This is up for no reason other than that it took me a really long time to write (I had to take many notes!) so it might as well go up here! It was originally a post on NP and I wrote it for people who didn't have a chance to watch the video, which I got from a friend. I especially liked the fan comments. Enjoy! ^^
To the theme of Atsuki, the camera pans around Los Angeles and the lines around the The Palace. The camera goes inside, and we see the crowd waiting breathlessly for B'z to come out at the beginning of the concert. We see B'z climbing up the steps backstage.
1. Go Fight Win
Music explodes! Tak makes his fierce Takboss face. Koshi unleashes a stunning scream.
You can hear the crowd loud and clear, much louder than in ABR. Well, the venue
is like a million times smaller!
2. Stay Green
3. Zero...for 20 seconds, then they cut to rehearsal in L.A.
Tak tells Shane "This is the brightest studio in Los Angeles!" I guess
because of all the windows. Tak wears a Tshirt that says "Japanese Ancient,
Native Traditions Reflecting Life." [It's my hobby to read Tak Tshirts]
4. Cut to San Diego, the beach, people in line. B'z wander around the empty
Canes. Shane: "Is this the smallest place you've performed at in your life?"
Koshi: "I think so! We've never played at a bar AND grill before!" *both laugh*
Cut to pumped up crowd. Koshi: "Sorry for the delay"
Clip of Go Fight Win, Giri Giri.
Zoom in on excited SD fans. One American holds up his Tak pick in triumph.
5. Fan Interview to theme of Konya, since she said this was one of her all time faves.
They show her B'z collection. "Their songs are put together
really well...and...I guess, the singing. Even though I don't understand Japanese,
he puts so much emotion into it, that you're able to connect to it. Because
he emotes a lot while he's singing. And their songs are really well written...
they've also done a large variety of styles, so it's hard to get bored listening
to their music. And they're just so consistently good."
She also says: "I think their music can cross language and cultural barriers...I don't think
it's a very big obstacle for them." She says she thinks it's wonderful they're
coming to the U.S. and hopes more people will be exposed to their music this
way. She also says she thought she would have to save up all this money to
go to Japan to see a LiveGym, it's amazing they're having a concert in L.A, she's only
seen their videos, which are incredible, she's really really excited about the
concert tomorrow night.
6. Back to L.A. "B'z no...B'z no..."
Gin no Tsubasa
7. Taiyou no Komachi Angel. "WE CAN SAY." Koshi illustrates what he means by
"push." He throws maracas.
8. Koshi: "Are we doing OK? Daijoubu desu ka? This is a song called Blue Sunshine."
Tak grins. Blue Sunshine.
9. Devil
10. Logic
There's a really cool guitar solo in this. And Koshi's English is dead on.
Part of the chorus goes "Talking talking never listening/Shouting as fast
as you can/Well it's logic making no sense at all"
This song could go easily in ELEVEN I think. It's pretty heavy.
11. Move to Tokyo October 5.
To theme of Calling, we see B'z arriving Benz. Tak is wearing that same
Japanese Ancient shirt.
At the concert, Koshi says something like I'm happy, you're happy.
Surfin' 3000GTR. Like I said before, Koshi licked that thing Tak was using to
make sounds on his guitar.
12. Koshi: "Shhh....whoa~~~ (without mic)" Crowd immediately recognizes
Calling. Don't you love how he always tosses away the mic stand for this?
13. Sept 25, Burbank, CA
Fan interview.
Nelson and Josh, who "love B'z and Japanese rock music."
They explain they studied abroad in Japan and got to know B'z there.
Nelson performs part of Konya, accompanying himself on guitar. They are
both wearing R&R shirts from last night's concert. We learn the painting
on the wall is done by Nelson's grandfather (eh? what's this to do with B'z?)
"When I get B'z posters I'm gonna put them here *shows space*. We can't find any!"
N: "With B'z there's so much energy to their music. You can say with
bands like KISS or old rock bands like B'z, but in America nowadays, we
don't have bands who are so into their music as people in Japan are."
J: "And, American rock music is depressing."
What do you think of Tak?
J: "Oh he's the best guitar players I've ever heard or seen. He's amazing."
N: " One of the best things besides Inaba's singing is his guitar playing. He is just
SO awesome! You just sit there and I was in awe watching him go crazy."
J: "He makes sounds you've never heard before on guitar!"
N: "I've never seen a band in America play so hard and with so much feeling. You can see
the Japanese work ethic, like how much they love to do what they do comes out
in their music."
They boys hold up a copy of Ultra Soul, and their PC wallpaper is Pleasure pic.
This whole interview they're playing Ultra Soul bg music, and at the end,
they cut to the end of Ultra Soul performance in L.A. The crowd is screaming
"Urutora Soul!" with Koshi.
Camera shows more lines around the Palace before the concert.
Then we see Kuni (guy in ABR with red hair, but here it's green).
Kuni: "This is Pat Torpey from Mr. Big."
Pat: Hello everyone.
Kuni: "This is Phil Soussan." Kuni: "This is Jeff Kollman." These are B'z
special invited guests I guess. Then we see Steve Vai going backstage
before the concert. Koshi poses for a photo with Steve and Billy.
Steve: Have a great show, guys!
14. Liar Liar
15. Samayoeru Aoi Dangan
16. Giri Giri Chop
Extended Billy and Tak solos.
17. Encore. Crowd shrieks when B'z come back out.
Koshi: "Thank you! So...let me introduce the band now, ok? *repeat in Japanese*
On the keyboard...Masuda Takanobu! On the bass guitar...Mr. Billy Sheehan!
On the drums...Shane Gaalaas! And on the guitar...TAK! Matsumoto!
Hontou saikou desu! We never expected so many people to come etc
Thank you so much!!"
His English here is entirely without accent.
18. Atsuki Kodou no Hate
Definitely one of the best crowd interaction songs in the whole concert.
After the acoustic part, these 2 guys hurry out to remove the stool Tak
was sitting on.
19. Juice
Tak and Billy face off in a little guitar duel and Koshi does the "Yeah yeah"
in ABR. They also got everyone to clap. Tak is wearing the black concert T
and Koshi the white one. The Tak ending solo is extended...they're in no
hurry to leave at all!
Koshi: Wooooo!! *throws water* Thank you!
Concert ends. T_T No, we don't want it to end!
Outside after the concert:
Guy in bandanna:
"Yeah, I knew B'z from before, I have some of their cds, and I listen to them in my car.
When I heard they were coming I couldn't believe it, I though it was a lie at first!
Next thing I know, it's true, so I did as much as I could just to get a ticket for me,
and for my friends, so I was able to come and I'm very glad I did. Tonight's show
was so awesome man! It's the first time I've seen a Japanese concert in LA, actually ever;
I've always wanted to. Thank you so much for this concert, it was awesome, and I look forward to seeing you again sometime soon!"
A girl: (Oro Oro Ken's sister I'm pretty sure if he's reading this)
"I'm a student, in high school, I'm from Seattle and I came all the way down for this
concert. Oh, it was really great. I wasn't expecting it to be like that but it was amazing. So
unique from anything I've seen before. *To B'z* I'm a huge of you, your concert was
amazing. Tak Matsumoto, you're the greatest guitarist out there right now.
And Koshi -- I...unbelievable. [Haha, she was speechless] Thank you so much!"
Guy outside San Diego:
"Thank you so much for coming to the U.S. Hope you're able to make it back because the concert
was great. The crowd interaction was awesome and you guys are totally cool. Hope
you come back."
Caucasian guy speaks in Japanese. I no understand!
Japanese girl with Caucasian guy:
She says something. Guy: "B'z wa saikou desu!"
Another couple:
Japanese girl says something. She turns to her boyfriend: "Say something!"
Guy: "Sugeeeee!!!"
Canes employee who looks overwhelmed:
"Oh they were awesome. They're awesome. High energy and just badass. The energy
was high, everyone was happy all the time, there were no problems all night long, and it
was a great show. I hope you guys come back soon!"
Another Canes employee; this one is hyper.
"First time ever and I LOVED IT, loved it! It was really good, I enjoyed it a lot.
I work here and I see a lot of bands and they were really really good. (Voice
offscreen: Compared to other bands?) Oh! Compared to a lot of bands! I've seen hundreds of shows
and this was probably in the top 5. It was THAT good. I couldn't understand but
I was all like...yeah! *pretends to be rocking out*
Konya pv director, outside the Palace:
"My name is Mark Webb, and I directed one of the B'z videos, for Tonight to
the Moonlit Hill. Unfortunately I can't pronounce it in Japanese. Well, it would be
great to incorporate the intensity of the fan base because they have such loyal
and excited fans. It's cool to be in that environment. They could probably benefit
from doing some more live stuff ~ it seems to be where they excel."
Britney Spears lookalike outside the Palace:
"Hello, my name is Katie Stuart, I'm 18, and I go to USC." She just signed a
contract with Giza (Being Co. offshoot that Kuraki Mai belongs to).
"I just got back from the B'z show and it was awesome. I saw them in Yokohama c
couple of weeks ago and it's really awesome to see a group rock a big concert hall
and then do a more intimate setting and still connect with the audience."
Then she talks about what she can learn from B'z as a musician.
Finishing shots of LA and the studio to theme of Atsuki.
Billy, after the Tokyo concert 10/5:
"One of the coolest things I ever did in my whole life was doing this tour with B'z
the summer of 2002. We had a riot. The day after tomorrow I go back to LA...see my
kitty cat. I don't know when I'll come back to Japan again. I hope it's soon."
Shane in the studio, carefully rolling up an autographed GFW poster:
"It's been an amazing tour, the most amazing tour of my entire life. I had an
amazing summer. Wow! I have this to hang up and frame on my wall at home. *holds
up poster* It's gonna be great!" *Reads B'z no Livegym 2002, give thumbs up*
Credits roll.
Hm, the adjective most often used by people to describe B'z activity seems to
be AMAZING. This video really captures what it was like to be at the live.
Very close to B'z.
And I still cannot believe I went to that concert. Please come back to Los Angeles,
B'z!!!!