Countdown Japan 11/12 Summary
It's been ages since I last wrote an entry. But I kinda feel compelled to write about this year's Countdown Japan. This will just be a summary, which will (hopefully) turn into something like the report I wrote last year and not languish around like those unposted entries I still have on lives... 2 months back D: Also, I just returned home and haven't slept yet. So please pardon the occasional strange stuff I will probably end up writing.
The Day's Original Schedule:
[Champagne]
SEKAI NO OWARI
ONE OK ROCK
the HIATUS
dustbox
MONOBRIGHT
Dragon Ash
Nothing's Carved in Stone
Plastic Tree
B-DASH
EGG BRAIN
TOTALFAT
The Day's Actual Schedule:
THE BACK HORN
[Champagne]
SEKAI NO OWARI
ONE OK ROCK
androp
the HIATUS
Dragon Ash
Nothing's Carved in Stone
Plastic Tree
B-DASH
EGG BRAIN
TOTALFAT
Not too bad, give and take I guess.
I wrote down a list of songs I remember the bands playing. Probably not in order. If I put a *, it means it's in order.
[Champagne] (Cosmo Stage)
For Freedom*
Rock n Rolla!
Cat 2
Spy*
city*
- Yoohei's hairstyle seemed to have change (which was something I noticed at "This Summer Fest" as well). Not full mushroom head, but with a parted fringe, and possibly as little straighter and longer? Though of course when they sweat, the curls come back. Speaking of hairstyles, Hiro looked as if his hair got straighter too. The other two (Satoyasu, Maa-kun) are never-changing (please don't change, you're awesome the way you are).
- Hiro: "I'm batman." No, he didn't really say that. Just wore a shirt with the batman logo
- It felt like their regular lives, really. Which is good.
SEKAI NO OWARI (Earth Stage)
虹色の戦争*
世界平和
幻の命
不死鳥
インスタントラジオ*
- The Earth Stage was the biggest stage, with the fanciest lightings and set-ups. I liked how the band seemed to try to get the most out of it all, spamming the audience with lasers and actually making use of the screen for something other than showing random patterns.
- Although there was a part where they put quotes regarding death on the screen, and I was liek "Huh, why so morbid?". But that led into 不死鳥, so I guess it's just theatrics.
- I liked the over-enthusiastic fans at the back at first, since they were actively cheering and clapping unlike the dead people around me. However, they totally fucked up the atmosphere by chattering and laughing loudly during the piano solo of 幻の命, where it's totally silent with just the tinkle of the piano. It's supposed to be a beautiful moment. Not ready to forgive you all for some time.
ONE OK ROCK (Earth Stage)
アンサイズニア*
C.h.a.o.s.m.y.t.h
存在証明
Rock,Scissors,Paper*
完全感覚Dreamer*
- They had instrument trouble right at the start, and the band stopped playing after the first song ended. Honestly, I didn't even notice something was wrong. Looking at whatever was going on on stage, it seemed that there was drum trouble, because Tomoya tossed his sticks away in a rather "what the hell fuck this shit" way (attitude, yo). Taka covered the screw up very nicely by talking though. Taka, you go boy. THAT is how professionals do it.
- Ryota and his crab stance when playing the bass never fails to make me lol. Tako, he is a worthy candidate for the title of "Prince of Magic Strippers" since he can have his shirt on one moment, but it's gone the next moment I look. Also, love his bass and it's red flashy lights (yes I know other people like Tetsu use it too buuutttttt I saw it on Ryota first).
- They played C.h.a.o.s.m.y.t.h <3 Been wanting to hear this live, and was also interested to find out how it was pronounced.
- Cannot wait to catch them at Yokohama Arena. I think their songs are awesome at large venues.
the HIATUS (Earth Stage)
World of Pandemonium*
Bittersweet / Hatching Mayflies
The Flare
Souls
Insomnia
Monkeys
紺碧の夜に*
ベテルギウスの灯*
- Just realised how small Hosomi is when I saw the guitar tech guy towering over him.
- I'm not sure what song he played during the sound check, but (and i know I'm not alone in this) I really like how he really sings and plays the guitar during the soundcheck just as he would during a performance. The audience was clapping and all, and he went, "Hey guys, this is just a rehearsal. See you all later."
- Singing "save me" at the top of my lungs with everyone during Insomnia was, and has always been, a catharthic experience for me.
- I guess he must be really anti-commercial or something. Talked about that during the MC, and said that now that it was going into the new year, the HIATUS would only not only not do anything related to that, they would only do the things they felt 100% towards and nothing less. He asked the audience why we were doing the hand-waving motion and said that he never understood why. Also, asked us, "What is rock? Okay the people writing the quick report for thie event are going to give me hell for this later but whatever. Rock isn't blaring guitars or hard hitting beats. It's what you feel in your heart."
- I don't know why, but seeing Hosomi smile makes me happy.
- Spectacle lense, meet right eyeball. If not for the fact that I would die if I wore contacts to this fest, I would have worn them.
Dragon Ash (Earth Stage - Countdown)
Viva La Revolution
La Bamba
Fantasista*
- Okay I'm not a big fan so I don't know the song titles. Those 3 songs were played after the countdown.
- I'm always impressed when a band manages to get even the people at the back to dance and sing along, because that's where all the casual audiences are (usually). Anyway, much respect for him after catching them at 2011's ROCKS TOKYO.
- Kenji: "Happy new year, motherfuckers!" :D
Nothing's Carved in Stone (Galaxy Stage)
Truth
November 15th
Spiralbreak
Isolation
Around the Clock
Inside Out (new song)
- Taku: "CDJ!!!!!!!!!" (crowd has no response) "Okay, I guess that failed." Ubukata: "CDJ!!" (some response). They both lol-ed. Such goons haha.
- I THINK Inside Out is a new single due to be released this year. Don't remember it being part of an album.
- Hinatch, the most popular member of NCIS XD
- It's really a joy to listen to them play, because they not only sound good as an entire band, but you can pick apart the instruments and listen to them individually, and you'd be awed all the same since they're such awesome musicians in their own right. I'm a rhythm person, so I especially love listening to their drums and bass.
Plastic Tree (Cosmo Stage)
Uh.. No songs for this one because I skipped the first song, and can't really be bothered to go google to find out what was the other song they played (apart from the new song).
- Finally met the dude behind my gmail address haha.
- They sound different live. Ryuutaro's sounded... pretty normal. I always thought his voice sounded ethereal in recordings, but ohwell. That part was a little disappointing heh.
- Ryuutaro wore this kimono-sleeved outfit. It did look nice, if only because I liked these aesthetics.
- They're releasing a new single. Can't remember when though.
- Visual kei fangirls out in full force (i.e. the "Ryuutaro~~~~" squeals lol)
EGG BRAIN (Cosmo Stage)
SEVENTEEN*
Meteor
The Sweetest Lullaby
Cross the Sky
YEAH!YEAH!*
- Decided to join the mosh as much as possible, since I won't be able to watch their tour final at LIQUIDROOM as it clashes with ONE OK ROCK's Yokohama Arena show T_T
- As usual, really fun and loads of energy.
- Joey: "There are so many people here... I want to see a fucking big circle!!!" And a circle was just what we gave him :)
TOTALFAT (Galaxy Stage
Ryan,Don't Worry
World of Glory
SUMMER FREQUENCE
Highway Part2
See You Later, Take Care
All for You
Place To Try*
OVERDRIVE*
Good Fight & Promise You (Encore)*
- I thought that I was too dehydrated to sweat anymore, but I was proven wrong. Greatest workout of the entire fest. And to think that it was already 4.10am.
- Also thought that seeing the HIATUS was enough to bring me into the new year, but I couldn't have been more mistaken. I never smiled as much during the entire day's performances as compared to TOTALFAT.
- Shun: "It's well and good to live your life stoically, never allowing your weakness to show through. But I think it's perfectly alright for you to let others know when when you are down, to cry when you are hurt." Why do the things you say always hit the spot exactly? I confess, I teared up.
- After the encore, they came out and Shun went, "Do you know what time it is? It's 4, but not 4pm.. 4am yo?" I think it was at this point (or perhaps earlier) that the entire crowd went "Good morning~~~" ahaha. He went, "Plus we're getting on in age too haha." You're only going to be 28 this year, it's alrightttt :D
- The biggest circle I've ever seen during "Good Fight & Promise You". Well, it was a valiant attempt which broke into two smaller (though still very large) circles in the end. But when I saw the first circle, I was all "HOSHIZZZZZZ THIS IS AWESOME".
The Day's Original Schedule:
[Champagne]
SEKAI NO OWARI
ONE OK ROCK
the HIATUS
dustbox
MONOBRIGHT
Dragon Ash
Nothing's Carved in Stone
Plastic Tree
B-DASH
EGG BRAIN
TOTALFAT
The Day's Actual Schedule:
THE BACK HORN
[Champagne]
SEKAI NO OWARI
ONE OK ROCK
androp
the HIATUS
Dragon Ash
Nothing's Carved in Stone
Plastic Tree
B-DASH
EGG BRAIN
TOTALFAT
Not too bad, give and take I guess.
I wrote down a list of songs I remember the bands playing. Probably not in order. If I put a *, it means it's in order.
[Champagne] (Cosmo Stage)
For Freedom*
Rock n Rolla!
Cat 2
Spy*
city*
- Yoohei's hairstyle seemed to have change (which was something I noticed at "This Summer Fest" as well). Not full mushroom head, but with a parted fringe, and possibly as little straighter and longer? Though of course when they sweat, the curls come back. Speaking of hairstyles, Hiro looked as if his hair got straighter too. The other two (Satoyasu, Maa-kun) are never-changing (please don't change, you're awesome the way you are).
- Hiro: "I'm batman." No, he didn't really say that. Just wore a shirt with the batman logo
- It felt like their regular lives, really. Which is good.
SEKAI NO OWARI (Earth Stage)
虹色の戦争*
世界平和
幻の命
不死鳥
インスタントラジオ*
- The Earth Stage was the biggest stage, with the fanciest lightings and set-ups. I liked how the band seemed to try to get the most out of it all, spamming the audience with lasers and actually making use of the screen for something other than showing random patterns.
- Although there was a part where they put quotes regarding death on the screen, and I was liek "Huh, why so morbid?". But that led into 不死鳥, so I guess it's just theatrics.
- I liked the over-enthusiastic fans at the back at first, since they were actively cheering and clapping unlike the dead people around me. However, they totally fucked up the atmosphere by chattering and laughing loudly during the piano solo of 幻の命, where it's totally silent with just the tinkle of the piano. It's supposed to be a beautiful moment. Not ready to forgive you all for some time.
ONE OK ROCK (Earth Stage)
アンサイズニア*
C.h.a.o.s.m.y.t.h
存在証明
Rock,Scissors,Paper*
完全感覚Dreamer*
- They had instrument trouble right at the start, and the band stopped playing after the first song ended. Honestly, I didn't even notice something was wrong. Looking at whatever was going on on stage, it seemed that there was drum trouble, because Tomoya tossed his sticks away in a rather "what the hell fuck this shit" way (attitude, yo). Taka covered the screw up very nicely by talking though. Taka, you go boy. THAT is how professionals do it.
- Ryota and his crab stance when playing the bass never fails to make me lol. Tako, he is a worthy candidate for the title of "Prince of Magic Strippers" since he can have his shirt on one moment, but it's gone the next moment I look. Also, love his bass and it's red flashy lights (yes I know other people like Tetsu use it too buuutttttt I saw it on Ryota first).
- They played C.h.a.o.s.m.y.t.h <3 Been wanting to hear this live, and was also interested to find out how it was pronounced.
- Cannot wait to catch them at Yokohama Arena. I think their songs are awesome at large venues.
the HIATUS (Earth Stage)
World of Pandemonium*
Bittersweet / Hatching Mayflies
The Flare
Souls
Insomnia
Monkeys
紺碧の夜に*
ベテルギウスの灯*
- Just realised how small Hosomi is when I saw the guitar tech guy towering over him.
- I'm not sure what song he played during the sound check, but (and i know I'm not alone in this) I really like how he really sings and plays the guitar during the soundcheck just as he would during a performance. The audience was clapping and all, and he went, "Hey guys, this is just a rehearsal. See you all later."
- Singing "save me" at the top of my lungs with everyone during Insomnia was, and has always been, a catharthic experience for me.
- I guess he must be really anti-commercial or something. Talked about that during the MC, and said that now that it was going into the new year, the HIATUS would only not only not do anything related to that, they would only do the things they felt 100% towards and nothing less. He asked the audience why we were doing the hand-waving motion and said that he never understood why. Also, asked us, "What is rock? Okay the people writing the quick report for thie event are going to give me hell for this later but whatever. Rock isn't blaring guitars or hard hitting beats. It's what you feel in your heart."
- I don't know why, but seeing Hosomi smile makes me happy.
- Spectacle lense, meet right eyeball. If not for the fact that I would die if I wore contacts to this fest, I would have worn them.
Dragon Ash (Earth Stage - Countdown)
Viva La Revolution
La Bamba
Fantasista*
- Okay I'm not a big fan so I don't know the song titles. Those 3 songs were played after the countdown.
- I'm always impressed when a band manages to get even the people at the back to dance and sing along, because that's where all the casual audiences are (usually). Anyway, much respect for him after catching them at 2011's ROCKS TOKYO.
- Kenji: "Happy new year, motherfuckers!" :D
Nothing's Carved in Stone (Galaxy Stage)
Truth
November 15th
Spiralbreak
Isolation
Around the Clock
Inside Out (new song)
- Taku: "CDJ!!!!!!!!!" (crowd has no response) "Okay, I guess that failed." Ubukata: "CDJ!!" (some response). They both lol-ed. Such goons haha.
- I THINK Inside Out is a new single due to be released this year. Don't remember it being part of an album.
- Hinatch, the most popular member of NCIS XD
- It's really a joy to listen to them play, because they not only sound good as an entire band, but you can pick apart the instruments and listen to them individually, and you'd be awed all the same since they're such awesome musicians in their own right. I'm a rhythm person, so I especially love listening to their drums and bass.
Plastic Tree (Cosmo Stage)
Uh.. No songs for this one because I skipped the first song, and can't really be bothered to go google to find out what was the other song they played (apart from the new song).
- Finally met the dude behind my gmail address haha.
- They sound different live. Ryuutaro's sounded... pretty normal. I always thought his voice sounded ethereal in recordings, but ohwell. That part was a little disappointing heh.
- Ryuutaro wore this kimono-sleeved outfit. It did look nice, if only because I liked these aesthetics.
- They're releasing a new single. Can't remember when though.
- Visual kei fangirls out in full force (i.e. the "Ryuutaro~~~~" squeals lol)
EGG BRAIN (Cosmo Stage)
SEVENTEEN*
Meteor
The Sweetest Lullaby
Cross the Sky
YEAH!YEAH!*
- Decided to join the mosh as much as possible, since I won't be able to watch their tour final at LIQUIDROOM as it clashes with ONE OK ROCK's Yokohama Arena show T_T
- As usual, really fun and loads of energy.
- Joey: "There are so many people here... I want to see a fucking big circle!!!" And a circle was just what we gave him :)
TOTALFAT (Galaxy Stage
Ryan,Don't Worry
World of Glory
SUMMER FREQUENCE
Highway Part2
See You Later, Take Care
All for You
Place To Try*
OVERDRIVE*
Good Fight & Promise You (Encore)*
- I thought that I was too dehydrated to sweat anymore, but I was proven wrong. Greatest workout of the entire fest. And to think that it was already 4.10am.
- Also thought that seeing the HIATUS was enough to bring me into the new year, but I couldn't have been more mistaken. I never smiled as much during the entire day's performances as compared to TOTALFAT.
- Shun: "It's well and good to live your life stoically, never allowing your weakness to show through. But I think it's perfectly alright for you to let others know when when you are down, to cry when you are hurt." Why do the things you say always hit the spot exactly? I confess, I teared up.
- After the encore, they came out and Shun went, "Do you know what time it is? It's 4, but not 4pm.. 4am yo?" I think it was at this point (or perhaps earlier) that the entire crowd went "Good morning~~~" ahaha. He went, "Plus we're getting on in age too haha." You're only going to be 28 this year, it's alrightttt :D
- The biggest circle I've ever seen during "Good Fight & Promise You". Well, it was a valiant attempt which broke into two smaller (though still very large) circles in the end. But when I saw the first circle, I was all "HOSHIZZZZZZ THIS IS AWESOME".