(no subject)
So, IT is over. The X Japan concert was Thursday and I can die happy. No exaggeration. Well, I wouldn't mind kicking it for a few more years...
You know when you hype something up in your head and it just doesn't deliver? Totally not the case with this! It fucking rocked! The audience had tons of energy and love for the band. Even Phil who was tired from writing three midterms three days in a row, including one an hour before we got on the bus to Toronto, was excited and had fun.
Weakest point? The opener (Vampires Everywhere) who weren't even that bad but the 90% Asian audience was not feeling the screamo.
Phil and I (cuz he is the nicest boy I have ever dated and wouldn't dream of not coming with me to something like this) got to Toronto at about 6:30, had something to eat and got in the giant lineup waiting to go in. The fans were as to be expected: mostly Asian (reviews claimed that they were Japanese but I didn't hear any Japanese and a lot of Korean and Chinese), a few cosplayers, a few goths, a few EGL Lolittas and one Loli with her twinned Dollfie (Asian Ball-joint doll-I thought the doll was a little much).
Though the licensed X Japan Hello Kitty doll was sold out, we fought our way to get some t-shirts (Phil wanted one so he could be cool like me) and a hoodie. Both pretty metal.
And then it began. For guys who have been rocking as long as I have been alive (band formed in 1982) they were in great shape! Poor Yoshiki had to wear a neck brace drumming (he drums so fast it has wrecked his back over the years. Their newer stuff is a little lighter on the drums for that very reason.) but he still brought it.
For a venue that could only hold 2000, the show was BIG. They had high pressured smoke machines, a big projection screen, Yoshiki's piano, and a gong.
Although it was a little sad that hide, R.I.P., wasn't playing (Yoshiki got pretty emotional talking about it) it was a HUGE treat to see Sugizo from Luna Sea, join them on lead guitar. His viloin playing was also incredible.
The set included: Rusty Nail, Drain, I.V. (some of you may know that one because it is Rock Band DLC and the ending song for Saw IV ), Silent Jealousy, 紅, X and for the Encores: Endless Rain and the tail end of Art of Life (not the full 30 min), which I quoted in my HS graduating writeup.
I even captured my favorite moment on video; Yoshiki and Sugizo playing the introduction to 紅:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X53VTZLHYvA
(Japanese rock is still pretty glam rock and androgynous)
Here is my favorite photo from the show (of the ones I took):
Yoshiki and his gong.
Please check out the rest of my photos here:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/kochachan/sets/72157625003024183/with/5065044765/
A review in NOW Toronto:
http://www.nowtoronto.com/music/story.cfm?content=177084
Sigh...
You know when you hype something up in your head and it just doesn't deliver? Totally not the case with this! It fucking rocked! The audience had tons of energy and love for the band. Even Phil who was tired from writing three midterms three days in a row, including one an hour before we got on the bus to Toronto, was excited and had fun.
Weakest point? The opener (Vampires Everywhere) who weren't even that bad but the 90% Asian audience was not feeling the screamo.
Phil and I (cuz he is the nicest boy I have ever dated and wouldn't dream of not coming with me to something like this) got to Toronto at about 6:30, had something to eat and got in the giant lineup waiting to go in. The fans were as to be expected: mostly Asian (reviews claimed that they were Japanese but I didn't hear any Japanese and a lot of Korean and Chinese), a few cosplayers, a few goths, a few EGL Lolittas and one Loli with her twinned Dollfie (Asian Ball-joint doll-I thought the doll was a little much).
Though the licensed X Japan Hello Kitty doll was sold out, we fought our way to get some t-shirts (Phil wanted one so he could be cool like me) and a hoodie. Both pretty metal.
And then it began. For guys who have been rocking as long as I have been alive (band formed in 1982) they were in great shape! Poor Yoshiki had to wear a neck brace drumming (he drums so fast it has wrecked his back over the years. Their newer stuff is a little lighter on the drums for that very reason.) but he still brought it.
For a venue that could only hold 2000, the show was BIG. They had high pressured smoke machines, a big projection screen, Yoshiki's piano, and a gong.
Although it was a little sad that hide, R.I.P., wasn't playing (Yoshiki got pretty emotional talking about it) it was a HUGE treat to see Sugizo from Luna Sea, join them on lead guitar. His viloin playing was also incredible.
The set included: Rusty Nail, Drain, I.V. (some of you may know that one because it is Rock Band DLC and the ending song for Saw IV ), Silent Jealousy, 紅, X and for the Encores: Endless Rain and the tail end of Art of Life (not the full 30 min), which I quoted in my HS graduating writeup.
I even captured my favorite moment on video; Yoshiki and Sugizo playing the introduction to 紅:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X53VTZLHYvA
(Japanese rock is still pretty glam rock and androgynous)
Here is my favorite photo from the show (of the ones I took):
Yoshiki and his gong.
Please check out the rest of my photos here:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/kochachan/sets/72157625003024183/with/5065044765/
A review in NOW Toronto:
http://www.nowtoronto.com/music/story.cfm?content=177084
Sigh...