Tokyo Shinkiba Coast: 2010/05/05
雅-MIYAVI- Japan Tour 2010
2010/05/05 Tokyo Shinkiba Coast
I'm not sure that I should really count this as part of my 'tour' reviews, since tonight's show wasn't really part of the tour itself, but it comes so hot on the heels of the club circuit that the tour vibes were still alive and well at Shinkiba Coast tonight.
This wasn't just a Miyavi show - it was a two-stage, ten band event that started at 2pm and ran all the way through until about 9:30. Miyavi wasn't the headliner, and he was definitely the only VK-style rocker in the pack tonight. Erin and I got there when the doors opened, and for a while I thought that we might seriously end up being the only CoMiyavi who came out for this one - I couldn't find anyone from the Tokyo tour crew. After emailing Dankichi, however, I found out that both Mikan and Niya were planning to be there - and no sooner had I exchanged emails with him than I ran into both of them, along with Miyuki and two friends that she'd brought along. There was lots of hugging, bouncing and laughing, and I think our happy reunion kind of weirded out most of the show-goers. Who gets more excited about seeing each other than seeing a band?
CoMiyavi, that's who! After only a week apart, we were all so thrilled to be back in one another's company and ready to rock out again that we were all over the place, snapping pictures outside before we scooted in at the tail end of the act before Miyavi to find ourselves good spots on the floor. Even though we really didn't fit in with the rest of the kids at the festival, they were super-nice to us - some hardcore fans of the band that was supposed to play after him were already up on the rail, but when they saw us they gave us their spots, and we promised to stay still and hold them once the show was over so that they could have them back. Gathered up in a little pack of 9, we settled in up front, and had the pleasure of watching Bobo and Coba warm up a little before the show instead of listening to Fatboy Slim for the eighteen-billionth time.
If Miyavi was looking to try himself out on a brand new type of crowd with a low-key and professional set, then he certainly didn't get his wish tonight - I don't think he quite expected the welcome that he got when he came onstage. Most of the crowd didn't seem to quite know what to make of him, and simply watched and clapped politely, while the thirty-or-so Miyavi fans up front gave him a nice warm welcome - but those of us who have been out on tour were still so wound up and ready to rock that we practically exploded, screaming and jumping and kicking up ten times our usual energy in honor of all of our comrades who weren't there with us. The nine of us did the work that ninety of us usually do combined - rocking the rail for Unbreakable, screaming his name for What's My Name, firing back for the call and response in Kimi Ni Funky Monkey Vibrations, jumping and cheering and keeping the energy up between every song. He also played Survive, Ame ni Utaeba, and Sekai wa Mawaru - a short and sweet six song set that barely lasted more than half an hour, but was worth every penny we spent to get in the doors. We were definitely the wildest, rowdiest and most passionate fans that showed up for any band, and while I know he appreciates us, I don't think he quite expected his core batch of tour kids to show up and kick up such a fuss.
But this is how we rock. This is who we are. It isn't just about him - it's about us. He knows that we love him, and we know that he appreciates the energy, but more than anything else we were bound and determined to have the most fun we could together in the short time that we had. We're not just CoMiyavi - we're friends, and there's nothing that we love more than rocking out together at one of his shows. We were also bound and determined to show everyone in the venue just how precious he and his music are to us. We wanted them to know that they were watching something special, something unique, something that can bring infinite joy and passion and love out in a human soul and make best friends out of people that were all but strangers to one another a month ago.
It was a strange, surreal end to the show - only six songs, no encore. What were we supposed to do? Jump all over each other with hugs and otsukares and bound out of the arena for demachi as usual, of course! There may not have been many of us, but that didn't stop us from lining up at the gates and draping them with our tour towels and waiting for a good two hours for Miyavi and his band to head out. The club staff seemed to have absolutely no idea what we were doing, or what to make of us, and Miyavi himself looked absolutely shocked to see us still lingering there - it's the first time that I've ever seen him take off his sunglasses at demachi, and as he passed in the car he rolled down the window, surprised and beaming, to wave to us and blow us kisses. Half-frozen but happy, we waited until his car pulled out before immediately bounding out to the street and aiming ourselves for the train station - only to have the crew pass us on the road a moment later. More waving and kiss-blowing ensued, until the car vanished from sight and the last of us tumbled into the train station to head home.
It's not all about you, Miyavi - and I don't think you could possibly realize what you've created amongst your fans. Tonight was a perfect testament to the bond that we share; whether there's nine hundred of us or only nine of us, the love that we have not only for you, but for each other, transcends the music. You are what brought us together, but now that you have, nothing can keep us apart. We'll see you in Shinagawa, boy - and we'll be just as happy to see each other, as well.