FIRST GIG "ADVENT"
November 4, 2001
This live was NEW SODMY's first one-man and also officially their first live as NEW SODMY (rather than as WEREWOLF). It was held at Shibuya ON AIR WEST. It opened at 5:00 and was supposed to start at 6:00 but the music didn't actually begin till about 6:15. Also, there was a bag check again upon entering the livehouse, as expected, so don't be figuring on any more pictures from the lives from now on. >_< When I first got into the livehouse, I was in the back with Juillet-san, but I decided to move forward after all and was perhaps about halfway between the stage and the back when they started. I stood slightly to the right of the middle/KAMIJO-sama (that is, on AYA-kun's side), so I could easily see the whole stage from where I was. ^^
The band
They entered to a pretty dark stage, AYA-kun, YOU-kun, MAYU-kun, and finally KAMIJO-sama. Even in the dark, I could tell right away they were wearing different clothes from the usual...AYA-kun was obviously in something furry. Throughout the first song, the stage remained dark, so I couldn't actually make anything out about their appearance till the second song (and later, as I noticed stuff), but I'll describe everything here. AYA-kun was wearing a gray-brown jacket that came down to about his hips with gray fur trim (collar, front, and sleeves). Under that, he had a black and white collared shirt and black pants. He was also wearing a silver thumb ring on his right hand. ^^ YOU-kun had a wine-reddish suit jacket and black shirt and pants and had on his usual necklace. MAYU-kun also wore black shirt and pants and had a gray and black fur coat on that came down to about his hips. He was using his Randy V, too. ^^ KAMIJO-sama had a black leather jacket that may have been long (didn't really notice) and a black shirt and shiny black pants with a snakeskin pattern. For accessories, he wore only the cross necklace and the earring on his right ear. None of the members had any markings that I could see (like KAMIJO-sama's red eye at the 10/13 live). As for hair, AYA-kun's was the same as before (the eye-length version), and MAYU-kun was a la recent Vicious and FOOL'S MATE (somewhat spikey). KAMIJO-sama and YOU-kun have both cut their hair somewhat (Juillet-san said they were already like this at the 10/28 Rock Love event). KAMIJO-sama's bangs are about the same length as AYA-kun's now. YOU-kun's are a bit shorter and the hair covers the whole forehead (as opposed to being split to the right as before). BTW, AYA-kun's bangs aren't really split so much anymore either. All of it looks really good. ^^
The live
They played for longer than I had expected. Altogether, the live was nearly 90 minutes long. I translated the MCs as usual. As before, for the MC translations, what was going on onstage is between asterisks * *, the audience's reaction is in brackets [ ], explanations are in ( ), and my personal notes are in braces { }.
1. mousouko
Wow, this is a really beautiful song. It's slow and romantic, reminiscent of LAREINE. There was a long instrumental intro, during which the members entered. It's also unfortunately really short, so I was wondering if it was just a prelude written specifically for this live, but KAMIJO-sama appeared to include it in his song count in the first encore's MC, so hopefully, it'll be on the album. ^^
2. ADVENT
They went straight into "ADVENT". KAMIJO-sama introduced it simply by saying the title during AYA-kun's intro, but I don't think he needed to. ^^ It was *really* slow (bad AYA-kun!). Near the beginning, KAMIJO-sama took a blue rose and sang with it. Then he tossed and caught it before returning it to its owner. ^^ AYA-kun was headbanging a bit, hehe. It was good to see him more active. During the instrumental (I think), AYA-kun came forward and raised both of his fists above his head...very cool. YOU-kun was moving around a bit too.
3. MC 1
4. Miss CARMILA
During the introduction MC, I had no idea what song KAMIJO-sama could possibly be referring to. But when the guitar started up for this song, I thought, "Hm, this sounds familiar...ah! It's 'Miss CARMILA'!!" Never expected them to play this song! ^^ What a present for LAREINE fans. It turns out that KAMIJO-sama really is saying what I thought he was saying in this song, and I didn't mishear his English after all. ^^ ("Let's go bunny hunting!" "Where's my bunny?" "I got your bunny!") Anyway, KAMIJO-sama's singing had distortion as it does in SCREAM. AYA-kun and YOU-kun switched sides for a while and then they came together in the middle and played next to each other. ^^ I think AYA-kun also gave us the middle finger, but I'm not sure because I couldn't see it that well. This time, it was YOU-kun who was headbanging. ^^ And the most amazing thing I saw was...for a few lines near the end, I caught AYA-kun mouthing the lyrics! ^^ At the end of the song, KAMIJO-sama got something from the drum stand, and when he shouted, "I got your bunny!", he turned and held up a stuffed rabbit with a pink shirt on by its ears! When the music ended, he said, "Dear my Audrey" (introduction for "Audrey") and threw the rabbit. It landed near me. *sigh* Apparently, he threw it to someone specific, and that someone is a *guy*. >_<
5. Audrey
A nice song (as they all are). It sounds a bit more on the cheerful side. At one point, when KAMIJO-sama was reaching out his hand (in conjunction with the lyrics), he looked as if he was looking right at me! Hehe, that was a great feeling, even if he was looking somewhere else. ^^
6. MC 2
7. Refrain
The lyrics to this song are simply amazing. (Check them out from my main NEW SODMY page.) Apparently, at the ROCK LOVE talk event on 10/28, KAMIJO-sama mentioned that the speaker in the song is jealous of the sky, hence why "Refrain" is on JEALOUSY. During the instrumental, KAMIJO-sama stood absolutely still, holding the mic in front of his chest with both hands...really beautiful and peaceful-looking. He also missed singing "kasuka na" but whether he forgot the lyrics or what, I couldn't tell. At the end of the song, all the members (including the drummer) went offstage except for MAYU-kun, who went to the back to do something with his guitar (switching? I couldn't see).
8. Instrumental
First, MAYU-kun sat/knelt at the front of the stage in the center to play a solo (with an orchestral background). It appeared to be a variation on "Retrouvaille no bansan" from the FIERTE album. Unfortunately, because he was sitting, no one except for the people in the front could see his hands. >_< Nevertheless, it was nicely done. When he was done, he also went offstage and the drummer came back on and proceeded to start playing a rhythm. I was a bit confused at this point, wondering if he was supposed to be doing a drum solo even though he wasn't a member. After several repeats, YOU-kun came on with his bass! He started playing a single-note line and shouted, "kore kara __ iku ze! (In English:) Three, two, one!" Then he went into his bass solo (with the drums). He was all over the place during his solo. It was awesome (but of course I'm biased towards bass ^^). Near the end of it, he started from our left and ran all the way across the stage with an outstretched hand. Lucky people at the front! Soon afterwards, AYA-kun walked on with what looked like his middle finger up again (once again, I'm not sure). AYA-kun played along with YOU-kun for a short while and then MAYU-kun came on and played too. Finally KAMIJO-sama entered and shouted...er, something. ^^; MAYU-kun threw his pick. ^^ And over on our left, there was someone who had a fan (one of the folding ones) and KAMIJO-sama tried to get her to give it to him by motioning, but she didn't. >_< One more thing...I didn't actually notice this till the next song, but I'll say it here. When the members came back on, they were dressed in their regular clothes (the same ones they wore at previous lives).
9. MC 3
10. CAT WALK
What an awesome song! It's pretty heavy, much like "Miss CARMILA". You can really move to it. ^^ Just by the feel of it and what lyrics I managed to catch, it seems to be a suggestive song...? The first instrumental part in it somehow reminds me of X and it's got cool bass...I'll have to watch YOU-kun for that next time. ^^ When the song started, KAMIJO-sama did a fairly impressive jump-spin. ^^ Then he went over to AYA-kun, but he didn't do anything this time. During the second instrumental, he did two fast rap-like things with really odd accenting that made them pretty impossible to understand. Between the two, he shouted "Sexy, sexy!" ^^ For that part, he had a cool expression on his face...like really wide eyes that made him look a little scary...or something. ^^; Shortly thereafter, he and YOU-kun shouted "Cat walk!" together...off the same mic, hehe. ^^ YOU-kun and AYA-kun played together again here. I saw AYA-kun beckoning to the second floor, too. ^^ And like "Refrain", it sounded like KAMIJO-sama missed a few words in the lyrics near the end.
NOTE: Writing this well after the fact (several months and performances after ^^;), there are a few differences I notice now. This one performance of "CAT WALK" was considerably faster than what they play now. The second performance this night was much more the speed at which it's done now. Also, instead of "kiss, kiss, kiss, kiss", it was just "kiss, kiss" at this time. Plus, instead of "arukou ze", it was "odorou ze".
11. MC 4
12. Frame
At the live, I had trouble with this title despite the context from the introductory MC. I thought KAMIJO-sama said "flame". But when Juillet-san and I were talking about the live later, she said it was supposed to be "frame". (Well, she couldn't say it either. ^^; But it's the thing around a picture, not a fire.) The song's hard to describe, but it's on the heavy side. MAYU-kun's guitar sounded a little unsteady in the instrumentals. Actually, MAYU-kun made a lot of mistakes during the live. ^^; Nerves?
13. farewell
I've found that I like the live version of this song more than the recorded version. ^^ Right as MAYU-kun began his part of the instumental, KAMIJO-sama murmured something, but it was too quiet for me to catch. MAYU-kun made a major mistake in this solo. It was just one note, but considering how beautiful the instrumental is... Oops. *cringe*
14. MC 5
15. A way of life
This is a gorgeous song. I wonder if this is the one they were saying (also from the ROCK LOVE event) would pull at our hearts...it's really moving, even without understanding the lyrics. AYA-kun had some really nice guitar parts in this song, including the instrumental, where he actually played a melody rather than just doing riffs. After the solo, KAMIJO-sama put his hand on AYA-kun's shoulder as he sang. (I can't help but notice these things. ^^)
16. Romantic Season
During the intro, KAMIJO-sama said, "It's a little early, but we, NEW SODMY, will send everyone a Christmas song. Please listen. From JEALOUSY, 'Romantic Season'." Before he started singing, KAMIJO-sama *smiled* and waved to us. ^^ MAYU-kun used a different guitar progression from the 10/13 live this time for the second line of the verse. I like the new one much more and hope that's how they recorded it. ^^ During the first instrumental, KAMIJO-sama tapped MAYU-kun and indicated the front center of the stage, but I don't think MAYU-kun moved. ^^; Later, KAMIJO-sama beckoned for YOU-kun to come forward, which he did, but then KAMIJO-sama moved towards where YOU-kun had been. =P KAMIJO-sama also took a blue rose, kissed it, and said "Arigatou" ("Thank you"). (I think he gave the rose back, based on what I wrote later in my notes...) At the end, he put his hand over his eyes as if to block sunlight and looked out over my section and we waved at him. ^^
17. MC 6
18. squall
At the beginning, KAMIJO-sama took a blue rose again (the same one?) and set it on the drum stand. During the first line of the first verse ("ishidatami..."), he knelt in front of MAYU-kun and sang up at him! It was adorable! I think MAYU-kun smiled back at KAMIJO-sama. ^^ Right before the guitar instrumental, KAMIJO-sama shouted "AYA!" and AYA-kun played the solo. ^^ After the second bridge ("Ah...dare mo ga..."), there was a break in the singing so just the instruments were going. KAMIJO-sama went to the drum stand to get his water bottle and then he walked to the front of the stage on my side with it. The fans were reaching out as if they wanted him to throw it. He drew it back so cutely and said/mouthed "Dame!" ("No way!"). *lol!* However, KAMIJO-sama also forgot the lyrics at the end ("tsukamaete...boku no"). He tried to come back in the middle of the line, but he couldn't and he made a face. ^^; With the final notes of the song, YOU-kun came forward and waved.
Encore 1
19. MC 7
20. actor
KAMIJO-sama took some blue and red roses from the fans and offered them to YOU-kun ^^ before setting them down on the drum stand. During the first half of the instrumental, KAMIJO-sama introduced the members and then right after he said, "Yes, we are NEW SODMY," there was a burst of confetti. Ah, that stuff is impossible to catch. =P At the end, both YOU-kun and AYA-kun threw picks.
Encore 2
21. MC 8
22. CAT WALK
This time was a bit slower than before. KAMIJO-sama started off by beckoning to the audience. Then during the course of the song, he had fanservice (just an arm around the shoulders) with AYA-kun and MAYU-kun. ^^ Once again, KAMIJO-sama sang and YOU-kun shouted "Cat walk" together, but on different mics this time. Again, AYA-kun threw a couple picks at the end. As the members were leaving, KAMIJO-sama took AYA-kun's arm. ^^
After the live
This time, Juillet-san and I waited for the band a ways down the street, hoping to catch the band at the light again. Ergh, we should've waited at the livehouse. They came down the street in a taxi...I think KAMIJO-sama was in the passenger seat, AYA-kun was behind the driver, and YOU-kun was behind KAMIJO-sama. Well, the light happened to be green when they came, so the taxi basically sped right past us, and we were only able to catch a glimpse of AYA-kun. Ah, well. ^^;
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