2010/09/11 - LUNA SEA Session Tokyo Live Event ~END of LUNACY~ (My First Real Concert!)
OK, this post is way overdue, but I've got a B-T show to review as well, so I guess I'd better get it over with!
As some of you long-time readers may know, a couple years ago I "graduated" from bi-monthly mixi karaoke events to session projects, which is sorta like the same kinda thing, but generally a bit more structured (i.e. sign up for specific songs in advance), focused on a single band, and with real instruments, in a rehearsal studio. After a mere 3 sessions (2 Luna Sea, 1 Buck-Tick), which I joined on vocals, I went out & bought my very first electric guitar.
So, in January this year, with about 20 sessions under my belt, I found a post on one of the session communities for a live event, which was still in the early stages of planning, as in "sign up here to PLAY IN A REAL LIVE CONCERT". So I managed to wrangle together 4 other members, then actually passed the audition/screening (even while missing our Sugizo-part & having to borrow the guy from the other band auditioning that day >_<;)...
Fast forward to the day of (I'll skip all the rehearsal drama, which included a lot more "oh shit, we're missing members" and worrying about whether we'd be able to pull it off, or have to replace the main non-shower). I headed to Shinjuku early to run up to the studio where we'd be rehearsing the encore songs (for the first & only time), which would be played by various members from all 5 bands (with all 25 members on stage). Played through our song, then ran out to grab a few last-minute items I'd managed to forget about/put off (a mic-stand pick holder, a few extra picks, & a necklace to wear during the show), ran back, & we all piled our stuff into a car to head to the venue.
The afternoon schedule involved about 15m of rehearsal/sound check for each band- in reverse performance order, so that the 1st band would rehearse last & could leave everything set & ready for the show- along with hair & makeup. Most of our band opted just for the hair bit, although our vocalist did his own makeup. As soon as we got on stage to do our rehearsal & went through half a song, w/ the lights & everything else going, I was like "D00000d, this is AWESOME." Of course, everyone else was like "Too soon! Too soon!" like they were afraid I'd jinx it or something.. heh. But damn...
Once the show started, I was bouncing around between talking to people who came, chilling backstage, taking pictures, and actually watching the other bands. Once our set finally came up, I passed my camera over to gacktisgod (who took shitloads of AWESOME pix), we scrambled onto the stage, got our shit all set up & ready, made a bit of noise to rile up the crowd, before launching into the first song of our set:
After the other two bands did their sets, the curtain stayed open while everyone shouted "Encore! Encore!", then slowly the rest of us headed onto the stage. I grabbed the guitar from the last band (there wasn't time to swap out instruments, hence that morning's rehearsal) and launched into TONIGHT. Threw in an extra repeat at the end, and even teased the riff from ROMANCE during the chorus, although I don't think anyone noticed >_<;. After that, I handed it back to its owner, and everyone played WISH, complete with silver & gold ribbons shot out into the crowd. Even got to grab a mic for the one line I actually know in the song. :P"
After the show, Girl & I joined the rest of our band (minus lead guitarist) & a couple of the bassist's friends for a quick bite at a Chinese place across the street, before we eventually walked all the way home (the logic being that all the stations were a far enough walk that it wouldn't be that much farther to just walk the whole way).
So after attending over 200 concerts, I finally got to perform in one. In front of nearly 150 people. And DAMN, was it awesome. Must do again, soon. I'm thinkin' Buck-Tick next. ^_^;
As some of you long-time readers may know, a couple years ago I "graduated" from bi-monthly mixi karaoke events to session projects, which is sorta like the same kinda thing, but generally a bit more structured (i.e. sign up for specific songs in advance), focused on a single band, and with real instruments, in a rehearsal studio. After a mere 3 sessions (2 Luna Sea, 1 Buck-Tick), which I joined on vocals, I went out & bought my very first electric guitar.
So, in January this year, with about 20 sessions under my belt, I found a post on one of the session communities for a live event, which was still in the early stages of planning, as in "sign up here to PLAY IN A REAL LIVE CONCERT". So I managed to wrangle together 4 other members, then actually passed the audition/screening (even while missing our Sugizo-part & having to borrow the guy from the other band auditioning that day >_<;)...
Fast forward to the day of (I'll skip all the rehearsal drama, which included a lot more "oh shit, we're missing members" and worrying about whether we'd be able to pull it off, or have to replace the main non-shower). I headed to Shinjuku early to run up to the studio where we'd be rehearsing the encore songs (for the first & only time), which would be played by various members from all 5 bands (with all 25 members on stage). Played through our song, then ran out to grab a few last-minute items I'd managed to forget about/put off (a mic-stand pick holder, a few extra picks, & a necklace to wear during the show), ran back, & we all piled our stuff into a car to head to the venue.
The afternoon schedule involved about 15m of rehearsal/sound check for each band- in reverse performance order, so that the 1st band would rehearse last & could leave everything set & ready for the show- along with hair & makeup. Most of our band opted just for the hair bit, although our vocalist did his own makeup. As soon as we got on stage to do our rehearsal & went through half a song, w/ the lights & everything else going, I was like "D00000d, this is AWESOME." Of course, everyone else was like "Too soon! Too soon!" like they were afraid I'd jinx it or something.. heh. But damn...
Once the show started, I was bouncing around between talking to people who came, chilling backstage, taking pictures, and actually watching the other bands. Once our set finally came up, I passed my camera over to gacktisgod (who took shitloads of AWESOME pix), we scrambled onto the stage, got our shit all set up & ready, made a bit of noise to rile up the crowd, before launching into the first song of our set:
- JESUS
- SLAVE
- IN FUTURE
- RAIN
- TRUE BLUE
- IN MY DREAM (WITH SHIVER)
After the other two bands did their sets, the curtain stayed open while everyone shouted "Encore! Encore!", then slowly the rest of us headed onto the stage. I grabbed the guitar from the last band (there wasn't time to swap out instruments, hence that morning's rehearsal) and launched into TONIGHT. Threw in an extra repeat at the end, and even teased the riff from ROMANCE during the chorus, although I don't think anyone noticed >_<;. After that, I handed it back to its owner, and everyone played WISH, complete with silver & gold ribbons shot out into the crowd. Even got to grab a mic for the one line I actually know in the song. :P"
After the show, Girl & I joined the rest of our band (minus lead guitarist) & a couple of the bassist's friends for a quick bite at a Chinese place across the street, before we eventually walked all the way home (the logic being that all the stations were a far enough walk that it wouldn't be that much farther to just walk the whole way).
So after attending over 200 concerts, I finally got to perform in one. In front of nearly 150 people. And DAMN, was it awesome. Must do again, soon. I'm thinkin' Buck-Tick next. ^_^;