WE ARE...X!
This past Thursday (Oct 7), illintent and I went off to the X Japan concert at Massey Hall~! (Sorry, no pics 'cause I was afraid that Massey Hall would take my camera, but apparently it was ok, as long as it wasn't hi def)
We got there about an hour early so we can scope out the goods before it gets too crowded/sells out. I snagged myself a tour shirt and a Yoshikitty
The opening act was a band called "Vampires Everywhere". Not a fan of the "screamo" type music, but I must say that, instrumentally, they were pretty good. I think that screaming, if absolutely necessary, should be use as more like a condiment and not as the main. Screaming and only screaming makes me O_o
Then a break in between where the crowd started chanting "WE ARE.." "X!!" (fore arms crossed over each other) back and forth, which was cool. The stage crew was also spotted participating. XD
Finally, the intro kicks in, a female voice, announcing X Japan, with and LED screen flashing the band logo. Everyone freaks out.
Piano/Drums: Yoshiki
Vocals: Toshi
Guitar/Violin: Sugizo
Guitar: Pata
Bass: Heath
Set list:
Opening
Jade
Rusty Nail
Silent Jealousy
Drain
Violin/Piano interlude
Kurenai
Born to be Free
Drum Solo
I.V.
X
At this point, people were chanting "WE ARE X!" and stomping their feet, shaking the whole place.
Encore:
Endless Rain
Art of Life
Forever Love (more like, playing the recorded song in the background while they bowed and took their leave)
What can I say? The concert was a mind-blowing experience.
Yoshiki's insane drumming (in spite of a broken neck, wearing a brace) then sitting down to his crystal piano playing classically, and so fluidly was utterly amazing. I stood there in awe, watching his hands travel up and down the keys like water. For this show, he did not try to body surf (and hurt himself like one of the previous shows) but he did partially lie over the mobbing crowd. He came back on during the encore, with what looks like an open black/red/white yukata, with a Canadian flag on one side and a Japanese flag with "revival X Japan 4-ever love" on it over the other, draped over him. Methinks a fan made it for them.
Toshi's voice was flawless, hitting all the high notes and holding them beautifully. (He also took his turn with the Canadian flag over his shoulders)
Sugizo's hamming it up like crazy, posing at every opportunity was XD He's be motioning to a crowd member, or using his bow as a pointer, pointing at each crowd section like a conductor (with the crowd reacting appropriately of course). There seems to be a fan on him at all times to make his coat billow in the wind. XDD His violin solos were dramatic and beautiful.
Heath (how was apparently having some fun with some of the crowd members) and Pata provided a solid, for lack of a better word, foundation to the sound.
Water bottles, thrown by Toshi, Yoshiki and Sugizo were sailing all over the place. Toshi's didn't travel too far since he sprayed it all on the fans up at the front. The others went a lot further because it was still filled with some water. I had some water sploosh on my shoulder my one of Sugizo's lobs. XDD
When "X" was performed, people did indeed do the X jump!
We were seated in row D, left centre balcony. I stood up for most of the performance (as did the people behind me) but the people in front of me stayed seated the whole time. ...which means, anytime that spotlight pointed at our section, I'd be visible. XD
When "Endless Rain" started up, the crowd started singing along right away. At one point, the band stopped playing while the crowd kept singing the chorus (Japanese part included! lololol) and Toshi just looked up at the audience, looking impressed. Yoshiki had his head down over his piano.
Hide (aka former lead guitarist who commit suicide back in '98) was addressed by Yoshiki, telling the crowd (chanting "Hide Hide") that he was still there with them.
When it finished with a recorded version of Forever Love, it was X Japan's turn to take pics of the crowd and them with the crowd.
Yoshiki tweeted: "TORONTO!! HOW WONDERFUL YOU ARE... we had one of the most memorable shows. You're officially Xed!!! And New York...YOU'RE NEXT!!!"
I ended up losing my voice, again, with all the screaming. It was an absolutely amazing concert and I'm now on some kind of X Japan withdrawal. I hope they come back because I was to be Xed again! XD
We got there about an hour early so we can scope out the goods before it gets too crowded/sells out. I snagged myself a tour shirt and a Yoshikitty
The opening act was a band called "Vampires Everywhere". Not a fan of the "screamo" type music, but I must say that, instrumentally, they were pretty good. I think that screaming, if absolutely necessary, should be use as more like a condiment and not as the main. Screaming and only screaming makes me O_o
Then a break in between where the crowd started chanting "WE ARE.." "X!!" (fore arms crossed over each other) back and forth, which was cool. The stage crew was also spotted participating. XD
Finally, the intro kicks in, a female voice, announcing X Japan, with and LED screen flashing the band logo. Everyone freaks out.
Piano/Drums: Yoshiki
Vocals: Toshi
Guitar/Violin: Sugizo
Guitar: Pata
Bass: Heath
Set list:
Opening
Jade
Rusty Nail
Silent Jealousy
Drain
Violin/Piano interlude
Kurenai
Born to be Free
Drum Solo
I.V.
X
At this point, people were chanting "WE ARE X!" and stomping their feet, shaking the whole place.
Encore:
Endless Rain
Art of Life
Forever Love (more like, playing the recorded song in the background while they bowed and took their leave)
What can I say? The concert was a mind-blowing experience.
Yoshiki's insane drumming (in spite of a broken neck, wearing a brace) then sitting down to his crystal piano playing classically, and so fluidly was utterly amazing. I stood there in awe, watching his hands travel up and down the keys like water. For this show, he did not try to body surf (and hurt himself like one of the previous shows) but he did partially lie over the mobbing crowd. He came back on during the encore, with what looks like an open black/red/white yukata, with a Canadian flag on one side and a Japanese flag with "revival X Japan 4-ever love" on it over the other, draped over him. Methinks a fan made it for them.
Toshi's voice was flawless, hitting all the high notes and holding them beautifully. (He also took his turn with the Canadian flag over his shoulders)
Sugizo's hamming it up like crazy, posing at every opportunity was XD He's be motioning to a crowd member, or using his bow as a pointer, pointing at each crowd section like a conductor (with the crowd reacting appropriately of course). There seems to be a fan on him at all times to make his coat billow in the wind. XDD His violin solos were dramatic and beautiful.
Heath (how was apparently having some fun with some of the crowd members) and Pata provided a solid, for lack of a better word, foundation to the sound.
Water bottles, thrown by Toshi, Yoshiki and Sugizo were sailing all over the place. Toshi's didn't travel too far since he sprayed it all on the fans up at the front. The others went a lot further because it was still filled with some water. I had some water sploosh on my shoulder my one of Sugizo's lobs. XDD
When "X" was performed, people did indeed do the X jump!
We were seated in row D, left centre balcony. I stood up for most of the performance (as did the people behind me) but the people in front of me stayed seated the whole time. ...which means, anytime that spotlight pointed at our section, I'd be visible. XD
When "Endless Rain" started up, the crowd started singing along right away. At one point, the band stopped playing while the crowd kept singing the chorus (Japanese part included! lololol) and Toshi just looked up at the audience, looking impressed. Yoshiki had his head down over his piano.
Hide (aka former lead guitarist who commit suicide back in '98) was addressed by Yoshiki, telling the crowd (chanting "Hide Hide") that he was still there with them.
When it finished with a recorded version of Forever Love, it was X Japan's turn to take pics of the crowd and them with the crowd.
Yoshiki tweeted: "TORONTO!! HOW WONDERFUL YOU ARE... we had one of the most memorable shows. You're officially Xed!!! And New York...YOU'RE NEXT!!!"
I ended up losing my voice, again, with all the screaming. It was an absolutely amazing concert and I'm now on some kind of X Japan withdrawal. I hope they come back because I was to be Xed again! XD