Kagrra, live @ Tokyo Kousei Nenkin Kaikan Hall [Supreme Essence of Neo Japanesque] - 4/4/06
This was my first live in Japan. I didn't know what to expect really. I was supposed to have a little company at the live but, she couldn't come. I had a really hard time finding the venue, but if they or anyone else has a live there, I'll have no problems.
Anyway, when I FINALLY got to the venue I saw all of the wonderful cosplayers. Man, there was a girl who looked JUST like Isshi...I don't know if that's a good or bad thing, lol. I figured that I was in the right place but to be sure and to possibly start up a conversation, I asked a girl in Japanese was this the live. She said, "nn." and kept text messaging. I felt a bit out of place because it seemed that almost everyone knew each other or was into their phones. I was looking around at the people in line. I was wondering what is a typical Kagrra, fan. I mean, there are certain stereotypical fans for every group. I was convinced that Kagrra, fans were female and relatively young like 15-30. I saw so many guys! I was surprised. The guys were not just with their female friends or girl friends. I just saw a few groups of regular looking guys with tickets. I also saw a bit of older women. Their kimono were so elaborate and beautiful. Again, I was thinking that they were with their daughters or granddaughters, but most of them were either alone or with another group of grandmotherly women. I also saw one gaijin, but I'm not sure if she was going to the concert or not.
I saw a few people with a Kagrra, clear bag and I was looking for the swag table. I wanted the book of photos. So, I asked someone and they didn't speak any english, but pointed up the stairs inside the venue. I decided to go in and go up the stairs. Man, I felt all the eyes boring into me. Oh, well. I just prayed that I didn't trip up the stairs since I was tired. I got upstairs and saw nothing but people - no table. I saw this cute guy who reminded me of Miyavi and saw that he had a bag. I asked him and he knew no English either. His little female friend was just like "buhhh~". So, I thanked them and went back downstairs. I didn't want to go back outside because it was kind of warm and the doors were supposed to open soon. I thought everyone was outside because we couldn't be in the space, but it was not the case. I stood next to this cute Akki cosplayer. She had his Chikai no Tsuki outfit to a T. No more than 5 minutes later we were asked to get out of the space and get into line. Since I was in the inside I got to line up a lot better than I had if I remained outside. I continued to check everyone out. Then, I prayed that I understood the Japanese correctly and wouldn't have to get out of line for any reason.
The first 30 or so people were let in and I was apart of that group. We waited on the stairs inside by threes. Finally we were let in and I got my bundle of flyers. I saw the serious faced guy from Kagrra, no su! I LOVE that guy!! I smiled at him and he nodded. He's so cool! Anyway, I followed the people before me and the loud voices and eventually found the swag table. I bought the bag (600 yen), the photobook (3000 yen), and a Kagrra, bracelet (1500 yen). The gashapon pictures were 400 yen each, I decided to pass. I wanted a fan (4000 yen) but I didn't. It was very pretty and matched my outfit. It was black and red with an oni face and red tassels at the ends. Very, very nice, but there's nothing that I would do with it and I was mad at myself for leaving the fan I bought from home in the hotel. So, lots of people were milling around and checking out their photocards when the venue workers told us to go to our seats. I walked the long, long, long, staircases to the second floor. I looked at the map for my seat and saw that I was in section 3-2. My seat wasn't that bad. The place was big, but not. I mean, it was still intimate. I got to see the entire stage as my seat was mostly in the middle, but slightly toward Nao and Shin's side.
I thumbed through my fliers and photobook. I finished looking over all of my stuff and just started to people watch again. Five guys came walking by with a grandmotherly lady. I checked them out. I saw that one looked like Shou from Alice Nine, I was like "meh." Then I saw a dude that looked like Hiroto from Alice Nine, I was "UGH!" I hate his face! Then, I saw a guy that looked like Tora and was like "That's hot...OMFG! IT'S ALICE NINE!!" Apparently I wasn't the only one trying to make sure before making a scene because all eyes were locked but it was completely quiet. So, when they sat no more than 10 feet away from me,that's when some girls started to shreak. I'm not a big fan of Alice Nine, but just the fact that they were right there supporting Kagrra, made me happy. I love that the PSC folks are so supportive of each other. So, since the girls were acting a fool, Alice Nine were escorted out. All, except Ugmo. He must've been talking or something because everyone else left then he went running a minute after. We laughed. I had to tell the girl next to me who it was.
The live started sometime after 7. I was tired from sightseeing so I was ready to enjoy my first seated live. As soon as the lights went out, everyone stood up. I was thinking "fuck." So I had to get up because everyone would've been in my way otherwise. Oh, I meant to say that three white guys came to sit at the end of my row. It was interesting to see them. Anyway, the stage was different from what I've seen before. I guess someone actually listened to Izumi because he wasn't by himself in the back. They came out by twos - first Nao and Izumi who were by each other in the back on a slightly raised floor and then Shin and Akiya who were at their usual sides. Finally, Isshi came out with his arms held out. Unfortunately, I don't remember the songs, but this live was really good for older fans. He started off with two older songs. I can't remember the names. Then, they played Satsuki...or was it the Oni song from San. Well, they were played back to back. They also had this Japanese drum guy come out. He played for a few minutes then Izumi joined him and they were ROCKIN'! Oh my gosh, it was tight! They almost sounded like they were playing go-go. I was dancing like mad because it sounded so good! They played another older song and I really like that song, but the name escapes me. They played the song Boufura and it was awesome. I love that song because the guitars are so low. The guys looked like they were enjoying it too. They looked like rock stars for real. Shin and Akki were all low to the ground. Izumi was pounding the drums. Nao got to his knees and Isshi bent low and rotated his head around in circles. Man, I will not listen to that song without picturing them rockin' out like that again. Then, we had an intermission.
When the curtain opened, Isshi was there with his teacher. They were both in kimono and they sang a song. Also, there were two dancers on each side in the front. They all had two red and black fans and were performing. At one point, Isshi's teacher came to the front and sang. I don't know where Isshi went. Then, there was a commotion on the first floor. Isshi was walk-running through the first floor to get back on stage! He had changed his clothes to a short kimono with pants. They continued the song and then left. Everyone else came back in their Chikai no Tsuki outfits. This portion is fuzzy because I was rocking out so hard. Old songs and new songs were all played. There was this one song that I don't know, but I like now and the furi was a bit difficult. People were messing up. I just kept looking at Isshi doing it because I had no clue of what to do. I picked up most of it pretty fast though. I can't remember the song, but it was the worst song of the night. I thought Shin's guitar was sharp and Isshi couldn't find the key. It was a song where he sings deep and high. When he sang high, he was fine, but low (and I love low voice Isshi) he just couldn't find the right note. It got better towards the end though. Oh, the song escapes me right now, but the dancers came back out and it was great. I didn't know what to think of it at first. The dancers were hip hop type dancers. They were doing the "Rerun" and breakdancing. It was...interesting. I liked it because it was showing "the supreme essence of neo japanesque" with the western mixed with japanese culture as they had on happi and kaku obi and dancing to Kagrra,. The more they danced the more I enjoyed the performance.
Sarajouju no Komuriuta was beautiful. It's one of my favorite songs so I got a little teary eyed. I've heard Isshi mess it up live, but he was good from note to note this time. They closed with Urei. Ok, I cried. Hearing some of these older songs made me nostalgic. I remember when I first saw Kagrra in a PV and listening to their songs and becoming a fan. When I heard that they were going major and the Urei single came out, I went crazy to preorder it because I felt that I HAD to support them. I was so happy for them being recognized. So, when they played Urei, I remembered those feelings and got too emotional.
We clapped and they said something for an encore. Isshi came out with his same pants from before and a black long sleeved shirt. He did some talking as usual. Oh, yeah. He did alot of talking throughout the live but since I couldn't understand most of it, I glossed over those parts. So, he's talking and was like there's always solos: bass solos, drum solos, and so on. But, they wanted to do something different. Akki and Shin were going to do acoustic guitar solos. So, the people set up this little sectional covered in red cloth and put a red umbrella on one corner and a white on the other. Isshi called Akiya out and his adorable ass came running out like a 5 year old kid with his hair all in his face. He was wearing an olive t-shirt. That's starting to become his color, ne? And he was all cute and coy. Then Shin came out. He's so shy and looked so cute I wanted to hug him. He was trying to avoid the crowd as usual. Isshi was saying stuff to him, but I couldn't hear his responses. Anyway, they sat down and Isshi asked Akiya to play something. Akiya messed up with starting but he played "My Favorite Things" from The Sound of Music before they went on with the song. It was nice. Towards the end, Isshi played his flute. He was trying not to be too loud so it didn't sound as good as it could've but, it was still great. Like I said, it was kind of an intimate setting so it was like we were in a club. They finished and Nao and Izumi came out. They were all playing around and looking cute. Isshi started talking some more and he announced a new single coming out August 2nd, a photobook, and more importantly A TOUR! That got us hyped and they started playing. It was great! They closed with the Sakura song and Isshi had us sing. He kept wanting us to sing louder and louder. When the three white guys started singing, I started crying. It was so awesome! I mean, it seemed like all of us were singing and we sounded good! Sakura petals blew on the stage and that ended my first Kagrra, live.
Isshi was awesome throughout. He was a ball of energy. Even though I was on the second floor, I could see his smile like as if I was right in his face. He has his bangs blonde, the middle a kind of rusty brown and the back looks blonde too. I was loving him in his black kimono. It suits him so well. I also love seeing him do "da Isshi". I was dancing right along with him. He was groovin' throughout the live. At the end when they come up to say their last piece, while Shin was talking, Isshi sat down and started playing in the petals.
It was hard to see Izumi behind the drums, but I don't think he was too left out of this live. Nao was next to him and Isshi kept going back there beside the drum kit with him. So, I was happy for him.
Nao was so adorable. I wish he'd give up the wave perm though. He had lots of bass solos throughout. I LOVE his bass playing. He's good. The bass guitar is my fav instrument so, I was happy for all of the solos. Isshi and Nao were so cute. Everytime Nao was in the front Isshi would loop his arm around his neck. Nothing new, but still cute. On the stage, Isshi was sitting in front of Nao while I think Izumi was talking. Nao kicked Isshi off the stage, lol. While he was trying to escape retailiation, he grabbed his lower back and moved like an old man, LMAO. It was too cute. When Nao talked, I don't know what he said, but it was enough to make Isshi get off the stage and knock him in the back of the head, lol. Nao makes me laugh. Oh, and it was one song where Isshi wanted us to sing the beginning and the rest of the band was supposed to follow behind us at the right mark. Nao missed the mark. Isshi turned around like "Where the fuck were you?!" Nao as usual had an excuse. He said he thought it was like a call and response thing and he sang it and stopped where he felt he should've come in. Isshi was like "Whatever. Do it right". So, we sang again and it was ok. Nao is hilarious. I could seriously hang out with him.
Shin was doing the statue thing for awhile. When he played the koto on Meguru, my eyes filled with tears. It was so beautiful and it seems so difficult for him to play both guitar and koto but he does it flawlessly. I love when he gets into the music. He went to the wings a couple of times, but his face was almost blank. I think I saw a grin but the girls who were screaming for him seemed ignored. He showed the most emotion when his guitar knocked over the umbrella before they started playing acoustic. He was like "Ho, shiznit!" and I could see the whites of his eyes, lol. He almost pissed me off during his little end talk thing. I'm like you know you guys do this, you should have something in mind. I can hardly ever understand him anyway so he was Mr. Mumbles when he did get actual words out. He was stuttering and breathing into the mic. If it was anyone else, I would've been pissed, but since it was him, it was so cute. For some reason the sakura petals loved him. Akiya and Izumi helped get some of the petals out of his hair. Then later, more petals got into his hair and Akiya picked them out again.
Akiya is a rock star. He just oozes sex. Ok, yeah, he's my favorite, but he is just so WOW! I don't really like flashy guys and for the most part he looks like a cute, little, shy dork. Ok maybe he usually is, but when he's on, that man is ON. He was dipping low, on his knees, he was working just about every part of that stage-his side AND Shin's side. He stayed in the front wings most of the time. Whoever had those seats were so lucky. He was blowing kisses to people. He kept looking out at all of in the 2nd floor and pointing at random people. I think that he enjoyed himself, I know I did.
Well that's all I can remember right now.
EDIT 4/17/06 I remember the nasty sounding song! It was "Kokyou"!