Concert Report: T.M.REVOLUTION LIVE REVOLUTION '08~'09 ALSOK Hall, Hiroshima 3/20/2009
Report time! And since I drew sketches everything goes under a cut. If you want me to repost this to any TMR LJ comms, let me know, and I will. I'll just cut out like too personal shit or whatever. Yes, I will be describing the movie story so if you don't want to be spoiled, then don't read.
So, as I am no longer a member of TURBO, and Winds-Turbo seems to have gone defunct, I got a standing room ticket via Lawson's. I could have probably bought a better ticket via auctions but I didn't want to spend a fortune on just a ticket.
Standing room gets let in last. Like seriously DEAD LAST. We got in maybe 2-4 minutes before they were ringing the "show is starting" buzzer. Standing room, at least for numbers 1-60 (we all had numbers on our tickets) was right behind the last row of seats on the first floor. ALSOK Hall is SMALL, so even though I was all the way in the back, I still could see Takanori really well - like he wasn't itsy bitsy. Sure, I couldn't see like the details of his costume or anything, but him and all the members were clear enough to be seen and heard.
I actually was one of the last people in because I stepped out of line to hand over a present I had brought for him. I hope he got it. The town I live in has their own special sweet so I bought him a box to share with the band and staff; I also wrote a letter in Japanese and English to go with it. (And since I have been emotional, I nearly cried at the thought of him NOT getting it.) So since I was like last one in, I actually ended up being the only person on the right side of center stage in the way back. Which meant an unobstructed view. Pretty awesome!
The stage was masked by a big red curtain which went up just a bit to reveal TMR as he sang the first song. The curtain got fully pulled back and we got another song I think, before it went dark for us to focus on the story movie.
The story, as it unfolds over the course of the concert, is about Takanori, who is a shogun, or a samurai, with a cursed mark on his arm. He's wandering about the countryside trying to find a way to get rid of it and be rid of the demons that haunt him. He comes upon Sunao the samurai who also has the same mark but it glows a different color! They become friends after an intense battle against one another and set off together looking for help. They come upon the remaining members of the band AND EVERYONE HAS THE SAME MARK. TOGETHER THEY MAKE UP THE FIVE ELEMENTS. Next thing we know, Takanori wakes up somewhere after a journey through the cosmos/lotus crazy buddha psyche world, in red hakama and a white kimono, which he tears open to reveal his sexy chest and abs as the mark brands itself on his chest. Basically, the demons are getting stronger and are trying to take over his body! But the benevolent powers of the universe help him overcome it and he is saved! There is one last final confrontation with the demons (flaming skulls by the way) which Takanori fights, with the strength of his comrades combined, and defeats! Finally, they are all free of the curse and can go back to normal lives!
It was a pretty cool story, and I thought the stage setting, costumes, and tour goods matched the theme perfectly. Traditional Japanese motifs, particularly those pertaining to samurai, ninjas, and Buddhism were all over the place.
Takanori had two back up dancers who had three or four different costumes. The first time they showed up, he was dressed as a shogun and was about to kill them. The next time I think they were dressed as deadly kimono clad assassins. And after that they were beautiful goddesses, helping Takanori through his journey of healing and what not. I think last was their normal outfits - like tour shirts, and shorts, or whatever. I thought they were really cute and damn lucky to get to dance with Takanori.
The band was dressed like ninjas the whole time - mesh and black clothes. But in the movie they each had their own unique samurai/ninja/deadly Buddhist monk costumes.
Takanori of course had more costumes than I can remember. I seriously can not recall them all - some were the loss of one article of clothing(simple changes) and some were like a change of color? Or take off one sleeve to reveal the costume beneath? I really don't remember and thus I hope he is going to make a DVD of this tour because I seriously can't remember all the fine details and that makes me sad. (I did have a killer headache the entire time, maybe this is why.)
As for his antics, he did his usual top notch performing - dramatic gasps when gasps were needed, great fake sword duels/killing of evil assassins; he's a great actor. He threw more cups of water at the crowd than he drank, and his dancing was pretty awesome. (Though for some reason, his dancing reminds me of how a girl would dance, particularly how he'll kick out his hells.) Not as sexy or lewd as it used to be but he did do this thing where he'd turn in a circle while stomping one foot up and down. It reminds me of very old school punk dancing, from like the 60's, possibly 70's. He was definitely rocking out, and over all, almost every song was a rock song, and some were harder than others.
Ladies and gentlemen, T.M.Revolution has gone ROCK.
But some songs had traditional Japanese instruments in them, which I thought was cool because they helped link the story and overall concert motif to the songs!
So let me bombard you with sketches I drew of the stage and costumes, to the best of my ability which is really more like "the most I can remember of it" hence them being crappy sketches:
Key points: feathers in his hair, THAT SKIRT THING BEING VERY SHORT, THIGH HIGH STOCKINGS, and the gorgeous blue kimono. In fact, when I saw him come out in that I thought "The coat Rachel made for me WOULD BE PERFECT FOR THIS CONCERT." She modified a blue kimono for me, adding RUFFLES TO THE WRISTS. It's like we predicted his costume to an extent! Alas, I did not wear it as I didn't want to stand out more than I already did, and carrying it all over town before hand didn't sound like fun to me.
I am sure I forgot to include some costumes but that's what a DVD will be for, right?
So now the set list:
soul's crossing
web of night(Japanese version)
Meteor-ミーティア-
Wheel of Fortune
vestige-ヴェスティージ-
白い闇
Timeless〜Mobius Rover〜
ULTMATE
crosswise
ignited-イグナイテッド-
NEO SPHERE
vertical infinity
resonence
夢幻の弧光
TO・RI・KO
Zips
魔弾〜Der Freischutz〜
LOVE SAVER
EC1
HIGH PRESSURE
HOT LIMIT
WHITE BREATH
EC2
LEVEL 4
HEART OF SWORD〜夜明け前〜
Yes, I left the Japanese characters in Japanese because I can't be bothered to find their romaji titles. Anyway, I didn't recall song names necessarily when he sang them, so I had to look up a few when I got back home. I found a Japanese fan's set list and comparing them, I got them all right, and was able to fill in the ones I was missing, after double checking to make sure that's what I heard.
His MCs weren't anything spectacular; he focused on Hiroshimayaki, which is different from Kansai okonomiyaki, which got the biggest reaction out of the crowd, much to his chagrin. The people in Hiroshima are really laid back - they're not the most rowdy or crazy fans I have seen. Sure, they scream and yell, but it isn't deafening. Yet they reacted so loudly when he got to talking about hometown foods and sports teams. He was amused I guess hahaha. He even commented on the momiji manjuu. He also told us not to go "fuuu" at him - I remember that joke from 2006! I think he also said he wanted to eat us. XD; I don't really remember. But he did his best to work us up and when he got into his older songs, the crowd really got into it. I was glad to see a lot of guys there, and people with disabilities too. It's nice to have visual confirmation that his music knows no limits as far as making fans out of anyone goes. And I am sure he said some very sweet, cute things - true to Takanori form and what not.
There were no streamers this tour. And after a final bow, they all left and the concert was over. It lasted a good 2-2.5 hours! And he did a lot of songs!
Sadly, the tour towel was sold out, but I did get my hands on the tour phamp but they really photoshopped the hell out of the pictures. I mean, I like textures and random Japanese text as much as the next person trying to make a picture look old and samurai legend like, but when it gets to the point that I can't really make Takanori or his costume out OF THE TEXTURE? But that's me. I like to see people clearly, especially when they're as sexy as Takanori. <3
Overall, I think it was a really good concert, regardless of me having no seat and being in the back, and nearly crying every now and then. Stress has been high and this concert was fun, though the migraine before, during, and after was not. I probably would have had more fun if a friend was with me, or if I had met up with other TMR fans, but as I said, Winds-Turbo has been non-responsive for MONTHS. It's a real shame. And the fact that I will be moving to a city that I am almost certain NO artist goes to perform at, and will be several hours away from Hiroshima put a damper on things.
But Takanori is still sexy, still rocking, and I think he's only getting better. I wouldn't mind taking him home. Seriously. Oh! I nearly forgot! He did a lot of screaming! Not just his pretty vocalizing of "Yeahhhh ohhh yeaaah" but like "KYAAAAAAAAAAAA" epic screaming. I'm starting to think he's been hanging out with TOSHI! The two of them could just record a song of them just screaming! I'd buy it! Especially if thigh high stockings are on one, and tight leather pants were on the other.<3
So that is my review/report/whatever! I really feel like I have fallen out of TMR fandom because I don't follow a.b.s at all and I know he's been concentrating on that for the past few years. It leaves the TMR fandom kind of quiet...I'd like to get back into it but I don't know...maybe I'll rejoin TURBO...we'll see. But it was good to see him again after all that time. It's nice to be reminded of how awesome he is. <3 (AND SEXY. DID I MENTION SEXY? Ah I want that hide memorial summit awesomeness again...Toshi AND Takanori on the same stage *A*)
So, as I am no longer a member of TURBO, and Winds-Turbo seems to have gone defunct, I got a standing room ticket via Lawson's. I could have probably bought a better ticket via auctions but I didn't want to spend a fortune on just a ticket.
Standing room gets let in last. Like seriously DEAD LAST. We got in maybe 2-4 minutes before they were ringing the "show is starting" buzzer. Standing room, at least for numbers 1-60 (we all had numbers on our tickets) was right behind the last row of seats on the first floor. ALSOK Hall is SMALL, so even though I was all the way in the back, I still could see Takanori really well - like he wasn't itsy bitsy. Sure, I couldn't see like the details of his costume or anything, but him and all the members were clear enough to be seen and heard.
I actually was one of the last people in because I stepped out of line to hand over a present I had brought for him. I hope he got it. The town I live in has their own special sweet so I bought him a box to share with the band and staff; I also wrote a letter in Japanese and English to go with it. (And since I have been emotional, I nearly cried at the thought of him NOT getting it.) So since I was like last one in, I actually ended up being the only person on the right side of center stage in the way back. Which meant an unobstructed view. Pretty awesome!
The stage was masked by a big red curtain which went up just a bit to reveal TMR as he sang the first song. The curtain got fully pulled back and we got another song I think, before it went dark for us to focus on the story movie.
The story, as it unfolds over the course of the concert, is about Takanori, who is a shogun, or a samurai, with a cursed mark on his arm. He's wandering about the countryside trying to find a way to get rid of it and be rid of the demons that haunt him. He comes upon Sunao the samurai who also has the same mark but it glows a different color! They become friends after an intense battle against one another and set off together looking for help. They come upon the remaining members of the band AND EVERYONE HAS THE SAME MARK. TOGETHER THEY MAKE UP THE FIVE ELEMENTS. Next thing we know, Takanori wakes up somewhere after a journey through the cosmos/lotus crazy buddha psyche world, in red hakama and a white kimono, which he tears open to reveal his sexy chest and abs as the mark brands itself on his chest. Basically, the demons are getting stronger and are trying to take over his body! But the benevolent powers of the universe help him overcome it and he is saved! There is one last final confrontation with the demons (flaming skulls by the way) which Takanori fights, with the strength of his comrades combined, and defeats! Finally, they are all free of the curse and can go back to normal lives!
It was a pretty cool story, and I thought the stage setting, costumes, and tour goods matched the theme perfectly. Traditional Japanese motifs, particularly those pertaining to samurai, ninjas, and Buddhism were all over the place.
Takanori had two back up dancers who had three or four different costumes. The first time they showed up, he was dressed as a shogun and was about to kill them. The next time I think they were dressed as deadly kimono clad assassins. And after that they were beautiful goddesses, helping Takanori through his journey of healing and what not. I think last was their normal outfits - like tour shirts, and shorts, or whatever. I thought they were really cute and damn lucky to get to dance with Takanori.
The band was dressed like ninjas the whole time - mesh and black clothes. But in the movie they each had their own unique samurai/ninja/deadly Buddhist monk costumes.
Takanori of course had more costumes than I can remember. I seriously can not recall them all - some were the loss of one article of clothing(simple changes) and some were like a change of color? Or take off one sleeve to reveal the costume beneath? I really don't remember and thus I hope he is going to make a DVD of this tour because I seriously can't remember all the fine details and that makes me sad. (I did have a killer headache the entire time, maybe this is why.)
As for his antics, he did his usual top notch performing - dramatic gasps when gasps were needed, great fake sword duels/killing of evil assassins; he's a great actor. He threw more cups of water at the crowd than he drank, and his dancing was pretty awesome. (Though for some reason, his dancing reminds me of how a girl would dance, particularly how he'll kick out his hells.) Not as sexy or lewd as it used to be but he did do this thing where he'd turn in a circle while stomping one foot up and down. It reminds me of very old school punk dancing, from like the 60's, possibly 70's. He was definitely rocking out, and over all, almost every song was a rock song, and some were harder than others.
Ladies and gentlemen, T.M.Revolution has gone ROCK.
But some songs had traditional Japanese instruments in them, which I thought was cool because they helped link the story and overall concert motif to the songs!
So let me bombard you with sketches I drew of the stage and costumes, to the best of my ability which is really more like "the most I can remember of it" hence them being crappy sketches:
Key points: feathers in his hair, THAT SKIRT THING BEING VERY SHORT, THIGH HIGH STOCKINGS, and the gorgeous blue kimono. In fact, when I saw him come out in that I thought "The coat Rachel made for me WOULD BE PERFECT FOR THIS CONCERT." She modified a blue kimono for me, adding RUFFLES TO THE WRISTS. It's like we predicted his costume to an extent! Alas, I did not wear it as I didn't want to stand out more than I already did, and carrying it all over town before hand didn't sound like fun to me.
I am sure I forgot to include some costumes but that's what a DVD will be for, right?
So now the set list:
soul's crossing
web of night(Japanese version)
Meteor-ミーティア-
Wheel of Fortune
vestige-ヴェスティージ-
白い闇
Timeless〜Mobius Rover〜
ULTMATE
crosswise
ignited-イグナイテッド-
NEO SPHERE
vertical infinity
resonence
夢幻の弧光
TO・RI・KO
Zips
魔弾〜Der Freischutz〜
LOVE SAVER
EC1
HIGH PRESSURE
HOT LIMIT
WHITE BREATH
EC2
LEVEL 4
HEART OF SWORD〜夜明け前〜
Yes, I left the Japanese characters in Japanese because I can't be bothered to find their romaji titles. Anyway, I didn't recall song names necessarily when he sang them, so I had to look up a few when I got back home. I found a Japanese fan's set list and comparing them, I got them all right, and was able to fill in the ones I was missing, after double checking to make sure that's what I heard.
His MCs weren't anything spectacular; he focused on Hiroshimayaki, which is different from Kansai okonomiyaki, which got the biggest reaction out of the crowd, much to his chagrin. The people in Hiroshima are really laid back - they're not the most rowdy or crazy fans I have seen. Sure, they scream and yell, but it isn't deafening. Yet they reacted so loudly when he got to talking about hometown foods and sports teams. He was amused I guess hahaha. He even commented on the momiji manjuu. He also told us not to go "fuuu" at him - I remember that joke from 2006! I think he also said he wanted to eat us. XD; I don't really remember. But he did his best to work us up and when he got into his older songs, the crowd really got into it. I was glad to see a lot of guys there, and people with disabilities too. It's nice to have visual confirmation that his music knows no limits as far as making fans out of anyone goes. And I am sure he said some very sweet, cute things - true to Takanori form and what not.
There were no streamers this tour. And after a final bow, they all left and the concert was over. It lasted a good 2-2.5 hours! And he did a lot of songs!
Sadly, the tour towel was sold out, but I did get my hands on the tour phamp but they really photoshopped the hell out of the pictures. I mean, I like textures and random Japanese text as much as the next person trying to make a picture look old and samurai legend like, but when it gets to the point that I can't really make Takanori or his costume out OF THE TEXTURE? But that's me. I like to see people clearly, especially when they're as sexy as Takanori. <3
Overall, I think it was a really good concert, regardless of me having no seat and being in the back, and nearly crying every now and then. Stress has been high and this concert was fun, though the migraine before, during, and after was not. I probably would have had more fun if a friend was with me, or if I had met up with other TMR fans, but as I said, Winds-Turbo has been non-responsive for MONTHS. It's a real shame. And the fact that I will be moving to a city that I am almost certain NO artist goes to perform at, and will be several hours away from Hiroshima put a damper on things.
But Takanori is still sexy, still rocking, and I think he's only getting better. I wouldn't mind taking him home. Seriously. Oh! I nearly forgot! He did a lot of screaming! Not just his pretty vocalizing of "Yeahhhh ohhh yeaaah" but like "KYAAAAAAAAAAAA" epic screaming. I'm starting to think he's been hanging out with TOSHI! The two of them could just record a song of them just screaming! I'd buy it! Especially if thigh high stockings are on one, and tight leather pants were on the other.<3
So that is my review/report/whatever! I really feel like I have fallen out of TMR fandom because I don't follow a.b.s at all and I know he's been concentrating on that for the past few years. It leaves the TMR fandom kind of quiet...I'd like to get back into it but I don't know...maybe I'll rejoin TURBO...we'll see. But it was good to see him again after all that time. It's nice to be reminded of how awesome he is. <3 (AND SEXY. DID I MENTION SEXY? Ah I want that hide memorial summit awesomeness again...Toshi AND Takanori on the same stage *A*)