Tekkoshocon 2012
I just got back from my first anime convention, and I had a blast!
Not only was it my first anime con, but also the first actual concert I have ever been to in my entire life! I've been to outdoor festivals when I was little, but I had no interest in the music played there so I stayed away.
Tekko had "Exist Trace" http://www.exist-trace.com/ as their headliner band for the evening,
"Soundwitch" "http://www.soundwitch.jp/" as their lead-in; both visual kei metal bands.
My friend (who invited me and helped me go to the Con) and I were right up in front about ten feet or so away from the speakers.
Almost as soon as the first song was about half way over, I was swept away, and found myself dancing the whole way through the concert despite the pain in my ears and legs (from all the standing around con).
I was a little disoriented by the power of the sound at first and I had to hold my ears several times during both of the shows. There is nothing quite like that power running through your body! It was incredible!
"Soundwitch" was pretty nice. Theirs is a mix of hard rock with electronic sound, something I particularly like, but it was their last two songs that held the heavy wow factor I love! Also their guitarist, Drug-On is very hot! (Turns out he is also the programmer behind their electronic sound.)
"Exist Trace", however was incredible from the very beginning! By this time my ears adjusted enough that I could let them go, aside from when a fan nearby proved herself louder than the music! They leapt onto the stage and guitarist Omi and vocalist Jyou treated us to a ballroom dance during the first song. They were highly interactive with the crowd: Whipped us into a frenzy from the first to the very last and we got two encores out of them! Jyou even managed three complete wardrobe changes between songs!
Their music is pure awesome. The entirety of their sound works so well! Though by this time sound was muffled for me, and Jyou's voice is very beautiful. I saw the band during a Q and A session beforehand and mentioned her voice to my friend. When I found out she is the lead I really looked forward to her singing, and I was not disappointed in the slightest! She really delivers a powerful performance!
I was so worn out (in a good way) after getting my CDs signed that I didn't make it to the rave afterward. Speaking of, "Exist Trace" is incredibly polite and nice, even though they struggle with English.
If you haven't been to a concert, do it! There is nothing quite like it and mp3s just don't measure up. There are plugs for your ears if you are worried about that! wish I realized I was walking into a real concert so I could have gotten a pair. My left ear is still buzzing.
I managed to come away from the Con with a couple Visual Kei magazines (wish I knew more Japanese, it's going to be a while before I can read them), a couple of shirts, one from "D'espairs Rey", my favorite Japanese band, four CDs (two singles, two from the bands that played), some stickers, two Bleach posters and a few buttons. Also picked up a Portal picture for my wife, a really nice blade for my mate Chris and a Ryuk (Death Note) figurine for my mate Ed.
I didn't go to any of the panels I wanted to prior, but the ones I did manage were pretty amazing. I got to go to a Cosplay workshop that went over recording lines and fighting in costume. Also went to the Masquerade. It featured acting, dancing and singing from various cosplay groups, as well as a comedy show during the judging via the MC Doctor Yo. I briefly went to the Doctor Who panel, but it was so packed that I couldn't see anything so I left.
Seriously, Con was awesome! Though the concert was so much better! <3 <3
I would post some pictures of the cosplays I got, but I was forbidden from taking my good camera and the shots I got were grainy at best...
Not only was it my first anime con, but also the first actual concert I have ever been to in my entire life! I've been to outdoor festivals when I was little, but I had no interest in the music played there so I stayed away.
Tekko had "Exist Trace" http://www.exist-trace.com/ as their headliner band for the evening,
"Soundwitch" "http://www.soundwitch.jp/" as their lead-in; both visual kei metal bands.
My friend (who invited me and helped me go to the Con) and I were right up in front about ten feet or so away from the speakers.
Almost as soon as the first song was about half way over, I was swept away, and found myself dancing the whole way through the concert despite the pain in my ears and legs (from all the standing around con).
I was a little disoriented by the power of the sound at first and I had to hold my ears several times during both of the shows. There is nothing quite like that power running through your body! It was incredible!
"Soundwitch" was pretty nice. Theirs is a mix of hard rock with electronic sound, something I particularly like, but it was their last two songs that held the heavy wow factor I love! Also their guitarist, Drug-On is very hot! (Turns out he is also the programmer behind their electronic sound.)
"Exist Trace", however was incredible from the very beginning! By this time my ears adjusted enough that I could let them go, aside from when a fan nearby proved herself louder than the music! They leapt onto the stage and guitarist Omi and vocalist Jyou treated us to a ballroom dance during the first song. They were highly interactive with the crowd: Whipped us into a frenzy from the first to the very last and we got two encores out of them! Jyou even managed three complete wardrobe changes between songs!
Their music is pure awesome. The entirety of their sound works so well! Though by this time sound was muffled for me, and Jyou's voice is very beautiful. I saw the band during a Q and A session beforehand and mentioned her voice to my friend. When I found out she is the lead I really looked forward to her singing, and I was not disappointed in the slightest! She really delivers a powerful performance!
I was so worn out (in a good way) after getting my CDs signed that I didn't make it to the rave afterward. Speaking of, "Exist Trace" is incredibly polite and nice, even though they struggle with English.
If you haven't been to a concert, do it! There is nothing quite like it and mp3s just don't measure up. There are plugs for your ears if you are worried about that! wish I realized I was walking into a real concert so I could have gotten a pair. My left ear is still buzzing.
I managed to come away from the Con with a couple Visual Kei magazines (wish I knew more Japanese, it's going to be a while before I can read them), a couple of shirts, one from "D'espairs Rey", my favorite Japanese band, four CDs (two singles, two from the bands that played), some stickers, two Bleach posters and a few buttons. Also picked up a Portal picture for my wife, a really nice blade for my mate Chris and a Ryuk (Death Note) figurine for my mate Ed.
I didn't go to any of the panels I wanted to prior, but the ones I did manage were pretty amazing. I got to go to a Cosplay workshop that went over recording lines and fighting in costume. Also went to the Masquerade. It featured acting, dancing and singing from various cosplay groups, as well as a comedy show during the judging via the MC Doctor Yo. I briefly went to the Doctor Who panel, but it was so packed that I couldn't see anything so I left.
Seriously, Con was awesome! Though the concert was so much better! <3 <3
I would post some pictures of the cosplays I got, but I was forbidden from taking my good camera and the shots I got were grainy at best...