Forestier
Guitar/Bass/Vocal/Guitar/Drums... more forest-like than any
other band!
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I forgot
to mention one -positive- thing about 7th Avenue Yokohama in my recent
rantings: they've got the nicest print design and online design of
any club I've been too! http://www2.big.or.jp/~7th/contents.html
But
enough about them, let's get on to Takadanobaba AREA again, which
proved to be a pretty cool night.
First
band up was Forestier. They weren't bad in any particular way, but
they just didn't grab me. They singer had a cool/slick look going,
and the drummer played parts of songs standing up, which was pretty
frickin' cool, but otherwise, "eh." Although being the first
band on stage does tend to dull the knife's edge of a performance
somewhat, having to hack through all that teen 'tude in the audience!
Forestier's
Guitarist
Oh, and there's the drummer hiding in the back there!
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Next
band, and the one I came to see (because it's their second to last
live): Beata. They kinda had a La Mule-ish style going on with the
white workclothes splashed in blood, and the puffed up hair (which,
actually, I -think- I'm seeing less and less of, gradually -- the
ease of NOT putting up every hair is winning to over the coolness
of having it up. Maybe.) And the songs were pretty cool. And the singer
was maniacal but not overly so. Plus he was very friendly (in an evil
way) and quite the ham,fronting for the cameras in the audience a
lot.
Beata
had some pretty cool songs, as well, so that's always a plus. A few
less cool ones too, but shit, that's true of every band in the world!
And one smaller point: the backing vocals were done to great effect;
they really added something to the songs they appeared in.
Third
band: Laffine. I'm listening to their CD right now, so that should
tell you something. But I'm also a little disappointed by their CD,
so that should also tell you something!
But
to start with, when the curtain pulled back from the stage, rather
than bursting forth as most bands do, or walking onto the stage, they
were SITTING in the middle of the stage playing cards or chatting
or something! Jokingly, of course, but it was an original, memorable
introduction to the band. And of course, they acted like, "Oh!
Ah! We're on! Quick, get to your instruments!" I dug it.
They
then did a few tunes, kinda mid-tempo slower stuff, a bit Gackty I
suppose (certainly the singer is or was a big Gackt fan at some point
in his life!) and then they broke for a brief little comedy exchange
between the singer and bassist, which most of the audience enjoyed
quite a bit if the volume of their laughter is any measure. And then
they did a few more tunes...
Overall
the songs were a bit more somber, but not slow or boring ballads;
there also weren't any of those superfast Zan-style fist-in-the-air
type deals. There WERE however a number of tunes that had very cool
galloping Iron Maideny riffs, which I wish I could hear more of in
visual bands. And while some of the guitar solos were textbook Yngwie
(i.e., fast but extremely forgettable), other solos made good use
of the guitarists' sweep picking skills and did that more memorable
storytelling beginning-middle-end sort of solo that -I'd- do if I
could play so fast. So I bought the CD...
Only
to discover that both guitarists are only support guitarists; not
actual band members... and that the heavier songs I dug (which I wager
were written by the guitarists) don't appear on the three-track disc!
D'oh!
But
they do have a cool website (http://tokyo.cool.ne.jp/laffine)
and once I see that the support guitarists (or at least HAL, who was
really cool) are official members, and that some of their heavier
songs are on the next setlist, I'll definitely check them out again.
The comedy thing I liked a bit, although, lacking any comprehension
of what they're saying at ALL, I'm also a bit torn on the subject...
but as long as it's under 60 seconds, go for it, says I... as long
as Laffine isn't some pun relating to Laughter and Caffiene.
Speaking
of which, after Laffine, I think I finally left my spot to go get
a Pepsi! Not beer, because I'm still not operating at 100%... although
after drumming earlier in the day at rehearsal, I did feel better.
(And over the weekend, when I also wasn't feeling so hot, just picking
up my Aiji-model guitar and playing random songs was curative... behold
the power of music!)
Next
band up: Garruda!
<<<prev
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Me
and That Beata Vocalist
Jeez, I totally totally don't know his name! A fine chap though!
Chatting up a couple very charmed high school girls immediately
prior to the photo snap as well, I might add, the lucky bastard!
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HAL
and I
Cataloging our favorite metal bands like it's going out of style!
I should also thank the two girls he was talking for not beating
me up when I interrupted their conversation with my hoots of
"Heavyyyyy Metaaaaallllll! Wooooo!!!"
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The
Laffine Rhythm Section, and Me
Miyu (or Miya?) on drums, me, and Hyo on da bass. Thanks to
that chick for taking the shot, it's perfect, ne! ^_^
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