Day 3: NICO Touches the Walls live at Niigata LOTS
I had trouble packing thus wasted so much time. I had wanted to see Matsumoto Castle and Daio Wasabi Farm but was unable to, and I ended up not stopping to Karuizawa since my pack is too heavy. Decided to go straight to Niigata and just take my time. How awesome is a gps? I felt more safe walking around seeing where in the map I was. The line was long by the time I got to the venue at 1400. Doors were set to open at 1700 and my checkin was 1630. They didn't start selling until past 1500. Then I had to walk all the way to the hotel because there were no cabs passing by the venue's street. There were no bus either. Even if I catch the bus, it would still be a lot of walking, thus I'll just walk all the way. Got to the hotel only to be told my rate was different from my reservation. I can't argue much cos I can't speak Japanese. Worse, they said they speak English in their website.. while I had to struggle communicating. I don't mind if they don't, but I'd like to come prepared. There was one guy who helped translate. Anyway, I just opened and threw everythign out so I can find my stuffs. Then rushed to the venue. Only, I can't walk back now since I was wearing talk boots. Thank goodness the driver knew where the venue was. Thank goodness!!!! Venue opened doors late. lol.. so much for the rush. They didn't line everyone up. Just like Takasaki and Hamamatsu from before they'd just call out numbers. It really helps trying to speak with fans. They helped me what was going on. I would've dashed in had they said 230.. but fellow fan explained it's "made" thus "240 made".
First of all, I love Niigata LOTS. Not too big that it still felt cozy and you feel intimately close to the band onstage. Yet it's not too small that it feels so crowded. The fact that it has high ceilings is awesome as well as the tall stage, which allows you to see the boys regardless of where you're standing.
I started a bit back probably 8th row, then ended up close. The guys are always over excited and really push. But I feel bad for the girls in front. One dude was actually right on top of me through the show. At some point it got too close that I felt something I really didn't wanna feel. But if I fight it, it hurts and I will just end up in the back with the tall guys in front of me. Thus, I went along and I ended up closer thanks to all his considerate pushing. If I can survive ONE OK ROCK show, surely the NICO mosh is a piece a cake.
During one of the MCs, Micchan mentioned something about not releasing an album/single. I guess maybe for this tour. I suppose it's the norm for a tour to be accompanied with a release so both release and tour promote one another. I dunno. Instead of a new release, they're going to sing some songs differently. Like they're covering themselves. This is why I'm so deeply in love with this band. Usually if I love the song, I hate rearrangements. Why ruin something that has become a hit? NICO is totally different for me. I long for different versions. How I wish they would release those live version again!
"Rappa to Musume": Boy, I think this is one of the songs I'll want to hear over and over again. When I first listened to the single, I laughed my ass off at how Micchan is trying so hard to be a sexy man. HAHA... but during live, he did prove he is a very sexy man. His voice was sexy, his expression was sexy, his face and body.. daaaaaaaaaaaaaaamn. It felt hotter than it actually was. It starts out with Micchan beating a drum with Shotaro complementing him, Sakkan also plays the keyboard. I didn't pay attention to Furukun at the start. Micchan just gets your attention regardless who your bias is. Then later Sakkan tries to work up the crowd by beating onto a wooden-jar-looking-thing. That sure works out for me... haha.. while Micchan takes over the keyboard and I think Furukun beats the drum. Later Sakkan lost all reservations and went crazy on the drum. This song has got to be the fun song, if Survive was the fun one last time, this time it's "rappa to musume". What makes it even more awesome is that they did instrumental prelude prior to starting the song. I loooooooooooooove instrumentals, especially by NICO.
The setlist didn't differ from Takasaki much, except for Aurora. The moment they started playing that song I sobbed. That's an understatement... I was uncontrollably crying and shaking. I really liked this song, but I did not expect I would have that kind of reaction. Maybe it's because it's one of the first songs I really listened to the most when I first got into NICO. Aurora was my first album, thus it makes the song even more special. Micchan's voice just shoots me in the heart.I can't explain enough how beautiful this song is live. Somehow, my trip has gotten even more meaningful thanks to this song.
They also played "(My Sweet) Eden." God, you do listen to me don't you? It was the first encore song. Whenever they play an older piece, it makes me very happy as I connect so much more to those songs than the recent ones. I went a little nuts when I heard the intro.
Another older piece for a second encore song, "Bunny girl to Danny boy".. you know there's a part near the end that the music/pace/tone differ and slower from most part of the song? I loooooove that part. Micchan can just make up any word. bidibidi yayaya.. yoyoyo.. whatever word or syllable it is, his voice is to die for. I crave for those parts where he just sings/yells random stuffs over and over playing around with his voice/tone. I can just listen to it over and over and over, no need for lyrics, his voice is enough to give me euphoria. And that is when I realized Micchan just became my ichiban.
Since reading Laura's comment from previous post, I decided I have to get the courage to yell it out. ONE OK ROCK makes it easier, I dunno, it just seems like you can easily talk and bond with Taka. Micchan is a bit more serious, like someone I'd be more formal and reserved with. However, I was having too much fun during the live that before I knew it it was time for the encore. I told myself, "Damn... not again! It's now or never!!!" Thus I yelled it at some point of the member introduction. Micchan didn't hear me at all... I yelled dammit. Then the cute little girl just stared at me and smiled. I was dying from embarrassment that they just ignored me. But the girl gave me a reassuring and encouraging look. I confirmed if she meant to try one more time... she nodded and that gave me courage to yell out loud. I don't know what Micchan said. I blanked out. I remembered just yelling random words "america kara kimashita... takasaki mo.. kyonen mo.. passenger tour. rainen matta kitta." Don't think that made much sense, but I just assume he'll put two and two together.. and Micchan said to come again, and I promised. Now I HAVE to come back next year. Haha, not like they'll remember such thing. I was shaking.. omg, I couldn't believe I talked to Micchan or even had eye contact with him. But I blanked out and can't remember the whole thing!!! I remembered my teeny OOR moment, why can't I remember NICO's??? Damn you self, damn you!!! I'm more excited they now know that they've reached fans outside their shores and their music is powerful enough to move one to cross the ocean.
MC, someone actually had to explain this part to me. Apparently they band arrived the day before in Niigata. In the afternoon, Furukun and Sakkan along with 2 staff members went to go cycling by the coast and saw the pretty sunset. Though it took only 30 minutes to get that spot, coming back took much longer as they got lost. XD How does one get lost cycling in the coast?
During member introduction, Micchan introduced Sakkan first. Well, it was kinda hard to get words out of him. Fans started yelling "gambare" then someone yelled something. Then Micchan reprimanded them for being loud and "yankee-ish". He sounds like an O-ssan... i think he mentioned something about his age before. Like how they started out really young, after four albums.. he's now 26. It just seemed like he's saying he feels old. Hahaha.. It's too early for you kiddo.
Apparently someone else gave the boys a present at Takasaki. It was a matching cat ears and tail. Not only did Shotaro mention it, he went to the side and put it on while we waited. Micchan was saying something that we have to wait for him while he sets up? Haha.. OMG.. Shotaro is the cutest thing ever! EVER!!!!!! Not only did he wear it, he performed for us too. HAHAHAHAHA.. It was AWESOME! He did a little number on a cat performance singing "Pipipi", complete with hand gesture, appropriate kawaii expression and even shaking of his booty...rather tail. God, did you just grant my wish again? I think on the scrapbook I mentioned I long to hear him sing. Though it was just one syllable, it was epic to last me a lifetime. I do hope they do it again at the Nagano live tonight.
Thank goodness the venue was right next to micky d's. I was craving for gross american meal, tyvm. I swear, people back home are going to hang me alive for going there instead of a local cuisine. I"m homesick man.. so homesick for food. Then I talked to two more fans. It was frustrating not knowing the right words, but we did chat long and take pictures. Unfortunately I looked horrible in the ones I took. They explained parts of the MC. And said that I have to come next time and they'll study English so we can chat more. I promised to study Japanese too. Ohhh, boy, now more promises that is so hard to fulfill.
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New song: Chain Reaction.