Sel'm, Scar. @ Nagoya Heart Land 12/3 and stuff
Lately, I've been feeling that familiar ennui phasing in and out again. I'm not complaining about my time here, because it isn't Japan or my job-- it's just the same old me with my same old anxieties. I'm getting worried about my age when I shouldn't. I'm still plenty young, but I've never been a huge partyer and all that good at "living it up"... I need direction and deliberation and right now I feel like I'm losing focus. I need to decide by February if I want to stay another year here, and I need to redo the MCAT in April, like I said to myself I would. Of course, I've done zero studying for that... though I have managed to cram in a bunch of keigo recently. FINALLY, the rote phrases in tea ceremony make sense!
Anyway, as a result of my feeling existential lethargy, I think I've been slacking off on the social efforts. It's not completely my fault though, since everyone else is busy, too. So there's a year-end party on Friday in Nagoya and I feel like I should make the effort to go... but a) it's a little pricey and I don't feel like commuting, and b) I have tea ceremony. Should I cancel? Leaning towards skipping the party...
Saw a bunch of bands yesterday and it was alright. I didn't really want to go but I guess it cheered me up somewhat. But I'm telling you, I'm never taking the fucking Meitetsu again. I always miss the last train! Had to JR it home, which meant I lost a bit of money there.
This time Heart Land wasn't even half full. I think I saw a grand total of two guys, and I felt wayyyy too old. All the girls around me looked high school or fresh out. I'm pretty sure I was the tallest person there, with the exception of maybe one guy who turned up during Scar. (or Sel'm?) There was one girl in her uniform still, probably having gone straight after club activities. I saw an older girl there, and I half wanted to approach her but she was standing kind of aloof, and looked like she wasn't really there to enjoy the music. Maybe she was a band member's girlfriend, iunno. Anyway, the audience made me kind of depressed. D:
Envus
These guys didn't even get a billing, they were just listed as "other". Uhh, I can't remember how their music really sounded. Hard rock, I guess, pretty generic. They had the look down, but need to work on their sound. The vocalist was off-key at times, and the drumming was irritatingly uncreative. The guitars were half-decent, and they had an okay number of fans at the front.
THE.LAST
This was kind of a strange band, but a lot of girls were there for them. They went for a punky schoolboy look and the lead vocal was probably barely 20, and eerily resembled Hyde. He was acting all boyishly cute and stuff. But the guitarist was like... a skinhead or something. Shaved head, racoon eyeliner eyes, black wifebeater, and spidery designs on his skull. Identity crisis! In the end, their music betrayed them, as they turned out to be pop rock at best. There goes the guitarist's efforts. The drummer was actually quite good, and I wish he got more appreciation. He went for a solo and like, nobody clapped. The guitarist and vocal annoyed me a bit with their forced comedy during the MC. For the last song, they actually did something heavy, but the vocalist roared too much. a) Don't overdo it, man, you have to be selective of when to let out the scream, and b) learn how to scream. Mediocre, unfortunately.
Sel'm
They came out pretty early... I was expecting them to be second last or something, but uhh, so they marched out with their handy little flag and I went, "well, ok?" Most of the girls moved forward for them, so it was heartening to see that they had fans. They had much better stage presence than the previous two bands, too. Tora was very assured, and fairly sauntered. His hair looks great, btw. :) Hmm, so they played maybe 5 songs, and I'm crap at putting titles to tunes... Perhaps Lament was in there. I know the last song was kumo nochi ame for sure. Anyway, solid performance, lots of energy, and this was when I felt like it had been worth coming. All the instruments were quite good, and vocals were pretty on. So Sel'm is good, but I think they have yet to acquire the sort of steamrolling charisma that can really fill a bigger venue. Still, they (and Scar. after them) felt like two slightly more mature bands chucked into the wrong basket. In the half-empty Heart Land, I'd say they were chafing a bit.
Scar.
Right before Scar. came on, I noticed one girl looked like PREGNANT. I don't know what she was doing at a show. Maybe she just had unfortunate belly flab-- hard to tell under her one-piece dress. But if she was...! Then I also saw two high school aged girls by the breakers, and they were fondling each other's boobs for like a full minute or two. It was straaaange, one was just weighing the other's and making comments about them, and it went on for so long...! Too much estrogen in that room. :/
Nearly everyone moved up for these Scar., and I had thought they'd probably be playing last. There was still MaveRick and ガアラ (GAARA) to go, so I don't know why they were putting the bigger acts first. Anyway, they briskly came out, the cute femme guitarist bounced out, and the vocalist strolled, as cool as you please. Now, I've heard Scar. on CD and their music isn't particularly to my taste, but I admit they put on a good show. The vocals are a little annoying on disc (he has an unusually high voice) but it sounds smoother live, or maybe meshes with the instruments better. They're capable musicians with some high energy songs (that I couldn't name you). I wouldn't buy their CDs, but I wouldn't mind seeing them again. Lots of personality, this band. They are friendly with their fellow members without getting too gratuitous about it. Professional, you know? The guitarist who could pass for a girl (he had amazingly beautiful hair... probably extensions, but still) shared the limelight with the vocalist, doing a lot of talking and such. Very cute. Probably the most personable band of the evening.
MaveRick
Well then, after Sel'm and Scar., a good number of people just... disappeared. Either that or stood in line for Scar.'s merchandise (so I guess they were roping in most of the fans). This meant bad news for MaveRick, because when they came out, there were like 20 girls in the front, packed as loosely as I've ever seen the audience at a rock show (so many holes! like nobody wanted to admit they were there for MaveRick), everyone else still in the Scar. line or just sitting in the back. I was standing near the front and I wish I hadn't been, because then everyone, including the band, just assumed I really wanted to be there. And it felt downright rude to stand there stock-still when the guitarist and vocalist were both like a metre away, looking RIGHT at me, expecting me to move. So I gave in, and joined in, more or less. What MaveRick fans lacked in numbers, they made up for in enthusiasm, I give them that. These girls headbanged haaaard (some kneeled onto the floor, the steadier to headbang with), and jumped around a lot. Since there was so much open space, they just bounced from one end of the room to the other, plowing me and three other rather static girls on the end every once in awhile. :/
So MaveRick's music is so-so. I can't really listen to it on disc, because it's all hard noise to me. It's very hardcore (I mean the genre)... the guitarist had these dreadlocks in and tats all up his naked torso-- reminded me of the late 90's when hardcore was still in. Their songs were plagued by verses that bore too much of a resemblance to rap/hip-hop, which made me uncomfortable, haha. I think their music could've been better suited to angry American suburban white boys rather than little made-up Japanese girls. Still, the audience put their all in. They actually got called back for an encore (the only band! despite the fact that they had the lowest numbers so far), and the guitarist comes out and says in clear English: "you know what? fuck you!" And then flashed his middle fingers. The girls all giggled, of course. They played another song or two. The short chipmunk-faced vocalist was agreeable and smiling, and the vamped up fey-fey bassist sweet enough, but after the encore, the guitarist again went, "fuck you all!" The girls laughed again, but I found it a bit appalling. I really dislike it when bands work up the crowds by using direct offense-- these people are supporting you, buying your shit. Show your goddamn humility.
At two points guitar picks landed close to me, but I didn't bother getting them. I figured the girls who worked harder deserved them. :)
Anyway, I left at that point, not bothering to see ガアラ because I wanted to catch the train (which I missed anyway). I have no idea if they're any good because I haven't heard them before... I do have one flyer of them now and they look good, if nothing else? I don't know what to do with my shitload of flyers, too. Feels wrong to chuck them out, especially without recycling.
edit: arsdjgklsjd! I was cooking last week and got a tiny spray of hot grease on my fleece shirt. I put it in the wash, but now that I've taken it out, I can see that the grease has stripped the fleece off on the spots it landed. It's not TOO noticeable, but I'm attached to that shirt :(
Anyway, as a result of my feeling existential lethargy, I think I've been slacking off on the social efforts. It's not completely my fault though, since everyone else is busy, too. So there's a year-end party on Friday in Nagoya and I feel like I should make the effort to go... but a) it's a little pricey and I don't feel like commuting, and b) I have tea ceremony. Should I cancel? Leaning towards skipping the party...
Saw a bunch of bands yesterday and it was alright. I didn't really want to go but I guess it cheered me up somewhat. But I'm telling you, I'm never taking the fucking Meitetsu again. I always miss the last train! Had to JR it home, which meant I lost a bit of money there.
This time Heart Land wasn't even half full. I think I saw a grand total of two guys, and I felt wayyyy too old. All the girls around me looked high school or fresh out. I'm pretty sure I was the tallest person there, with the exception of maybe one guy who turned up during Scar. (or Sel'm?) There was one girl in her uniform still, probably having gone straight after club activities. I saw an older girl there, and I half wanted to approach her but she was standing kind of aloof, and looked like she wasn't really there to enjoy the music. Maybe she was a band member's girlfriend, iunno. Anyway, the audience made me kind of depressed. D:
Envus
These guys didn't even get a billing, they were just listed as "other". Uhh, I can't remember how their music really sounded. Hard rock, I guess, pretty generic. They had the look down, but need to work on their sound. The vocalist was off-key at times, and the drumming was irritatingly uncreative. The guitars were half-decent, and they had an okay number of fans at the front.
THE.LAST
This was kind of a strange band, but a lot of girls were there for them. They went for a punky schoolboy look and the lead vocal was probably barely 20, and eerily resembled Hyde. He was acting all boyishly cute and stuff. But the guitarist was like... a skinhead or something. Shaved head, racoon eyeliner eyes, black wifebeater, and spidery designs on his skull. Identity crisis! In the end, their music betrayed them, as they turned out to be pop rock at best. There goes the guitarist's efforts. The drummer was actually quite good, and I wish he got more appreciation. He went for a solo and like, nobody clapped. The guitarist and vocal annoyed me a bit with their forced comedy during the MC. For the last song, they actually did something heavy, but the vocalist roared too much. a) Don't overdo it, man, you have to be selective of when to let out the scream, and b) learn how to scream. Mediocre, unfortunately.
Sel'm
They came out pretty early... I was expecting them to be second last or something, but uhh, so they marched out with their handy little flag and I went, "well, ok?" Most of the girls moved forward for them, so it was heartening to see that they had fans. They had much better stage presence than the previous two bands, too. Tora was very assured, and fairly sauntered. His hair looks great, btw. :) Hmm, so they played maybe 5 songs, and I'm crap at putting titles to tunes... Perhaps Lament was in there. I know the last song was kumo nochi ame for sure. Anyway, solid performance, lots of energy, and this was when I felt like it had been worth coming. All the instruments were quite good, and vocals were pretty on. So Sel'm is good, but I think they have yet to acquire the sort of steamrolling charisma that can really fill a bigger venue. Still, they (and Scar. after them) felt like two slightly more mature bands chucked into the wrong basket. In the half-empty Heart Land, I'd say they were chafing a bit.
Scar.
Right before Scar. came on, I noticed one girl looked like PREGNANT. I don't know what she was doing at a show. Maybe she just had unfortunate belly flab-- hard to tell under her one-piece dress. But if she was...! Then I also saw two high school aged girls by the breakers, and they were fondling each other's boobs for like a full minute or two. It was straaaange, one was just weighing the other's and making comments about them, and it went on for so long...! Too much estrogen in that room. :/
Nearly everyone moved up for these Scar., and I had thought they'd probably be playing last. There was still MaveRick and ガアラ (GAARA) to go, so I don't know why they were putting the bigger acts first. Anyway, they briskly came out, the cute femme guitarist bounced out, and the vocalist strolled, as cool as you please. Now, I've heard Scar. on CD and their music isn't particularly to my taste, but I admit they put on a good show. The vocals are a little annoying on disc (he has an unusually high voice) but it sounds smoother live, or maybe meshes with the instruments better. They're capable musicians with some high energy songs (that I couldn't name you). I wouldn't buy their CDs, but I wouldn't mind seeing them again. Lots of personality, this band. They are friendly with their fellow members without getting too gratuitous about it. Professional, you know? The guitarist who could pass for a girl (he had amazingly beautiful hair... probably extensions, but still) shared the limelight with the vocalist, doing a lot of talking and such. Very cute. Probably the most personable band of the evening.
MaveRick
Well then, after Sel'm and Scar., a good number of people just... disappeared. Either that or stood in line for Scar.'s merchandise (so I guess they were roping in most of the fans). This meant bad news for MaveRick, because when they came out, there were like 20 girls in the front, packed as loosely as I've ever seen the audience at a rock show (so many holes! like nobody wanted to admit they were there for MaveRick), everyone else still in the Scar. line or just sitting in the back. I was standing near the front and I wish I hadn't been, because then everyone, including the band, just assumed I really wanted to be there. And it felt downright rude to stand there stock-still when the guitarist and vocalist were both like a metre away, looking RIGHT at me, expecting me to move. So I gave in, and joined in, more or less. What MaveRick fans lacked in numbers, they made up for in enthusiasm, I give them that. These girls headbanged haaaard (some kneeled onto the floor, the steadier to headbang with), and jumped around a lot. Since there was so much open space, they just bounced from one end of the room to the other, plowing me and three other rather static girls on the end every once in awhile. :/
So MaveRick's music is so-so. I can't really listen to it on disc, because it's all hard noise to me. It's very hardcore (I mean the genre)... the guitarist had these dreadlocks in and tats all up his naked torso-- reminded me of the late 90's when hardcore was still in. Their songs were plagued by verses that bore too much of a resemblance to rap/hip-hop, which made me uncomfortable, haha. I think their music could've been better suited to angry American suburban white boys rather than little made-up Japanese girls. Still, the audience put their all in. They actually got called back for an encore (the only band! despite the fact that they had the lowest numbers so far), and the guitarist comes out and says in clear English: "you know what? fuck you!" And then flashed his middle fingers. The girls all giggled, of course. They played another song or two. The short chipmunk-faced vocalist was agreeable and smiling, and the vamped up fey-fey bassist sweet enough, but after the encore, the guitarist again went, "fuck you all!" The girls laughed again, but I found it a bit appalling. I really dislike it when bands work up the crowds by using direct offense-- these people are supporting you, buying your shit. Show your goddamn humility.
At two points guitar picks landed close to me, but I didn't bother getting them. I figured the girls who worked harder deserved them. :)
Anyway, I left at that point, not bothering to see ガアラ because I wanted to catch the train (which I missed anyway). I have no idea if they're any good because I haven't heard them before... I do have one flyer of them now and they look good, if nothing else? I don't know what to do with my shitload of flyers, too. Feels wrong to chuck them out, especially without recycling.
edit: arsdjgklsjd! I was cooking last week and got a tiny spray of hot grease on my fleece shirt. I put it in the wash, but now that I've taken it out, I can see that the grease has stripped the fleece off on the spots it landed. It's not TOO noticeable, but I'm attached to that shirt :(