NoGod (can’t tell whether he’s the caterpillar from Alice and Wonderland or a giant pea pod) and Chisato from Penicillin/Crack6 come out. After some banter, they start going over today’s schedule.
Neu:Noiz starts the evening off. Not like that old, UchuSentaiNoiz! That Imitation Pops Noiz! This Noiz is Neu!
Their outfits are definitely from some kind of anime or game (after set MC pic of Angel Taka and Kyo for reference). They do have an EP coming out, so I’m wondering if those five songs were from the new EP, or if they’re UchuSentai songs. Musically, it was in the same vein.
Who knows, maybe the next iteration of this band will be OhioSkibidiNoiz
Vampire Rose
Starting off with Bloody Halloween, the candy starts being pelted at the audience half way through the song. He then goes into Mask, and we get a few more before they run out of candy.
After his set, he’s talking with Dancho now. I think Dancho is asking him how he shows up in pictures if he’s a vampire.
After waiting around to see if his two shots are right after his set (after getting some tasty mini chocolates from a Japanese Vampire Rose fan that I met last show) the other band starts up.
Close are an older band from 1996. Today for Halloween, they’re dressed up in a bit of a Rockabilly/Yankee theme, minus the drummer, who is a schoolgirl. I can’t say that I recognize any of their music, but it was a pretty good rock set.
They get out, and it’s time for Vampire Rose’s two shots. The process goes pretty quickly, but he does have a mini ring light to attach to people’s phones to get the best result.
Little Vampire are a pop-punk band from the 1990s, who have been on an almost continuous hiatus since forever, occasionally popping up for a release here, session there since 2019. They are doing a one time reunion for this show.
The vocalist Masaki with his signature red/green hair today, as have three ladies in the Saizen, all carrying green pompoms to cheer the band on. Half way through the set, they set off streamers directly at the vocalist…which is then followed by steamers going off near the back of the crowd from a handful of other people carrying green pompoms.
The Micro Head 4N’s are next, being comprised of members from D’espairsRay, Fanatic Crisis and the vocalist of Ambeek.
Starting off with Hell or Win (get it?), Keke comes out waving the band’s flag. The set was pretty consistently high energy. Now I’m regretting not just going for the floor, because the spot I was looking at was around where Zero was throwing his picks.
After grabbing a demo tape from Micro head 4N’s, I take a spot on the main floor for electronic band Metronome.
Which were an absolute blast. Most fun furi of the night. In front of the bassist Riu who definitely has a lot of dedicated fans, but guitarist Fukusuke would occasionally come by to shoot us deranged glances.
I grab a bracelet and three cheki, participating in my first ever trade. (Riu for Sharaku), before heading back in for Crack6.
Crack6 is the solo project of Chisato of Penicillin, who also brought O-Jiro over on drums. He was on guitar for the middle portion of the set, a couple of times getting some good solos in, but just vocals for the beginning and end.
During MC, he points to his support guitarist Shige Rocks dressed as Picollo and asks people if he looks like Dancho.
He then turns to his bassist Tenzixx, and the audience can’t decide if he’s Goku or Yamcha. Before finishing, Dancho comes on stage, solving my confusion by the costume clearly being a giant pea pod. He performs one song with them, before they get one final one.
After this, they call everyone back on stage for a session song - The Crazy Monsters theme song.
I get out, collecting all of Shinjuku ReNY’s VK flyers and receiving a handy package to put them in on my way out. Unfortunately, there will be no additional flyers outside, as it’s raining and I’m assuming canvassers don’t want to hang out in the rain. Oh, well…
7 Likes
Umiyuri/Makuraka Eishi/Wataru Rope Performance/Fukuro/Közi 10/28 @Ikebukuro Edge
Finally checked out Ikebukuro Book Off today. Not going to even bother with cds, I went straight for Blu Rays.
Bit of an odd little Taiban we have here, don’t we? But in a way, connected. Time to play Degrees of separation.
But more on that later, here’s @ridley again! After receiving a free Razor DVD from her, it’s time to start.
Közi
So Közi is up first. Maybe as a “special guest” type arrangement.
Very little fanfare, no furi, only a little bit of applause. Just Közi and his guitar, and some electronic backing track.
He opens with Jeez and the audience is captivated right away. During the third song, the lady in the middle Saizen spot collapses. The people surrounding her help her back up, but she feels faint and collapses again at the end of the song.
“大丈夫ですか”
Either her, or the people around her reassure him that she’s okay. He mentions something to the back of house, perhaps calling for assistance.
So he continues with the set. After Glitter Waver, he asks one more time if she’s okay, as she has yet to come up off the floor. Being given no real affirmative response, he closes the set off with Neighboring.
Now, he heads off and the ladies around the fallen lady are trying to offer some assistance, but not before Fukuro fans rush forward for Saizen changeover.
Gotta love VK concerts.
Seeing no merch or gift bag options for Közi, I take my spot back for Fukuro (hey! Moved up a row).
The announcement comes on that recordings are allowed for Fukuro.
Starting off with Fukuro no Ki, Yoshiatsu is hunched over and extends, getting ready for people’s cameras. After giving it his all vocally, they start up their new song, Road to the Future.
Throwing playing cards into the crowd for Texas Hold ‘em Poker, the furi really starts up. Afterwards, he hands a tambourine off to a second row fan for Bakemono no watashiniha.
He’s making some borderline inappropriate eye contact with me for Dorobo no March. But not quite as badly as later in the song when he starts serenading a lady on the right side of the stage, third row. But the set highlight was definitely Gekkou, where his vocals really shine best.
After Fukuro, Ridley takes off after grabbing a bit of merch. As it turns out, there don’t seem to be 2-shots for Taibans. I had a great idea for one, but I’ll have to see whether I can make the November 4th oneman work. Maybe I’ll ask Yoshiatsu if they’re planning on 2-shots that day.
Next is Wataru Shindo’s Shibari rope demonstration. The curtain opens to him and his model Mei-San facing the audience, as he starts going to work restraining her torso and arms. He then rigs her up to the rope suspension while he works on her legs,
His movements are fluid as he attaches the legs to the suspension and moves the three different attachments to change her pose, ultimately ending with her suspended upside down by only one leg. Untying her torso/legs and then gently letting her down to the floor, giving her a few moments to catch her breath before letting her up for their final bows.
I’m not really one for rope, or for being tied. But, for Wataru…
Makuraka Eshi
The solo project of Ivy from Moran/Lack Co/Anonymous who handles bass and vocals for this project. Accompanied by Chitose of Hellbroth/Amamitsutsuki on guitar and Keito of Ruvie/Whitehead/Anonymous on drums.
The first couple of songs, there isn’t much movement, but it livens up quite a bit for the last four.
So at this point, I chat up the two people behind me who are from Canada and France. We talk about our travels, differences between concerts here and back home, etc.
Before too long, it’s time for Umiyuri to start.
The solo project of Hitomi of Fatima/Moran, with Ruiza of D on guitar, Tero of Vidoll on drums and Yuchi of Sukekiyo on bass.
So I guess I should go back to what my original tangent was with “Degrees of Separation”.
Hitomi and Ivy were in Moran together, check
Chitose plays in Amamitsutsuki with…Lotto of Fukuro, check.
Wataru Shindo previously played support bass for Umiyuri, check.
So how does Közi fit into all of this?
Közi’s former support bassist Masashi of Versailles/Jupiter was in the same limited project of JVM Roses Blood Symphony with Ruiza of Umiyuri.
Weak, but it’s the most direct degrees of separation I can come up with.
Anyways, back to the report…
Around the third song, things start getting pretty jazzy. Kind of a Fatima feel. During the MC, Hitomi keeps awkwardly playing with the obi of his Halloween costume, saying something about his stomach and how VK has either seen better days, or that days have been getting better (god, I need to improve my Japanese).
For the next song, he goes over to Ruiza to sing with him for a bit. They head off stage after six songs, but we do get an encore of Kurokami to Kuroneko.
So people are lining up for 2-shot opps with Hitomi. I have a slightly different focus of my attention.
There are still playing cards…just sitting on the floor, only the barricade separating them from me.
So I see a tall staff with big manly arms and ask for his help. Aaaaaand…
Score!
Mind you, I also wouldn’t mind a couple cheki to commemorate Hitomi and Ruiza.
Also, first time trying Freshness Burger today. Would recommend over Mos Burger!
On the way back to the station, I run back into the fans I was talking to earlier and we just shoot the shit for almost an hour before parting ways at Ikebukuro station.
Too bad it has to end soon. 14 days and counting.
8 Likes
Lol that was funny. At least with that lady I think it was part of the song.
Wow that’s cool that Fukuro has their own personalized cards they throw out.
Oh god I had Mos Burger once, never again.
1 Like
Kaneto Juusei Halloween one man 10/29 @Spotify O-West
We’ve got ourselves a Great Flood of our own outside today. Umbrella in hand, I’m ready to go.
I know, I know. I’m going against my two pieces of conventional wisdom.
A) Don’t switch your initial plan for some shiny impulse concert
And
B) Don’t pay in advance for what you can just get for free on the day of.
But when you’ve been here longer than six weeks or so, you kind of get a feel for where you end up having the most fun and end up prioritizing what makes you happy as opposed to band variety, or seeing a band just to check them off the list.
Which is why I find myself standing in front of Spotify O-West today, S128 ticket in hand for a band I’ve already been to four times this year.
Then again, my choice is between that and a Taiban set of another band that I’ve seen exactly four times…plus two other bands that are decent, but I have also already seen once. To use a two shot ticket that they might not even honour.
Both positioned potentially in an okay spot in the venue, but just okay.
However, at this show…there will be no 2-shot opportunities. All of that is reserved for tomorrow evening, in a separate location. Instead, we get to high-five the guys as much as we can pay for at the end. I’m good with once, thanks guys.
But they do have two t-shirts, mayyybe…
Nope, sold out. Guess I’ll have to make do with a little acrylic Chill.
One last chance to turn right back around and head to Ikebukuro Edge for Leetspeak/Ensoku and Unite.
Will my gamble pay off? Am I getting Great Flood Kaneto or Request Night Kaneto?
The only way to know for sure is to cross reference the other two dates on this mini tour earlier this month, Osaka and Nagoya.
18 songs each?
Yep, staying right where I am.
Sixth row between left and centre, not bad at all. Now to see how much we get squished in once discounted and free tickets make their way in.
They come out in their bloody doctor outfits, stage decorated in skeletons and medical scans.
Opening with Kogarashi, a newer song, the first half of the main set after this are the standard mainstays of their sets, including Kimi no Hon’nou, Gozenreiji and Tokyo Mushoku Kobayashi Akihito but they start getting more into the newer songs in the second half.
An informal member call break happens after a few songs, the lady in front of me fanning herself while furiously barking for Uru. Another lady beside me is quietly cheering for Yuriko.
One thing I can definitely appreciate about this live is the production quality, lighting, etc. The guys do have creative ideas to keep the lesser played songs fresh and not always perform them in exactly the same way, and a proper stage set up is really required for that.
While playing a newer song without any furi yet, two ladies behind me drop to the ground to whisper to each other, and then decide to vacate to the back of the venue. People gesturing in the back seem to imply that one of them was going through something.
Chill breaks for an MC, and then decides that he wants to do that official member call song again. We furiously clap in rhythm and call and response each member’s name.
And then suddenly, they start playing it. Akihabara Maru batsu chome, the song I listed as my #1 pick on the request live form. I got what I came for, I can leave happy. They also perform Gomi no Hi and Haato not long afterwards.
Chill announces the last song, and instructs the crowd to part for Watashi no Shinikata, a light wall of death happening, before we hop side to side and front to back, calling and responding the entire time.
The encore lights go up after just over five minutes, and the guys come out in black show merch. Uru and Yuriko banter for a bit, then get Eishin to take over. He’s awkward and not very good at it. The audience forgives him. Chill unsuccessfully sneaks back on stage, and they shortly head into Kimi ga Kokoeru followed by Satsuki.
We then get an extended version of Akai Rhythm, starting with the crowd windmilling for their lives for about 10 rounds, Yuriko and Uru on the centre platform. Yuriko trying to do his “In the name of the moon, I’ll punish you” pose, Uru yanking his arm back as if to tell him to quit fooling around and keep playing. Chill gets the whole crowd to move back in preparation for rushing the barricade, before he and Uru both jump down after the initial rush.
On the second round, the left side of the crowd rushes Uru instead of the barricade, and the centre smushes Chill up against crowd at the front before he can wiggle away and make his way upstairs to the balcony to command us from there for the next ten rounds. We keep rushing the barricade, all competing for Yuriko and Uru’s attention.
Yuriko flashes the crowd his signature pose, but with middle fingers in lieu of Sailor Moon hands. I copy him, which earns me a thumbs up and smile from him. Uru leaps forward to fist bump a guy in the crowd, and I take advantage to do the same.
Right before Chill comes back down, Uru attempts crowd surfing again, to not the greatest results. He basically toppled the people beneath him and they break his fall. Chill walks back on stage in between rounds, and he tries too. To similar results, only the toppling is more gentle because well, he’s a much lighter guy.
We get just two more rounds after this before returning to our spots for some last windmill headbanging before they’re finally finished the encore.
But wait, there’s still a video message. Announcing two new shows on December 30th and January 4th, as well as a live DVD of the show on August 3rd and a new album and tour upcoming in 2025, tour final October 27th at Ebisu Liquidroom.
So now we wait…for handshakes. Seeing the stage tear down is interesting. There’s also this crumpled Setlist all on it’s lonesome…just sitting there. I ask a staff if I may have it…he checks…and it’s a no. Sad face.
Set Decorations
In the meantime, someone who got knocked around from the show is having a medical episode on the middle of the floor, they are calling an ambulance now.
About 10 minutes later, the guys are setting up near the exit. People could technically loop around if they bought multiple hi-touch tickets, but I really think they just wanted people gone at this point. A couple of people are taking their sweet time, and staff have to shoo them along. I get a double high five from everyone, and a fist bump from Uru, who possibly? remembers me from last time.
Now, the question is…what did I give up?
Leetspeak
Unite
Ensoku
That’s…better than I thought it would be.
Well, I guess it’s subjective.
Let’s poll -
- Kaneto Juusei
- Leetspeak/Unite/Ensoku
0
voters
Which would you have seen?
6 Likes
I’d love to see so many bands, but you do make Kaneto sound very fun to be at for the vibes
I do prefer Leetspeak’s music by far, but from what I’ve understood it’s much more of a chill place plus Yo’shmeer’s cheerleaders lol
Not a huge fan of moshing personally due to my medical stuff (I’d also get a medical episode probably), but it does sound like you were having a great time there (^^)
1 Like
Extreme Halloween in Shibuya featuring Sick2/Rorschach Inc/Misui/Gren/Hellbroth/Mathilda 10/30 @Shibuya Kinmirai Kaikan
So another day, another choice that I had.
Do I go with my original plan, this awesome looking (at a venue I’ve never been to), seeing bands that I’ve mostly haven’t had a chance to see Taiban?
Or, do I give it up for prospective honmei’s less shiny Taiban at a smaller venue that I’ve already been to? One that I’ve already ordered five cheki for, to be mailed to my apartment?
Just how down bad am I?
But no, Katie, don’t get lost in the sauce. You have two more opportunities to see this guy perform, and he already knows you’ll be coming to those. Be patient, don’t give up what you have here.
150 A tickets called, I’d say maybe 40-50 were no shows. So I go in second after A tickets are called, and manage to get fifth row dead centre. I receive a Sick2 points card stamp and a drink ticket that looks like a guitar pick. Almost like it too much to exchange.
Upon looking at merch tables, Mathilda seems to have a similar two shot system to Hitchcock, down to the ticket design and holding a sign if you’re last in line.
Mathilda come on, their costumes all a mish mash of different characters, the vocalist Qu as a dark angel, the bassist Tamaki clearly not enjoying himself in a Silent Hill esque villain with a safe for a head, the door frequently closing on him during the set.
Only the first two rows seem interested in moving, which is a pity. Qu calls for call and responses a couple of times, I feel like i’m the only one responding. Pretty interesting, fun furi though.
They finish up, and they only seem to be selling two shots today. I’ll get a better selection for them in a few days, so I’ll just wait until then.
Hellbroth
Movin on up, off centre fourth row.
Coming out in bloody nurse/doctor costumes (there’s a theme this year?), and by the end of the first song, the vocalist Yumehito takes the bassist Tera’s toy stethoscope and hucks it into the audience and it hooks right on my thumb. Amazing aim, boys!
Yumehito then does a lengthy call and response attempt leading into the second song, Merry Burakodo. Others start responding too, but I’m still clearly the loudest.
For a brief MC, he discussed their costumes and said that his only cost 2000¥. To highlight how cheap it was, he shows us the unmarked back. He gestures the guitarist Chitose over to show that his was also unblemished at first, but there was an amateurish fake blood stain that he put there himself, his arm still stained red.
They finish off their set, and I go grab four cheki (managing to pull three Chitose and trading one away for a Yumehito).
Gren
Moved up one more, now third row, third from the left.
Bloody doctors/nurses again? Oh, we have a drummer dressed as a patient.
Set was pretty good, just not the most memorable.
By the end of the set, I go grab cheki hoping that there’s also a Setlist after running into a couple gya I’ve seen before.
The bassist is at the table selling cheki, so I ask for four. “Of me?” He asks. The lady beside him is selling Sick2, so she then clarifies “Gren?”, to which I’m like “Hai, Gren o yonmai kudasai”. To which I get four…and it is really just the bassist. Guess they sell them in an unorthodox way. He compliments my Androgynous The Final War shirt before I head back to my spot.
The next band starts, heading out in full Harry Potter costumes with wands before the vocalist Ryu, shortest man in the band, comes out in a Hagrid costume.
No, it’s not Harry and the Potters…it’s Misui!
Opening with Haizuru, looking around they’ve brought out the most active crowd for furi of the night so far.
Closing off the set with two songs available on streaming, Genkai desu and Baka, I decide to try my luck at a Ryu cheki.
Three cheki later, no Hagrid. Oh, well. Here’s a photo anyways.
So it’s almost time for Rorschach Inc, and ever since Misui, there’s been this gap in second row. Like the lady just plunked her stuff there for Sick2 and pissed off.
Oh well, I move up half a step and act as of I’m second row.
The guys come out, no real Halloween costumes in sight. But during MC, Yuuri explains that they are dressed…as one another, for Halloween. Might be an even bigger cop out than 2000¥ bloody nurse outfits, but I’ll take it.
The drummer and bassist of Gren decide to distract everyone by peeking out of the curtain to wave at the audience.
After Villain and Anti, Yuuri calls for a circle pit, and spot hogger girl’s stuff gets kicked to the side by someone else. Guess that’s my second row Rorschach Inc spot now.
And, apparently after changeover, it’s my Sick2 spot as well.
I grab some Rorschach Inc cheki, happy that they’ve split it off into each member instead of random pull.
Sick2 come out with their Halloween costumes being Horror Icons, with vocalist Gene as Michael Myers, guitarist Matsuri as Pennywise, Bassist Takuma as Freddy Krueger and Drummer Shou as Chucky.
Gene was using his backing track just a liiiiitle too much for my liking.
The furi was really elaborate for a few songs, they did post a Setlist, but something doesn’t quite add up, I could have sworn they threw in Crazy Tokyo in the middle as it was the only song that I recognized right away.
Deciding to head off, as they already got my ticket money today and I need to conserve cash for the next couple of days, I receive a candy from Gren’s drummer and a free promo ticket for Hellbroth’s upcoming show.
All in all, a Taiban well worth it. I’m glad I snapped out of it today.
8 Likes
Lyrica Presents Halloween Party #2 10/31 @Takadanobaba Club Phase
So, a live where I’ve seen…everyone here. Some multiple times. The old me back at home would have scoffed.
But you know what? I had fun at all of those bands. So why not combine my fun and go all out this Halloween?
Dressed up in my Halloween best, I head for Takadanobaba. I run into a gya I talk to sometimes along with her American friend.
Getting to the venue, like last time I was here for a Taiban with a couple of these bands, there are a disproportionate number of foreign fans here. English, Spanish, German, I’m kind of wondering how the Japanese fans must be feeling for chatter in other languages to drown out their own.
I have a terrible number today, 258. However, I still grab an off centre sixth row for our first band of the day, Soranaki. Dressed as various cosplay characters.
I left my Soranaki fan at home, unfortunately.
After the first song, we get a relatively long MC from them, before they do another three songs for us before taking off.
We get one more announcement to please move forward a bit more to let stragglers in, before Jigsaw take the stage. Movin’ on up one row.
Almost everyone in maid costumes, albeit different types. The drummer Shiki in a Lolita maid style, the bassist Ema looking buff in maid lingerie, and the guitarist Maru coming out looking like a Victorian housekeeper. Bukimi, however has decided to opt out of the maid uniform and is dressed with demon horns instead.
Opening up with their most recent single, Aiwan Maiden followed by one of their more popular unique furi tracks, Aza.
Probably the highlight of the set was Shoujo type B. Finishing up with Josuisou no Henshitai, I found myself wishing that I had worn something a bit less restrictive. But then again, maybe less headbanging is good for me.
Up next, Damned, where I stay in fifth row for the most part, but just have more room to maneuver.
Within the first song, Revenir, the first piece of candy drops. It takes the audience aback, as it was thrown with quite a bit of force. As the songs continue, we continue to get pelted with damned candy, including a particularly big piece that happens to smoke both me and the girl beside me in the shoulders during Stain.
Try as I might after their set, I just can’t seem to move up as everyone else around me is just kind of advancing first. Whereas I’ve gotten used to waiting if someone is going to reclaim a spot before moving, seems like it’s snooze you lose here. Lineup for Damned merch is also too damned long, so I go retake my spot for Senketsu Akochan
The question is…will he or won’t he?
He’s got the hedge clippers…
Opening with Ryouchi Ayame Chan, the next couple of songs are ones that they’ve played at other shows, but the fourth seems to be a newer song.
Zansatsu Biyori starts playing and Hiro-kun taking his jacket off…
But, no. Not even a tease. Guess we’ve got a family friendlier Senketsu Akochan for this Taiban. Maybe they were actually somewhat serious about giving Hiro a talking to after his recent idle suicide threat on Twitter. They finish off with Jin’nikumangu Tagiru-kun, the audience calling and responding while hopping back and forth.
So I finally manage to get back into the Damned line, as there are two shots today. While waiting, Sakura takes one look at me and lets out a chuckle. That’s it. I was uncertain who I wanted a picture with, but now I want to go back for more Sakura.
The two girls in front of me are taking too Damned long to make a decision, so I just get my ticket as Tzkwym is scheduled to begin.
Another guy starts off on stage, doing some rather…gross things with a string of floss. Until he finishes up with that and, as if performing a magic trick, makes Tsuzuku appear from the platform, dressed in white.
He definitely hasn’t lost the deranged energy despite him saying that he was feeling low lately. Opening with Manticore and Secret No. 4, he had the audience excited right away, following his every move.
Half way through, he calls for a wall of death to Greed and Ideology, which actually…turns into a real Wall of Death with the presence of some people in the crowd who aren’t afraid to make impact.
Playing a couple more, he finishes off with an Instrumental track, and one final little magic trick, opening a cage that appears to have a live animal in it, only for the reveal that it’s actually a piece of crumpled paper and a bouquet of flowers, which he tosses back into the crowd bride-style.
After he finishes up, I decide to vacate my spot in order to go try and get my Damned 2shot.
And Sakura doesn’t even come out until 5 minutes before they stop, and shuffle us back inside for Lyrica.
What a Damned clusterfuck.
So I resign myself near the back of the venue. Senketsu Akochan and Tzkwym were entirely reservation only and don’t seem to have any non-cheki merch, so it’s basically just waiting for the end of the show for Damned.
Lyrica come out, keeping with the bloody nurse/doctor motif that so many bands have this year.
The room still packed, Lyrica opens up with Strange Rabbit and has almost the entire house jumping up and down. They continue the set, until they wrap it up after several songs, inviting members of Soranki, Jigsaw, Damned and Senketsu Akochan on stage for their final song, their newest, Rabbit Parade. The candy comes back out and the members of the other bands throw it at us until it’s all gone.
I hurry to hand over some Cheezies to Lyrica’s merch table before I head out to try and join the lineup of people for Sakura.
They’re positioning people inside the hall once almost everyone is cleared out, so I head in there with the American lady and a German fan with this amazing looking Sakura ball jointed doll. I luck out and position myself first after running to notice that Tsuzuku’s merch table is in fact selling acrylic stands.
I say hi to Sakura, who doesn’t seem to recognize me at first from September 10th (not that I can blame him, my face looks…different) so I let him know that we first met back then. Then he remembers his birthday live, of course. After grabbing hands for a bit, he smushes my face before seeing me off.
Checking the time. Not even 8:30 pm. I was in and out of there in less than five hours. Could the experience have perhaps been a bit more relaxed? Maybe not so tight turnaround times to reduce the number of 2shots needed at the very end?
Just some (rabbit) food for thought.
6 Likes
The Candy Spooky Theater Rockin’ Child’s Spook One man show Baby 11/01 @Shibuya Club Malcolm
The Candy Spooky Theater were an independent band active from 2003 to 2014, who garnered some international attention about half way through their career, including several US and European dates.
So colour me surprised when I hear on my trip that they’re planning a one day revival on November 1st.
So much for Dezert Party Day 1. At least I didn’t get a ticket to that one.
I get there to Club Malcolm about 20 minutes before doors.
About 6 people before me are latecomers/no shows, but I still only get third row just due to how narrow the stage is.
After grabbing a T-shirt and dropping off some Cheezies, I take my place back, although someone has kind of stepped over my stuff to wedge her way in.
Starting 15 minutes late, Zull and Peggy Giggles head on stage, kind of unceremoniously, Peggy carrying the setlists. Zull readying the backing tracks while putting his guitar on. Zull pokes his head out of the back door to see if Jack Spooky is ready to head on.
He finally does, after Peggy has thrown some tea lights to the audience and readied his stand up bass. Starting with fan favourite Devilish Kidnapper, the audience getting into it right away.
After the first MC, Jack starts playing around with a voice modulator that sounds basically like what Hiro of Senketsu Akochan uses. After a couple more songs, the guys all pull out their Halloween candy pails and toss out their stash to the crowd for Trick or Treat, Jack getting some chanting going on. I catch a few pieces myself. Jack and Peggy throw some candy at each other after Jack grabs Peggy’s hair spikes.
At this point, Peggy’s getting kind of tired of stand up bass, so he sits down, playing it from the ground.
Alice comes on, and the whole audience is just vibing to this chill track. The tone turns a bit darker though for Ferris Wheel and then outright jazzy for Cabaretta.
After one more, Jack calls for the last song of the main set, Merry go round, getting everyone to sing along.
They take off after high fiving the front row, and the encore call goes up right away.
They come back after a few minutes, and instruct people to take out their smart phones to record the next one, a repeat of Devilish Kidnapper. But they aren’t quite done, as Jack says to the crowd “Ladies and Gentleman, Welcome to the Spook House!”
Just what I was waiting for. Setlist complete.
The guys head off one more time, this time getting to high five the second row, Peggy giving the Setlist sheets to a couple girls in front that weren’t stingy about sharing for photos. I even get to say bye to Peggy as he’s smoking a cigarette outside.
Encore:
Devilish Kidnapper
Spook House
9 Likes
peggy’s hair 
you are so lucky to have seen them, loved reading this report so much 
1 Like
Dezert Party Volume 16 11/02 @Ebisu Liquidroom
Number 37 today. That is….very good, actually. Which is why it’s super important that I arrive early and don’t forget anything.
And oh, shit, I forgot my Cheezies.
Oh well…
Oh shit, I’m there 2 minutes before doors and I need to elbow past 200 people to make my number call. Oh shit, I forgot to store my umbrella.
Oh well, I get my second row spot. It happens to be near the corner of the left side of stage, but oh well, at least I’m not in the extended row all the way off to the side of the venue. I put my bag down and go see if they’ll let me put my umbrella upstairs, but alas they will not. I head back, and as soon as I lift my bag off the ground a Japanese fan comes in and poaches that spot. Guess I’m in the corner of the left side.
Someone asks me if I’m willing to switch with them for Vistlip. Maybe I should have clarified exactly where they were standing first before I agreed, but oh well.
An MC comes out from the curtain and starts asking people how they’re doing before going over rules regarding cell phones, cameras, etc.
Up first is Verde, side project of Shou from Alice Nine.
After three Verde songs, Shou asks the crowd to yell along with him. I happen to be particularly loud as always, earning a smile from him. He then reminds everyone that a member of Alice Nine is in this band (to incredulous えええs from the crowd), and he then invited Chiaki of Dezert on stage to perform Yami ni Chiru Sakura and the crowd loses it.
The Saizen is bending over, us getting a chance to get closer to the guys, fist pumping.
They close it off with Red, another original Verde track.
Royz is up next, a few girls changing spots around me. Not the lady right in front of me, though. She must have been approached at least 4 times for her spot by now, she seems to turn away all askers. A Royz fan even attempting to negotiate with her as soon as they took the stage, but to no avail. Don’t look at me either, I’m not changing this late.
Opening with Antithesis, the furi is quite a bit more involved with Royz, including hopping back and forth, and windmill headbanging (which caught my hair a few times in such cramped quarters).
Near the last song, Giant Killer, Subaru brings out a digital clock left on stage (I guess to remind bands of how much time they have left?)
Antithesis
Venom
Sion
Cute Agression
Giant Killer
Nobody coming for me by now, must be LM.C next.
They come out, to Oh My Juliet only for Maya to go over to the sound booth a couple of times during the first couple of lines. After a minute, he cuts it short and restarts, this time with more enthusiasm from everyone.
At the end of the set, he invites Chiaki on, having completed his hair extensions and makeup. After bantering for a bit, where they talk about how much they appreciate each other but won’t touch hands for some reason, they introduce the last song, Boys & Girls. Aiji comes over to my side of the stage, and I realize just how lucky I am to get so close to the members of Dezert, Alice Nine and now Pierrot like this.
Be Strong. Be Pop
Oh my Juliet
Mogura
The Buddha
Boys & Girls
And Vistlip girl is nowhere to be found.
Oh well.
Vistlip are Vistlip, really. Plenty of audience engagement and definitely the second largest crowd after Dezert’s fans but they are also the least interesting band here, visually and musically. Sorry, just my opinion.
Dezert finally come on, and they open with Call of Rescue, which was a song on their recent compilation album, as was their next, Kimi no Shikyu wo Sawaru
During their third song, Mr. Shotgun Girl, Chiaki invites Subaru from Royz on stage to help with vocals.
Afterwards, they instruct the crowd to part in two for a wall of death to Hentai, Chiaki singing from behind the pit for most of the song.
They close off the set with Saikyoiku and Misery Rainbow, Chiaki doing an MC near the end about how much the VK scene has meant to him and the band to help them get to where they’re playing the Budokan in just seven weeks.
Being honest, I could have stopped for merch, but given that I was confined to standing in one spot for the last five hours, and that this position on the floor put me in a bad spot to try and get out early, I decided that waiting an hour for the merch line really wasn’t worth it for me, and decided to head back.
7 Likes
Mathilda Qu’s Birthday Oneman 11/03 @Ikebukuro Black Hole
So I finally get a real opportunity to take 2-shots, and what better day to get one with Qu than his own birthday?
So I make my way to Ikebukuro Black Hole, A17, which in practice, gets me in the venue around 35th and in the fourth row.
It’s November, why am I still sweating?
The guys come out, only really Qu in full VK gear, the rest of the guys in just some makeup and street clothes. Guess he didn’t want anyone showing him up on his big day.
They open up with Shounin Yokkyuu ni Shisu, everyone enthusiastically doing furi right away. After a few songs, I notice the bassist making eyes at me.
Half way through, they break for a long ass birthday MC where Qu reveals the true reason for today’s outfit. Because he wants to show off his tight body from his hard work at the gym.
They then go into some presents for Qu. He gets protein powder, a shaker cup, a humidifier, an iPhone accessory, and a PlayStation accessory that also helps out with streaming.
They bring out a cake, and the members and audience all sing him a happy birthday…he says he’ll eat it later.
The second half of the set focuses more on their poppier songs, as opposed to the first half’s heavier ones. At the final song, Tagaa Knife, he instructs people to pick their wooden forks up, and the more die hard fans oblige.
He closes off the set with a bow, telling the audience “Gouchisosama deshita”, keeping up with his character theme even if he didn’t end up eating that cake.
No encore later (just over an hour of music…little light fellas), and it’s time for 2-shots.
I have a different idea for my 2-shot. I still have miscellaneous candy left over from the last couple of days. Qu’s known for “eating” strange things…
So I ask him in Japanese if I can pretend to feed him my candy (wrapper and all). He agrees of course, and I say “Itadakemasu” as we take our picture, even though they didn’t play that one. He bids me a Gouchisosama deshita, also asking me if I live in Japan. I let him know that I go back to Canada next week, and tell him about my city. He asks if it’s a famous city, so I tell him about Kenny Omega (wrestler who performed in Japan often), and Chris Jericho (who held a huge showdown match with Kenny Omega in Tokyo) being from there. Maybe I should have mentioned
Winnie the Pooh instead.
Feeling not 100% satisfied tonight, I decide to go grab some all you can eat, tender Wagyu Yakiniku for dinner. Itadakemasu!
9 Likes
DuelJewel 2024 Autumn tour [AriA] 11/04 @Heaven’s Rock S̶a̶i̶t̶a̶m̶a̶ Utsonomiya
Ah, DuelJewel. The band where it all began.
No, not the first band I listened to. Of course not.
But the first band I supported directly, yes. Back when my underage ass was only allowed to purchase things online via Money order because my folks were pretty cautious about their credit cards being used.
But luckily, there was someone online willing to take my payment method. It was Rara sensei, who was promoting a pet band of hers back in 2002 by obtaining a crap ton of copies of their second EP, Noah and selling them via her VK fanpage fresh off of the success of their A-kon appearance that year. DuelJewel
It would have been super fitting to see them this trip. A kind of full circle.
That is, if I read my ticket properly.
Memo kids, always double check. Never assume.
There are two Heaven’s Rocks. One in Saitama, that I had heard about before. And one aaaaaaallll the way in Utsonomiya, a good 95 minute drive further away from Tokyo.
So yeah, this bungling resulted in me missing my first show of the trip, less than a week away from going home.
Instead, I grab a bowl of Ramen at Tokyo Station Ramen street, lamenting my fuck up.
8 Likes
Omfg I made the same exact mistake when booking a Hazuki concert. I could’ve made it but I uh didn’t anticipate it on being so far so no. Thought it was at Saitama.
Saw Cazqui’s Brutal Orchestra instead at Ebisu that day 
1 Like
Gertena Nao’s Birthday 11/05 @Sugamo Lion King
Learning from my mistake yesterday, double and triple checking tickets, locations, I forget to double check the schedule at Tokyo National Museum where I decided to take an excursion today. Special exhibit only.
Getting over that, I take a walk around Ueno Park and take a trip to Ueno Book Off, and finding way more standard J-pop/J-rock than VK, end up heading back to the apartment.
Wearing my Luna Sea shirt today to rep my love of older VK, because this live is a little different.
Instead of a regular lineup, Gertena is making Nao do quadruple duty through a series of three session cover bands before finishing the night off with a Gertena set.
Naochi, a lynch cover band, Nao Sea, a Luna Sea cover band, and… Kakeru Japan, an X Japan cover band.
Yeah, you know why I’m here. And why I’m picking up a 10 cheki order that came with a free limited acrylic.
After saying Hi to the German fan that I met at Leetspeak’s Halloween party, I take my spot in the line.
Number 36, but functionally more like 21 once you count no shows and latecomers. Enough for a third row dead centre position. Maybe if I ask those ladies front row centre for their spot during Kakeru…
“No.” X arms
Oh well, blunt and to the point. Remote chance I might advance to second row during this if there’s no obvious change over between bands.
Naochi
Featuring Hivari of Ars Nova on vocals, Mime of Lyrica, Furitsu of Zetsumei, and Siori on bass, Nao is the final member to take the stage.
Hivari wastes no time hyping the audience up, having us headbanging, calling and responding, his eyes fixed on me for a decent part of the set.
Evoke
Judgement
Lightning
Lie
Adore
I move on up already for the next set, figure I’ll stay here all show. I head to the bar area after saving my spot and gulp down my melon soda, catching a peek of the next band as a bandman out of costume accidentally leaves the curtain open as he leaves the backstage area. It’s kind of hard to miss Nao’s blue hair.
Nao Sea
I last saw Haruka playing a Luna Sea song for his birthday show in September, so it figures that he would be in the Luna Sea cover band.
So the guys come out, Yuraki from Ruinfear on vocals, dressed in a very Ryuichi style suit, Haruka in a bitchin’ Sugizo cosplay, along with Johann on rhythm guitar and YoSuKe of Kuro+Kage on bass.
Yuraki let the audience fill in a lot on the woahs and simple chorus lyrics, and the guitars really Shined (get it?) today.
Storm
True Blue
I for you
Rosier
Tonight
I end up moving to the side by one for Kakeru, as the lady who took over Saizen for Nao Sea wants her spot back.
Okay, I cave in. I want that second 2shot today. Haruka’s Sugizo cosplay is just too good to not take this opportunity.
Kakeru Japan
If I thought Haruka’s Sugizo cosplay was precious, Kakeru’s Toshi is amazing. The makeup, wig, etc. Everything perfectly on point. Nao shirtless as Yoshiki, Satsuki from Gertena/Zeke Deux as blonde hide, Riku of Ruinfear as Pata, Maya as Heath.
Kakeru’s voice is an impeccable match for Toshi, and he spent a lot of the set playing around with the band mates, and I can’t help but feel sad that the real Toshi and Yoshiki don’t get along that well anymore.
For X, after getting the crowd to call and respond to “We are! X!” part several times, he pauses to instruct Nao to take centre stage. Satsuki counts down, and we all sing Nao Happy Birthday. He is then presented with an Amazon gift card, and Kakeru tells him to take over vocals while he finishes on drums. Nao awkwardly struggles through the last chorus of X, Kakeru interjecting to tell him to make it higher pitched like Toshi.
At the end of the song, Nao dramatically collapses to the floor like Yoshiki, which leads the others starting with Kakeru to start a dog pile on top of him. They then carry him off stage, each one carrying a limb.
Silent Jealousy
Sadistic Desire
Dahlia
X
Gertena
I take a couple rows back, as I wanted to pick up my cheki and see if they were having 2shots early. Not quite yet, but I didn’t mind being a bit further back for Gertena.
I’ve seen them one other time before this, not much else I can add but to point out that tonight was just as much fun as last time even though the crowd had thinned out a little bit. During the last song, Agato took turns getting people in the front row to scream along.
So Gertena reach the end of their set, and they call Nao to the front again…time for another Happy Birthday round. This time, gifted a bag from his bandmates. Kakeru brings out a cake and hand feeds Nao a couple of bites before Satsuki comes and takes a bite for himself, putting his finger in Nao’s mouth jokingly as if to dare him to lick the frosting off.
Nao says his goodbyes, reiterating how much fun he had.
Lights go up, and it must be only a matter of time before 2shots.
I decide to take a look at my cheki package.
And, well…
Do you now, Kakeru? (Want to meet again, that is)
Welp, I don’t exactly have much time.
So I’ll test this.
When it comes time for my shots, I take them, (Haruka commenting on my awesome album shirt) but I use my minute after or so to let the guys know that I’m leaving next Monday, let them know my live schedule for the next three days, and that I will definitely be there Sunday, letting Maya know that I have not forgotten him, and will get a 2shot with him on Sunday.
Nothing weird. Over the next couple of days, I guess I can see if he bumps into me or not.
We’ll see what tomorrow brings…
Merch haul
Haruka cheki and lucky random Nao acrylic pull
5 Likes