A fly-by update for you...

[kazamesu]

Hello everyone! I'm back from my trip and can confirm that the live (which included a play!) was spectacular, fabulous, A+ all around... and I won't be bothering to write up a report because they'll be releasing the glorious performance on Blu-ray/DVD for everyone to enjoy later this year (no other details yet). At the end of the year they'll be

Comments

[mlle_mibu]

This is exciting!! Thank you very much for the update. 😊

[kazamesu]

You're welcome!
What's even more exciting is that these announcements only cover up until about the end of the year, so even though this is already a lot, there's even more to come. This (anniversary) year is going to be properly wild :D

[come_on_hiroto]

A play??? I can't wait for the dvd to be released!!!!
Thank you for the update. I can't wait for the best album!

[kazamesu]

Yep. A play. For realsies. In between songs, they had a person doing voiceover as a 'demon lord' (a member of the band OLDCODEX, who they've been friends with for a number of years), they had an actor play a demonic minion (I think? I can't remember correctly if the actor was a minon or the lord himself... that distinction seems important rofl), and they themselves each played a prince, with the live venue itself as their castle. The audience was involved in the play to a degree as well--we had to dance with them using our light sticks, and cause as much excitement and yelling as possible to heat up the venue and make it inhospitable to the demon lord. There was far more to it than that (and their comedic timing, as you'd expect, was great--their acting in general was great too!), but I don't want to spill all the beans just in case you (or someone else) would like a bit of a surprise when it comes out

[come_on_hiroto]

That sounds...AMAZING!! So that's what the 'special reharsal' they've been talking about!

I attended the mars tour and almost shit my pants when they start dancing because they danced so well, so I bet their act must be really great too oh yes fearless babies <3

Thank you so much for sharing, ahhh now i am really excited for the dvd lol

[kazamesu]

Oh! Good! Then you know exactly what vibe I was feeling :p

It WAS amazing... and our boys did so well :D ♥
The big secret they'd been hinting at since June/July-ish was indeed stage acting, and I would assume that they'll continue the storyline in their 15th anniversary, so they'll just get even better by then. I think this really was a genuine attempt while also being an opportunity for them to dip their toes in the pool and see how the crowd reacted. I have little doubt their next attempt will be way more elaborate. Also, the hints that Show and Saga especially gave before the live don't seem to have been resolved in that live?? Which is part of what makes me think there'll be a 'part II' coming up.

The DVD is going to be amazing... I really hope that they also add full-length commentary on this one like they did for the 13th anniversary one. If they can find any freakin time in their schedules... XD

[remy_hahn]

The track listing for the album looks great! They pretty much picked some of the best of the best. I look forward to hearing the re-arranged version.

Glad you had fun! Their concerts always seem like a hoot...

[kazamesu]

I know... they revealed each track one by one on a screen after the live ended, and the whole auditorium was ooh-ing and ahh-ing (and screaming at certain points rofl). I can't wait to hear what arrangements Saga comes up with--he's been tweeting about it since, so I'd imagine as usual he'd be the one tinkering with the songs.

I think one of the most interesting things about their concerts--especially in later years--is that even if a song is fairly new, chances are, if you hear it live, they will already have tweaked and arranged it differently. It's not that uncommon to do it a little, but they do it to a pretty big degree. And for sure, their concerts are a blast. You get a little of everything--but this one really took it over the top. It truly was an experience lol.

[remy_hahn]

It is definitely going to be interesting to hear their current interpretation/remake of the songs. I heard the new version of Gin no Tsuki and I still don't know how to feel about it other than interesting...

What was the play about?

[kazamesu]

I think that's fine, though. I really like both versions of gin tsuki, and how each tone is really different, but I have no doubt that at least one of the arrangements on the best of album is going to give me pause or rub me the wrong way. I can just choose to listen to the original, if I prefer

[annapeace]

That best of has EVERY SINGLE SONG I LOVE OMG

[kazamesu]

The boys know their way around a set/track list, is all I can say :D♥