A & J (2011/08/27 @ 池袋Cyber & 2011/09/04 @ 新木場 Studio Coast)

[threeleet]

Got asked by 69 Magazine (pronounced Rohk-Kyuu, or "Rock You") to photo-shoot the first one-man live by A (ACE- Anonymous Confederate Ensemble). Normally I'm not that into the indiez v-kei scene, but these guys had a few things going for them: 1) they dress up as PIRATES, 2) they play a bunch of different styles, 3) they've got a violinist, 4) one of the band member's names is "Mucho Gracias", and 5) they covered the Evangelion theme 残酷な天使のテーゼ (you know the one), apparently despite the lead singer never having watched the series- lol. So I agreed, & proceeded to take about 5G of pix >_< some of which should show up on their site shortly, along w/ reviews by the other staff who were busing furiously writing on notepads while I was busy furiously shooting pix from the upper catwalk, & later the front side (had to actually duck under a "wall" curtain, since the back area was so packed, but the people in the front were plenty spaced out, so I didn't have too much of a problem (aside from getting hair-whipped a few times during one of the songs- had to stand w/ my arm up to guard my face for that part!). Oh, and ALSO? Their pre-show music was ALEKSANDR MOTHAFUCKIN' SCRIABIN, bitches! Sonata No. 6 ("The Black Mass"), to be precise. Niiiice! Their set waaas:

1. Black Butterfly
2. バニラスカイ
3. Rhapsody in Black
   (guitar solo)
4. MASQUERADE
5. GODDESS
   (piano solo)
6. 交響詩Freedomイ短調
   (bass solo)
7. Fool's Gold
8. UTAGE〜Grafton Calling
9. 夜明けのアンセム
10. Viva ca Casta!
11. カナリア
12. Ouvertura
13. Ship "Friend of Mine"
14. 今宵、銃声が聴こえない街で
15. Nude

So that was last weekend. This weekend was J! In another loooong show with 3 openers, complete w/ a re-appearance of the crazy transvestite-fronted 女王蜂 from 5 Days Day #3! >_<; While girl cringed & covered her ears for most of the set (I agree his falsetto can be quite shrill- esp. live, although I'd have to say it's nowhere near as bad as 凛として時雨), I mostly just stared in amusement. Someone threw a pink feathered folding fan up partway through the set, & the lead singer caught it & started using it as if he'd had it the whole time.

Oh, and signs you've spent WAY too much time updating SPFC's equipment section? I instantly recognized the bass as a Teisco K-series (KB-2, it turns out- same line/shape as the guitar James used in the Rocket video). Guitarist used a silver-glitter Les Paul.

AAAnyway. On to J. (Yes, I'm skipping the other 2 bands, 'cause we missed the first band, and the 3rd was, well, not really very memorable, other than they sang in English). Along with the usual hits, we got a couple new surprises & "special" songs, including the first Walk Along in quite a while.. Set was:

1. I Feel You
2. speed
3. Reckless
4. break
5. PYROMANIA
6. Vida Rosa
7. So High
8. (new song, same as last few shows)
9. Salvage
10. (drum solo)
11. nowhere
12. Walk Along
13. DIE FOR YOU
14. Go Crazy
15. FEEL YOUR BLAZE
16. Go Charge
17. TONIGHT
18. BURN OUT

During BURN OUT, J decided to play w/ one of the stage lights on the side, pointing it into the crowd, and then for some reason he started shaking it. Dunno if he was actively trying to be destructive, or just wasn't thinking, but d00d- when you shake a light like that, esp. when it's on, it's gonna BURN OUT too! hur hur hur, get it? Anyway- after seeing that it was no longer on, he knocked it over backwards. Ah, the life of a rock star. At least he doesn't blow up hotel toilets as a hobby, I suppose...
After the encore, w/ the lights & music on, and the "show's over" announcement, a bunch of people kept staying & clapping & chanting, and eventually J came back out again (with a black bathrobe over his head), but only to say a few more words of thanks & leave again- no impromptu "....." performance this time. Oh well.

In other news, had our 2nd ever LUNA-TICK practice on Saturday, first w/ the new drummer (the first only lasted 1 rehearsal before deciding he was already in too many bands -_-;). Because of scheduling, we won't be meeting again until the end of next month, but I hope to get a more frequent rehearsal schedule in place after that. Also, got my one & only rehearsal w/ SAKAMOTOGUMI coming up on Thursday, before the show on the 21st. Which, both of the people who read this and are actually IN Tokyo already knew about anyway, though, right? RIIIIGHT? Heh. Anyway.

Buck-Tick nite on Friday, YFC next Wed., Uematsu's "Earthbound Papas" on Sat., my show w/ SAKAMOTOGUMI the next Wed., and then off to the states that Friday, which, if all goes well, will including 2 TSP shows! W00t! Of course, the trip back also means missing a Luna Sea nite at B♭, an LSP, another LS session, and a B-T session. And a non-smoking session. Sheesh! Pick another freakin' 2-week period, people! Then it's back to Tokyo for FAKE? and LUNA SEA! And a new Ratchet & Clank! Think I'll go pre-order that now!