Music in Japan

One of the things that made me happiest about going to Japan was the opportunity to see all kinds of bands that I would never normally have been able to see. Visual kei bands don't really tour in the USA all that often. So I've been trying to go see as many bands as I can; after all, once I leave Japan I probably won't be able to do this anymore. It's expensive sometimes, but still worth it to me.

I've seen a lot of shows since I got here:
- Antique Cafe (at Club Fleez, really fun, Miku did a lot of cute MCing, they put on some ridiculous skit about rabbits, saying ii ichiban usagi, instead of onna, and they really rocked the place. I couldn't deal with the crazy para-para but it was still super-fun. I hadn't expected that much from them, I thought they were just kinda fluffy, but they were really good)
- Ogre You Asshole (also at Club Fleez, not really a VK band, just straight-ahead indies, they call themselves post-punk which is fair enough. I actually saw them when I went to an Art School show, but they were way better than Art School, I thought, just a lot more interesting and enthusiastic. The lead singer was very charismatic with his weird voice and intense looks. I bought their CD from him, he was super cute.)
- Random bands (at Takadanobaba Area and Club Fleez, nothing too special, but generally still fun.)
- Ayabie (at Club Fleez, they weren't too exciting, to be honest, but I didn't know them that well to begin with, so oh well.)

But the band I really wanted to see finally went on tour and I decided to go all out... two Merry shows in one weekend! I decided to become an obsessive fan, and do the whole "follow the band around the country" in some small way at least once in my life. Hey, why not? I've got enough cash at the moment, and I probably won't for quite some time after I leave Japan...

Mito Lighthouse, 12/8

So on Saturday, I took the 9 AM train into the city and went on a four hour train ride to Mito, in Ibaraki prefecture. I was going to meet a nice girl there named Yun, who had kindly agreed to sell me the tickets. She sold them to me for the same price the venue was selling them (before it sold out)--4200 yen. And they were pretty decent tickets too--A130. Yun told me she was a student at a university in Saitama, and that she tutored at a cram school, teaching history and English. She was there with her friend who had bleached blonde hair and a somewhat vacant stare.

I arrived at about 3:00 in order to buy the tickets from Yun (the concert started at 6) and so I was there when a few of the band members arrived at the venue. I saw Gara! Yeah, that was exciting. Anyways, when I got inside I realized the Lighthouse was absolutely tiny--I was so glad! However, it had two floors, so they could squeeze quite a few people inside. I got fairly close to the front, and right in the middle, although I could have gotten even closer if I hadn't had to go to the bathroom... I had to wait there forever! Girls take so long in the bathroom. Why?

Anyways, the concert was amazing. I was RIGHT in front of Gara, and the place was so small he was probably only 5 or so feet away. The others were pretty close as well, but it was hard to see Nero (my favorite boy!) because he was placed down low, behind the drumkit. But I could see him during MCs.

Anyways, I am terrible at remembering set lists. This is all I can remember, in random order.

Yellow Girl
Violent Harenchi
Japanese Modernist
Bluesy Night
Sweet Powder*
TOP*

* Not sure about these...

I was so happy, because they played Bluesy Night and Yellow Girl! Those are two of my favorite Merry songs! Bluesy night was particularly awesome. It's an amazing song, rock with jazz influences, and Gara's voice is so strange and beautiful and raw. I really like his voice. The rest of the concert was an excellent blend of hard songs and calm ballad-type songs (as far as Merry does ballads) so I didn't get TOO exhausted, but I was right in the middle of the pit. Japanese Modernist and TOP were pretty hardcore considering how much of the audience consisted of tiny Japanese girls. Although, actually, there were a lot of guys there--generally there are more guys at Merry concerts than your more traditional VK concerts, I find. It was a more mainstream crowd in general, not that there's anything wrong with that, of course. Yay for hot boys in the mosh pit!

At any rate, the concert was amazing, like I said. I used to find the whole hand movement/para para thing really awkward, but now I am totally into it. We did all sorts of crazy movements. It really gives you a sense of accomplishment when you know how to stay in sync with those movements. At first, it's really confusing, but there's a set number of different moves that are put together in various ways, so you do eventually get the hang of it. It's very Japanese in that it gives the whole audience and the band something to be a part of. Mosh pits in America can be violent, almost combative, but Japanese concerts are all about the unity--cliche as that might be.

Fun things that happened at the concert:

-- Lots of audience singing. They are really good... man, I can't remember Japanese lyrics so I feel like a jerk.
-- Gara brought out a piece of toast with jam on it... which he then smeared on his nipple. (He had taken off his shirt by this point.
-- When Nero was talking to the audience he messed up when saying something and banged his head on his drumset... aww, so adorable!
-- Yuu (? I'm pretty sure) does a lot of back up singing on various songs, and sometimes at this concert he would do all the singing. He has a nice voice! But not as good as Gara...
-- Apparently Gara talks now? He shouts things, anyways. And he really seemed to be into the Mito concert especially, because he even smiled! Aww, it was so sweet!
-- After the last encore, the band was all taking pictures with fans in the background. My hand may well be in those pictures, heh. Yuu took a picture with his cell phone, silly boy!
-- I was wondering what was up with all the pictures, and it seems to be the case that you can buy a picture of each member, from each concert on the tour, via 7-11. It's hard to make out because my Japanese is not so much of the goodness, but I'm going to give it a try! If I'm understanding correctly, that's a pretty cool idea.
-- Gara got delightfully sweaty and licked his shoulder, among other things. He makes me laugh. I kinda wondered what all the boys there thought about that...
-- Nero often talks to the audience, but I can't understand anything he says.
-- Tetsu is amazing. Seriously, I can't believe he's actually that hot in real life. Also, they did various instrumental solos and his bass solo was fucking awesome.
-- Yuu gave a little speech at the end of the concert... I think he made some kind of corny pun about the city's name, Mito. Heh.

All together there were three encores, and the live lasted about 2 and a half hours... pretty good value, if you ask me! They played a lot of stuff from the new album, I think.

After the concert, I headed to Tokyo. It's about a 2 hour trip, but it wasn't too bad. Luckily, there were no line changes--my stop was one the line directly from Mito station to Ueno, so it worked out very well. I got to my nice hotel and just chilled there before going to sleep.

Yokohama Bay Hall, 12/9

The next day I spent some time shopping in Tokyo. I though about improving my mind via museums, but I had no energy. Instead, I went to the used book store and a Uniqlo. I spent a lot of time trying, futilely, to find a certain restaurant, but I eventually failed after an hour or so (I am very stubborn.) But instead, I ended up going to this random "American-style" restaurant, called Zest. The outside was faux-corrugated cardboard, painted to look rusted, with random vintage Americana signs on the front. They had overpriced, undersized enchiladas that were nonetheless delicious. I don't even like enchiladas, but being unable to acquire it gives me a craving for all Mexican food. Then I went to good old Harajuku, and just hung out there for a while. It was a beautiful day, blue and clear, as it has been for quite a few weeks recently. I watched some concerts and checked out the rockabilly dancers, then headed for Yokohama.

By coincidence, my first ever merry concert was also at the Bay Hall, last year, at about exactly the same time of year. Deja vu! But luckily, that meant I knew exactly how to find the place, as it's quite tricky to find. It's in a kinda sketchy looking industrial area, on, I suppose, the bay. The venue is quite a bit bigger than the Mito Lighthouse, and it's got these annoying big posts in the middle of the floor. Alas, I had a crappy number (B 30) so I ended up quite far at the back. But I had to leave this concert a bit early (to catch the last train) so that was just as well. But I had a pretty decent view, really--just a bunch of short Japanese girls in front of me, and I was right in the center again. I was able to see all the members, but especially got a clear view of Nero! Yay! He's super-cool.

Anyways, this concert was also pretty great. It was a little annoying, though, because doors opened at 5:00, practically everyone was inside by 5:20 or so, and it didn't start until 6... way too much waiting around. But they started right on time, at least. I was really happy though, that I got to see almost all of the concert. I left after the second encore, but I made it through most of it! (I ended up missing the last train back home anyways... bummer.) Anyways, the set list at this concert was definitely different, with some repeats. No bluesy nights, unless they played it in the third encore.

Pretty much all I can remember is...
TOP
Blind Romance
Yellow Girl
Japanese Modernist
Utagoe Kissa
etc. etc.

Yuu sung a lot at this concert as well. He also did something crazy to his hair so it was all standing up in spikes. It was pretty hot, he should do that more often. Most of the rest was quite similar to last concert. Gara likes to take off his jacket, then his shirt, and then just end up wearing a jacket over his bare chest. It's kinda hot... I approve. But he's sooooo skinny, it's a little disturbing. During one encore he was wearing a Merry tshirt and it must have been like an extra small! Jeez.

Tetsu looked really good at this concert, nice suit and jacket combo, but! He never ever smiles. Anyways, this concert was really fun too, but I think the Mito one was better--everyone was just SO into it there, band and fans alike. Someone even went crowd-surfing! You almost never see that at Japanese concerts (or at least not at VK concerts.)

As I mentioned, I had to leave after the second encore to catch the last train. I did catch that one--to Yokohama--and the next one to Akabane--and the next one--to Takasaki. But I did not catch the train back to Numata, which meant I had to stay in Takasaki for the night. An expensive mistake, because I ended up staying at the Toyoko Inn. Even with their late-night Cinderella special, it costs about 4000 yen per night for a single. But it was really comfortable--worth it, even though I was only there for about 5 hours. I had to wake up at 5:30 to get back to Numata--and back to work--but 8:20. It wasn't a fun day, I can tell you that. Still, the concert was amazing. I hope I can go to the Takasaki one--on the 22nd. I'm trying to buy tickets now.