Con you believe it?
When it comes to anime conventions, I generally prefer small ones to large ones. My favorite thing to do at a con is just to use the opportunity to get away from it all. I spend a good deal of time in the hotel room with whoever I got to come with me, having a low-key room party. When I get antsy or there happens to be some panel or showing that interests me, I head out and catch an event, or just people watch for a while. I like to chat up random strangers who are waiting in the same place as I am. Basically, it's a good time, and when I leave I feel really good.
And then there's Otakon. When I leave Otakon, I feel physically and mentally exhausted. Unlike after most other cons, I feel the need to take the following monday off if I can. Three days spent among the teeming crowds, endless lines, and screaming, exhausted fellow con goers can take a lot out of you. Honestly, I only go to Otakon if there are events I really care about, as was the case this year.
The main reason I agreed to go to Otakon this year was because my wife needed to visit the Marui One booth in the dealers room (an opportunity that really doesn't come along very often, though it may in the future... they got a hell of a lot of business). Having decided to spend the con following my wife around (which I seriously enjoy doing!), I was not prepared for The Underneath to be announced as the main musical act. I spent the whole weekend looking forward to Sunday, though I used Saturday as an opportunity to get the autographs of all three musical acts.
On Sunday, the concert went above and beyond my expectations. Daizystripper, whom I had never heard of, absolutely floored the entire crowd. Their live presence was phenomenal: All band members dolled up with crazy ass hair and flashy outfits, with every single one of them going crazy and showing off for the crowd. Their set reminded me of The Ramones, where the band played pretty much nonstop for about 20-25 minutes with the music never stopping. By the time they got to the crowd chant-along of "WE ARE?... DAIZYSTRIPPER!" they were practically channelling X-Japan. I also managed to catch the shirt that the lead singer threw into the crowd, fighting off two fangirls who also caught a corner of it. My wife was delighted.
Marbell were a lot more fun than I expected. The blurb and photos in the guidebook made them sound hopelessly gothy and pretentious, but they really came across as a pretty groovy little band. The band came across as friendly, led by a lead singer who may have tried a little too hard to impress (A lot of skirt hiking-up and "Look at my butt!" poses) but kept the show entertaining. During the last song when the crowd cheered she spontaneously burst into tears, and as she sang the last verse, the other members of the band seemed to comfort her one by one. It certainly felt genuine, and made us like her all the more.
Finally, The Underneath, who you could tell from the crowd reaction were the band to see. In fact, the start of their set triggered a complete crowd rush down the center aisle, resulting in my wife and I getting elbowed further into our aisle than we felt comfortable. Aside from too much shrieking in our ears from overenthusiastic fangirls, the set was great. As far as showmanship goes, The Underneath seem a smidge rustier as a live act than other JRock bands I've seen. What makes them great is the fact that their music is phenomenal, and they perform it with power, enthusiasm and heart. They really are an excellent band, and when they burst into the crowd favorite "Fat Fatty Fuckin' Pigs" the whole arena went completely insane. The other peak of the show was their performance of my favorite Underneath song "Deep"... I almost teared up.
So overall, it was Otakon. Otakon has consistently delivered a great experience every year every since 2000, when I started attending. It's sheer enormity means that you miss out on the pleasant ambiance, politeness, and ease of a small convention. The success of Otakon in a given year depends on the acts, guests, events, and showings that the staff is able to round up, and it almost always delivers in spades. I felt completely and utterly exhausted, yes. But I did enjoy it.
And then there's Otakon. When I leave Otakon, I feel physically and mentally exhausted. Unlike after most other cons, I feel the need to take the following monday off if I can. Three days spent among the teeming crowds, endless lines, and screaming, exhausted fellow con goers can take a lot out of you. Honestly, I only go to Otakon if there are events I really care about, as was the case this year.
The main reason I agreed to go to Otakon this year was because my wife needed to visit the Marui One booth in the dealers room (an opportunity that really doesn't come along very often, though it may in the future... they got a hell of a lot of business). Having decided to spend the con following my wife around (which I seriously enjoy doing!), I was not prepared for The Underneath to be announced as the main musical act. I spent the whole weekend looking forward to Sunday, though I used Saturday as an opportunity to get the autographs of all three musical acts.
On Sunday, the concert went above and beyond my expectations. Daizystripper, whom I had never heard of, absolutely floored the entire crowd. Their live presence was phenomenal: All band members dolled up with crazy ass hair and flashy outfits, with every single one of them going crazy and showing off for the crowd. Their set reminded me of The Ramones, where the band played pretty much nonstop for about 20-25 minutes with the music never stopping. By the time they got to the crowd chant-along of "WE ARE?... DAIZYSTRIPPER!" they were practically channelling X-Japan. I also managed to catch the shirt that the lead singer threw into the crowd, fighting off two fangirls who also caught a corner of it. My wife was delighted.
Marbell were a lot more fun than I expected. The blurb and photos in the guidebook made them sound hopelessly gothy and pretentious, but they really came across as a pretty groovy little band. The band came across as friendly, led by a lead singer who may have tried a little too hard to impress (A lot of skirt hiking-up and "Look at my butt!" poses) but kept the show entertaining. During the last song when the crowd cheered she spontaneously burst into tears, and as she sang the last verse, the other members of the band seemed to comfort her one by one. It certainly felt genuine, and made us like her all the more.
Finally, The Underneath, who you could tell from the crowd reaction were the band to see. In fact, the start of their set triggered a complete crowd rush down the center aisle, resulting in my wife and I getting elbowed further into our aisle than we felt comfortable. Aside from too much shrieking in our ears from overenthusiastic fangirls, the set was great. As far as showmanship goes, The Underneath seem a smidge rustier as a live act than other JRock bands I've seen. What makes them great is the fact that their music is phenomenal, and they perform it with power, enthusiasm and heart. They really are an excellent band, and when they burst into the crowd favorite "Fat Fatty Fuckin' Pigs" the whole arena went completely insane. The other peak of the show was their performance of my favorite Underneath song "Deep"... I almost teared up.
So overall, it was Otakon. Otakon has consistently delivered a great experience every year every since 2000, when I started attending. It's sheer enormity means that you miss out on the pleasant ambiance, politeness, and ease of a small convention. The success of Otakon in a given year depends on the acts, guests, events, and showings that the staff is able to round up, and it almost always delivers in spades. I felt completely and utterly exhausted, yes. But I did enjoy it.