My concert report - BREAKERZ 10 Shunen 10ban Shoubu -VS- (GRANRODEO VS BREAKERZ | 21st Jan 2017)
2017 is BREAKERZ's 10th anniversary & to celebrate this milestone , they announced last year that they will be doing 10 two man live concerts this year which they titled it as BREAKERZ 10 Shunen 10ban Shoubu -VS- .
The 1st instalment of BREAKERZ 10 Shunen 10ban Shoubu -VS- took place last Sat at Osaka's Zepp Namba & GRANRODEO was the 1st artiste that performed onstage together with BREAKERZ .
My sister is a GRANRODEO fan & prior to BREAKERZ 10 Shunen 10ban Shoubu -VS- , she herself went to Japan to see GRANRODEO performed twice . She also supports BREAKERZ & she hasn't seen them live in concert until now .
As for myself , prior to hearing GRANRODEO's music , the only thing I know about them is that DAIGO sang The Other self onstage with GRANRODEO 3 years ago during DAI AN☆Kichijitsu 10th anniversary VERY LUCKY DAY!! .
So when the 1st 3 artistes' names & details were announced for BREAKERZ 10 Shunen 10ban Shoubu -VS- last Nov , both of us were shocked .
I already had a feeling that somehow or another , GRANRODEO would be 1 of the 10 artistes included but for them to be listed as the 1st to perform with BREAKERZ , it was just wow . (Which subsequently makes sense as they would be doing their own standalone tour starting from this May onwards to promote their new album Pierrot Dancin') .
Then again , 2 years ago when GRANRODEO themselves celebrated their 10th anniversary , BREAKERZ & other artistes performed at the duo's 2 dates GRANRODEO 10th ANNIVERSARY FES ROUND GR 2015 so I guess this's GRANRODEO's way of repaying back the favour ? x)
When comes to balloting tickets for the 1st round of BREAKERZ 10 Shunen 10ban Shoubu -VS- via team brz , I thought tickets might be hard to get with the concert venues being mainly live house (Zepp venues) & each fanclub member only could ballot 2 tickets at maximum .
As such when I found out I won the ticket balloting (again for the 3rd time via team brz) , I was ecstatic . Heck I think my sister was more excited than me but then again I digress haha
The last time I attended a BREAKERZ concert was their 1st (and possibly last) countdown live , BREAKERZ COUNTDOWN LIVE 2014-2015 .
Back then I went back Japan by myself & I met with a group of friends in the guys' fandom which we all attended BREAKERZ COUNTDOWN LIVE 2014-2015 together even though we weren't seated together inside Pacifico Yokohama .
This time round , I went back to Japan last week with my sister & surprisingly this's the 1st time both of went overseas together (let alone to Japan) . Why it took this long , I had no idea but it was better late than never .
The BREAKERZ 10 Shunen 10ban Shoubu -VS- concert tickets I won were mailed to the hotel I stayed which I requested it to be done .
When I opened up the envelope to check the ticket numbers , I let out a huge scream & for a moment my sister thought what happened .
Osaka's Zepp Namba can accommodate 2,090 people on the 1st floor & the number/s that's printed on my tickets , we were the 1st 40 fans to enter the venue O___O
Last Sat / 21st Jan itself
As per the previous 2 times I went to see BREAKERZ perform , once again I bought gifts for them , inclusive for their backup bassist MATSU & backup drummer MAKOTO
Which all of the gift bags , I put them inside this special customised shopping bag that someone gave me in the guys' fandom x)
There were some curious/funny/amusing expressions from people when I brought that along with me to Zepp Namba x)
The BREAKERZ 10 Shunen 10ban Shoubu -VS- concert goods started selling at 1.30pm Japan time . My sister & arrived at Zepp Namba around 10.10am .
When we arrived , I saw quite a few people queuing up real early to buy the concert goods (and here I thought Singaporeans were kiasu x) ) & I saw a lot of fans wearing/carrying GRANRODEO concert merchanise as compared to BREAKERZ's .
We were so early until we saw a truck parked besides Zepp Namba which the delivery guys delivered the concert goods (they were still in the boxes) to the staff , haha
BREAKERZ 10 Shunen 10ban Shoubu -VS- concert goods display stand
Before more fans came to line up to buy the concert goods , my sister & I went to Lawson conbini to buy some hot drinks because to sit down + queue up almost 3 hours during the brittle cold Winter , it wasn't fun at all . At that time , 3 hours felt more like 30 hours :x
Finally after it feels like forever , BREAKERZ 10 Shunen 10ban Shoubu -VS- concert goods went on sale
Most of the physical BREAKERZ 10 Shunen 10ban Shoubu -VS- concert goods display on the table
BREAKERZ 10 Shunen 10ban Shoubu -VS- concert goods list on the table
There were 2 people in front of us that were polar opposites as a lady bought pretty much all of the concert goods (until she had to use her credit card to pay o_O) while on the other end , a guy only bought the charity band o_O (I think they're friends or something ?)
Also unlike past BREAKERZ's concerts , this time round , the T-shirt & pin badge set's designs are different in each concert venue .
Before entering the concert goods sale stand , there was a table where you can register to join team brz and/or renew the fanclub membership
If that's done on site , you will receive this clearfile as a renewal / new fanclub registration gift
On the left side of the concert goods sale stand , there was a table where almost all of BREAKERZ's discography were sold , inclusive of their latest single Ikusen no Meikyuu de Ikusen no Nazo wo Toite
Ikusen no Meikyuu de Ikusen no Nazo wo Toite promo poster
Purchase of Ikusen no Meikyuu de Ikusen no Nazo wo Toite at the BREAKERZ 10 Shunen 10ban Shoubu -VS- concert venue/s , you can take part in Ikusen Kuji which the promo poster is the consolation prize while the bigger/better prize is a cheki photo which's a random candid polaroid shot of the guys .
GRANRODEO & BREAKERZ gift boxes were placed behind the concert goods sale stand . I saw them before my sister & I exit the area after purchasing the BREAKERZ 10 Shunen 10ban Shoubu -VS- concert goods we wanted
I was the 1st to put gifts inside BREAKERZ's gift box :3 & unlike the previous 2 times I went , this time round , it was a standalone box for the guys as previously , there were many more separate/specific boxes for each member , inclusive of their backup bassist & drummer .
The hotel both of us stayed was considerably near Zepp Namba so we went back to rest a while (not to mention wear more clothes as it was so cold in waiting outside to queue up to buy the concert goods x_x) .
The BREAKERZ 10 Shunen 10ban Shoubu -VS- concert goods we purchased
-VS- pin badge set x2 , BREAKERZ VS GRANRODEO version
Stainless steel thermo bottle that my sister bought for me as a late birthday gift which I opened/used immediately as it was so cold
Ironically I brought the BREAKERZ LIVE TOUR 2015 0-ZERO- wall mug reuse bottle along which didn't helped me much as I don't think it can hold hot water o_O
My sister bought the charity band for herself
I did considered buying the mobile battery / power bank as it's the 1st time the guys has 1 for a concert good (physically it looked great) but I already have 3 power banks . Not to mention , the battery voltage for the BREAKERZ 10 Shunen 10ban Shoubu -VS- mobile battery / power bank is not that good either .
Likewise my sister wanted to buy the T-shirt but once she saw it at the concert goods stand , she decided not to buy as she commented the T-shirt quality is not as good as what she thought it might be :x
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We made it back to Zepp Namba as doors opened at 4pm so that fans can be ushered inside the venue before the concert was to start at 5pm .
After putting our things inside the lockers , we proceeded way out in the front to queue , not before my sister spotted her friend in the crowd (she's a die hard loyal GRANRODEO fan)
Seeing that sign way out in the front was a bit shocking for my sister & I as we were not used to having really good ticket numbers which for once was a nice change x)
Immediately when the doors opened , many fans straightaway ran inside to where the stage was . Zepp Namba imposed a drink charge so I find it odd that those who did that don't mind to go in without 1 (quite a lot did redeemed the drink after the concert finished) .
Being the 1st 40 fans to be let inside Zepp Namba , I was soon overwhelmed on how near I was from the stage cos the very 1st time I went to see BREAKERZ , I was being pushed way out in the front until I was 3 rows away from Tokyo's SHIBUYA-AX .
This time round , my sister & I had a really good view as we were smacked in 3rd row centre even though as the concert progress on , we were pushed back 1-2 rows behind as the mainly GRANRODEO fans were quite rowdy/pushy :x
Also , it's a good thing both of us are tall & not short x)
And unlike SHIBUYA-AX , the 1 good thing about the 1st floor of Zepp Namba is that there were numerous barriers so it wasn't that bad .
As last Sat was the 1st instalment of BREAKERZ 10 Shunen 10ban Shoubu -VS- , I had no idea how the concert format was going to be like . But when the staff were setting up the stage , they brought out a very colourful microphone stand which many people including my sister says GRANRODEO & not BREAKERZ will perform 1st x)
Round 1 - GRANRODEO
At 5pm on the dot , the lights dimmed which signifies the start of the 1st instalment of BREAKERZ 10 Shunen 10ban Shoubu -VS- .
Before GRANRODEO 1st came onstage to perform , hilarious random trying to be serious but failed big time movie clips were aired & each groups were divided into 2 different colours
Red - GRANRODEO
Blue - BREAKERZ
Around this time , many people around my sister & I were trying to go in the front as much as possible to get closer to GRANRODEO .
When GRANRODEO eventually came out , I was pretty stoked as I myself have not seen them perform live & let alone , we were really near vocalist KISHOW & guitarist e-ZUKA . Even my sister said this's the closest she has seen them so upclose & personal .
GRANRODEO's standalone setlist
1) SEED BLASTER
2) Volcano
3) Darlin'
4) Can Do
5) Zetchou Poison
6) Urban sweet
7) Shounen no Hate
8) Ai no Warrior
9) ROSE HIP-BULLET
10) modern strange cowboy
11) Infinite Love
https://twitter.com/es146/status/822734491793780737?s=09
I had a crash course on listening to GRANRODEO's music before I attended BREAKERZ 10 Shunen 10ban Shoubu -VS- & as such , I was only familiar with their single songs . (Even though subsequently I feel that Volcano is really fun)
But the ones that GRANRODEO performed which I know , I really enjoy them . I was pleased they did ROSE HIP-BULLET , modern strange cowboy , Ai no Warrior as I like them .
The same thing goes with their latest single Shounen no Hate too . There were frankly a lot more GRANRODEO than BREAKERZ fans in the crowd , not to mention they were more hardcore & kept head banging/pushing/shoving when the duo performed :x
Vocals wise , KISHOW was really on point & e-ZUKA complimented KISHOW extremely well as I really liked the way e-ZUKA played the guitar onstage which's something only a capable seasonal guitarist veteran can accomplish .
GRANRODEO's standalone performance lasted about 1 hour 10 mins & the reason on why it's considerably short is because KISHOW was actually ill which he said during the MC (he had to go to the hospital last Sat morning to get drips pumped into his body) that took everyone by surprise .
If KISHOW never mentioned it , I would not know cos the dude really moved a LOT onstage o_O
Also last Sat was exactly 3 years that KISHOW quit smoking & during the MC , e-ZUKA jokingly
said he should quit women next haha
To me , KISHOW is a real true professional as GRANRODEO could have cancelled the concert but I supposed he didn't want to disappoint fans so hopefully he rested enough after last Sat's concert .
Round 2 - BREAKERZ
After GRANRODEO left the stage , the staff took about 10 mins to set up the stage before BREAKERZ's performance .
Same with GRANRODEO , the same hilarious random movie clip was shown but in this case , it featured the guys acting real serious & cool which naturally backfired a great deal x)
Before BREAKERZ came out to perform , in the movie clip , they were quoting songs from GRANRODEO which was pretty silly that made everyone laugh (lines like 'We would show everyone our Punky Funky Love , we want to make great Memories')
I was quite reserved when GRANRODEO performed as I only know their single songs but this time round , it's different as I know all of BREAKERZ's songs , inclusive of their album & B-side songs .
Just like their past live house concerts/tours , their longtime backup bassist MATSU & backup drummer MAKOTO came onstage 1st , followed by SHINPEI , AKIHIDE & last but not least DAIGO .
BREAKERZ's standalone setlist
1) WE GO
2) NO SEX NO LIFE
MC
3) Zettai ! I LOVE YOU
4) EMILY
5) BAMBINO ~Bambino~
MC ~ members intro
6) Tsukiyo no Itazura no Mahou
MC ~ Goods intro
7) New song - RODEO DRIVE
8) Can Do (GRANRODEO) short ver.
MC
9) Ikusen no Meikyuu de Ikusen no Nazo wo Toite
10) REAL LOVE 2010
11) Shakunetsu
12) DESTROY CRASHER
DAIGO wore a red coat like the 1 that he wore in YAIBA (I could do without the hair extensions on DAIGO's hair but at least there was no dreadlocks in place) . AKIHIDE's hairstyle was almost the same that he had during their GO era while SHINPEI wore sleeveless .
The guys' setlist was much longer than GRANRODEO's cos the MCs were quite long no thanks to DAIGO x)
To me , it was great that the guys performed NO SEX NO LIFE & EMILY as these 2 songs were solely for the old timer fans . I feel they should not start their setlist with WE GO as the response was quite lukewarm . They should have went with something else like Gekijou , BIG BANG ! & maybe even 0-ZERO- .
Likewise , I was quite surprised the guys chose to perform Zettai ! I LOVE YOU & BAMBINO ~Bambino~ as these 2 songs are always real fun , live versions wise . Even the hardcore GRANRODEO fans got in the fun as the hand dance moves are quite simple to follow x)
Hearing the live take of Ikusen no Meikyuu de Ikusen no Nazo wo Toite was fantastic as the guitar riffs were much more aggressive than what's found in the CD .
The song that really shocked me that BREAKERZ performed last Sat was not surprisingly , REAL LOVE 2010 & it was a bit weird that they sang it right after Ikusen no Meikyuu de Ikusen no Nazo wo Toite o_O
There was no DoM choker in the BREAKERZ 10 Shunen 10ban Shoubu -VS- concert goods list which made it even more surprising they chose to do REAL LOVE 2010 & needless to say , the GRANRODEO fans were so shocked when the last part happened 8D
Even though BREAKERZ didn't sang SUMMER PARTY and/or Sekai wa Odoru (my sister would loved to see them perform this last Sat) , I was pleased that they sang Tsukiyo no Itazura no Mahou as to me it's 1 of their best single songs in their discography .
MCs wise , DAIGO said SHINPEI has earned 10 different qualifications o_O & when he asked AKIHIDE what skill he want to attain , AKIHIDE said GRANRODEO's RIMFIRE , LOL
Also DAIGO said he's also a seiyuu like GRANRODEO's KISHOW & when he made that remark , everyone in the crowd laughed & DAIGO was saying how come everyone's laughing x)
When BREAKERZ was introducing some of the concert goods onstage , about the -VS- Vs Vinegar , DAIGO said only 24 bottles were made last Sat & the guys were worried if it would sell at all .
Also weirdly , DAIGO commented that the -VS- Vs Vinegar can be drunk on its own which I find it odd because I thought vinegar is supposed to be used for cooking but seeing that among the ingredients used to make -VS- Vs Vinegar is yuzu , maybe that's why ?
At that time during the MC , DAIGO said 19 bottles of the Vs Vinegar were sold . Subsequently after the concert finished , the last 5 Vs Vinegar bottles were sold out & it was the 4th concert good to sell out after the -VS- T-shirt , -VS- pin badge set & charity band .
With regards to the new song RODEO DRIVE , DAIGO said he wrote the song only last Sat's morning & the song was performed specially only for last Sat's concert .
And around this time , AKIHIDE started to play the guitar riffs of GRANRODEO's Can Do spontaneously & this made all the GRANRODEO fans excited as soon after that happened , BREAKERZ sang a short cover of Can Do which was quite cool .
Shakunetsu & DESTROY CRASHER are more or less standard songs BREAKERZ sang at the end of their concerts . I brought along my BREAKERZ LIVE TOUR 2012 "BEST" -LIVE HOUSE COLLECTION- muffler towel as I did not want to buy another muffler towel again .
And DESTROY CRASHER as per the norm , the live take of the song is always really insane & over the top .
Round 3 - GRANRODEO & BREAKERZ collaboration
For the encore segment , both bands came together onstage with everyone wearing the -VS- T-shirts & GRANRODEO's KISHOW wore sunglasses x)
GRANRODEO & BREAKERZ sang + covered 2 songs from each other's discography . They started out with BREAKERZ's CLIMBER x CLIMBER & they closed off the 1st BREAKERZ 10 Shunen 10ban Shoubu -VS- with GRANRODEO's The Other self .
All the while , I never quite like the CD version of CLIMBER x CLIMBER as I always prefer the live version/s of the song (let alone it's overshadowed by Tsukiyo no Itazura no Mahou significantly) & last Sat when both bands performed the song together , they took it to an all new level .
For GRANRODEO & BREAKERZ to perform CLIMBER x CLIMBER together , it was a real sight to behold and the highlight of last Sat's live take of the song was getting not 1 but 3 live solo guitar battles .
SHINPEI went 1st , followed by AKIHIDE & lastly e-ZUKA . That moment alone is easily 1 of the best if not my favourite part of the concert .
Likewise , I'm not surprised GRANRODEO's The Other self concluded the joint concert as this was 1 song that BREAKERZ singled out in the past quite a few times .
Somehow along the way , KISHOW lost his sunglasses which actually flew off from him into the crowd . He eventually got it back though x)
Inclusive of both bands' standalone performances , the entire 1st BREAKERZ 10 Shunen 10ban Shoubu -VS- lasted almost close to 3 1/2 hours which was really crazy but oh so fun . It was a good thing they started at 5pm & not 6pm haha
After both bands said their goodbyes to everyone , we were ushered out of the venue & I took these pictures before my sister & I left
The only flower bouquet I saw inside Zepp Namba
BREAKERZ 10 Shunen 10ban Shoubu -VS- concert goods were still on sale inside even after the concert finished
The -VS- Vs Vinegar was sold out a few seconds after I took the above photo
Display of the bath towel & muffler towel concert goods from afar
Before we exited Zepp Namba , everyone was given some GRANRODEO & BREAKERZ promo flyers + also this sticker
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All in all , it was tremendous fun attending the 1st instalment of BREAKERZ 10 Shunen 10ban Shoubu -VS- . Joint concerts I feel are tricky because only if you like all the artistes that perform , you will truly enjoy yourself & that you will get your $'s worth .
Prior to BREAKERZ 10 Shunen 10ban Shoubu -VS- , I don't listen to GRANRODEO's music but there's no doubt after what happened last Sat's , I'm onboard in listening to them as they have some really good songs in their discography .
As for BREAKERZ , it was great to see them perform onstage again . Seeing them performed for the 3rd time felt almost like the same experience when I 1st saw them performed , atmosphere & feeling wise .
When I 1st went to see BREAKERZ , it was when they were celebrating their 5th anniversary & this time round when I went back to see them again , it's in celebration of their momentum 10th anniversary which's such a surreal feeling as it felt like yesterday when I 1st started supporting them some 9 years ago .
Would I go for subsequent BREAKERZ 10 Shunen 10ban Shoubu -VS- concert/s ? I don't know but I'm so glad I was given the opportunity to attend the 1st 1 as I got to witness live performances from 2 extremely talented JRock groups .
Lastly , watching a BREAKERZ concert together was something that my sister & I wanted to do for the longest time . We said this before a few years ago & I remembered I said it would be great if we can go see BREAKERZ perform at their 10th anniversary .
And turns out in the end , we experienced the best of both worlds .
Mission accomplished on 21st Jan 2017 !
