理性はいらない～・・・
… a month has passed already…
so why if I listen to VAMPS song on public transport I hardly keep myself from dancing right there?
you don’t need reason! …
…follow your instinct!
・・・本能のままに～
The first time I’ve seen VAMPS was at Osaka’s USJ, but this time I wanted to try a “closer” atmosphere, and Zepp Nagoya was just perfect for what I was thinking. The venue is not that big and the latter half of the concert hall is a little lifted to help people in the back seeing the stage.
I was expecting a stage arranged as I have seen so many times in the DVD, but this time there was a big screen crossed with a lot of horizontal LEDs, instead. Their combination was creating so many different effects. LED colors, lightning time or screen images were chosen according to song’s rhythm or lyrics. It was very cool! Although I was a bit far from the stage, I felt completely surrounded by stage effects: side walls, too, were decorated with flashing LEDs and the lights on the ceilings were reaching even people in the back!
I was particularly impressed by these arrangements:
REDRUM
Fires started to burn on the stage (they lasted 2-3 songs), some whirlpool green lights were showering crazily over the audience, already moving in a wild dance. The screen showed some red images that looked to me like the magma at the time of a volcano explosion. I felt almost like that: in the middle of a volcano explosion.
DEVIL SIDE
On 29th, the day HYDE taught us how to pronounce “devil side”, when he sang uh uhhhhh in the second half of the song, the LED lights on side walls were lighthing in perfect synchronization with his voice!! Amazing effect! I thought it was done on purpose, but the performance on 31st proved me wrong. It must have been the effect of HYDE lesson XD
TIME GOES BY
Gray + orange is a very good light combination, especially when it shines only over K.A.Z during guitar intro, and then it moves on HYDE when he starts singing. How cute^^
MEMORIES
As the song started, I believed it was the sunset: a deep orange light was softly embracing members and then reverberating over the audience. I felt the melancholy of memories at the end of the summer…
Then, when HYDE sang “…bathing in the dazzling sun”, the lights turned white and powerful.
SEASON’S CALL
I wonder who had the idea of two skies running from left and right of the screen and then sinking in the middle of it, just like waterfalls… their bump was generating symbols that looked to me like Hebrew symbols… I could felt once more the ‘broad view’ inside the music of this song ^^
全部だしてくれ～
VAMPS lives are really hard, ‘cause it’s not really only a matter of listening to their songs, following their rhythm with your body and in the end clapping your hands smiling, it’s more like giving everything to them, your heart, your strength, your reason, your voice.
The whole experience itself is absolutely involving, and I appreciate the atmosphere they were able to create. I particularly treasured the following moments.
RUMBLE
I like this song! I had never listened to it live and I was really looking forward to.
I like how it’s depicting, with both music and lyrics, the moment you are at the very limit of your tolerance, you know you are next to explode, and this makes you threatening.
I thought it’s a difficult song to play live, but they did an awesome work.
Deep red LEDs were joining Arly’s repeating beats throughout the song, HYDE’s creepy voice together with Ju-ken’s suggestive bass in the beginning and K.A.Z’s mad guitar during the chorus.
SWEET DREAMS
On the 29th I had a horrible view, that is to say I almost could not see nothing because of tall people in front of me. But when they became quiet as Jin san touched the piano to create a moving intro, I was able to peek HYDE between people’s neck XD
It seemed to me just like I was peeking through a keyhole and seeing HYDE singing a lullaby to his son. I had this impression and I was really heartwarming :)
HUNTING
On 28th Ju-ken went to the 2nd floor.
He came down the stairs on the right till the first row of 2nd floor and headed for the left side, where I was. I could spot his outfit quite clearly: green forelock, t-shirt with black and red stripes and DESTROY written in yellow on his chest.
He stopped in the middle of the first row waiting for HYDE to sing, but HYDE apparently didn’t want to let him go on XD Poor Ju-ken! HYDE always teases him (^-^)
On 31st in the MC before this song, Arly was talking about their trip to Ise shrine the day before. Proudly, I could raise my hand when he asked us if we had been there, as I went to Outer shrine and Inner shrine 3 years ago (an amazing place! I love how they treasure Japanese culture). I was in the back again, so while listening to Arly I started looking at the 2nd floor. Soon I noticed that almost everybody was doing the same… we were thinking the same thing: HYDE is not on the stage… HYDE is not there… HYDE IS NOT THERE!!! We were listening and interacting with Arly on the stage while constantly turning towards the 2nd floor … as the music started, HYDE appeared in his gorgeousness, with his big bandana, throwing pics. He didn’t sing the song, he was quite busy with fans touching and talking to him. I was on the left side, while he appeared from the right. Unlike Ju-ken, he didn’t head for my side (T_T), he quickly came back the same way. I could see him again in a passage on the left side wall before he reached the stage. But I could see his face quite clearly ^^
I think his face is very large. Don’t take me wrong, it’s a good thing! I had this sensation when I saw him on the 2nd floor and when I touched the reproduction of his face at VAMPARK. Though a bit disturbing, ‘cause the face had no hair (it had been put in the middle of a rectangular black frame, surrounded by red velvet with broad folds) I tried to cover his face with my hand (which is very little) but I reached only half of his face XD
I know that the mask is bigger than his face, but I still think he has a large face :)
入り待ち、出待ち
On 29th I was queuing for the goods with my Japanese friend, so when the security guys were arranging barriers(it was around noon) to prepare members’ arrival at the Zepp, we only found a spot on the pavement beyond the entrance. I was worried I couldn’t see anything, but when they approached the venue riding their bicycles, HYDE was so kind that he went past the entrance and stopped in the middle of the street smiling at us… I don’t know why, his skin looked darker than I thought … maybe it was because it was quite cloudy that day? Or because my reason had abandoned me already … XD
After the live we saw some signs asking us to take care of ourselves during irimachi and demachi. I think HYDE (or was Ju-ken? Can’t remember clearly ><) during MC asked us to take care of us . I don’t know what happened. But I thought it was very kind of him to care about us ^^
On 31st K.A.Z. lead the group riding his skateboard. He was in the spotlight this time, but he quickly entered the venue, so I just got a glimpse of him.
The passage on the left used by HYDE on 31st to reach the stage. You can see VAMPS logo and LED lights under it.I took this pic during Vampark. We were allowed to take pictures inside the venue (with the exception of some places). Security guys were always watching over us ^^
気持ちいい～
I simply loved HYDE when, on 3rd live, said to us: I feel gooooooood!!
On that day I had the impression that the audience was more noisy and lively than the past 2 days, though my zone was really quiet.
Despite the fact that I had the worst ticket among the 3 in my hands, I managed to get the best view of 3 days. This made me understand that the numbers on the tickets are more intended to be your entrance order than your seat/place inside the venue. I should also add that a lot of people, even if they entered the hall before, chose to stay on the very back.
On 28th instead, I got inside a hardcore group of fans. They were not pushing or acting badly at all, and I loved how they were moving and enjoying the rhythm. It was almost what I was looking for, so I started to keep up with their movements. I jumped hard during TROUBLE and followed their cool headbanging during MIDNIGHT CELEBRATION. Finally, at the time of SEX BLOOD ROCK’N’ROLL they dragged me into their crazy mosh dance. I had a great time, and I was happy they welcomed me even if I’m not Japanese. This time I could really feel how music has no borders ^0^
I really enjoyed the great interaction between VAMPS and fans, especially during MCs.
K.A.Z asked us if we had gone to the sea (meaning Gamagori live), when Ju-ken announced that it was yakiniku day he asked us if we like yakiniku (grilled meat) and unagi (eel). Arimatsu asked us if we had already been to Ise shrine. People answered raising their hands.
There were more interacting moments, usually lead by HYDE, like when he defined “turtledove’s voice” the voice of some fans shouting his name with a low tone on 28th . To make himself clear he tried to recreate the turtledove’s voice: Hoooo hooooo, but being unsure about which bird it was similar to, he asked to K.A.Z, who said he had thought of a pheasant voice… XD
Unagi was almost a recurrent topic for the first 2 days.
When, on 29th HYDE proudly announced he had eaten unagi, he started a funny game with us:
HYDE: I’ve eaten unagi. U-na-gi. U? Fans:nagi! HYDE: Una? Fans: gi!
Then we got our DEVIL SIDE lesson. I think the reason is the fact that devil is spelled as debiru in katakana, so, in order to maintain the right rhythm, he asked in a very cute way to pronounce the last syllable (ru) raising our tongue or not pronouncing it at all. So we practiced a little. I tried my best English pronunciation XD I couldn’t help joining other fans calling him “HYDE sensei” after that lesson, and I was glad he was amused by that XD
I came back to Europe with 2 bags of goods, and an empty credit card XD
Well, I think my attitude towards good has changed a lot since these lives.
I have always thought that band goods have a certain ‘aura’. It’s probably because of all the difficulties I pass through to get them here, on the other side of the Earth.
But when I saw outside the venue some girls that had adjusted VAMPS t-shirts or bags to their own dressing style, I was quite impressed. I thought they were showing so much love to the band, they made the goods enter their own world.
So now I have changed my mind. Unfortunately, I have no hand abilities at all T__T
I had a great experience thanks to VAMPS, of course, and to my Japanese friend, who made the waiting time so pleasant and who saved my life 2 or 3 times at Zepp with precious information.
Hope to see them again soon, maybe here in Europe…