L’arc~en~Ciel – my HK experience (L’7~Trans ASIA via PARIS~)

Finally, the day I’ve waited for two months has passed – May 24, 2008 – Laruku’s first concert in HK, which was relatively cheap and therefore a big yay! for me. Finally went to Asia World Expo to watch my favorite band perform live onstage. Now, on fangirl mode:

The concert was a BLAST (insert all other possible superlatives J )!!! It’s a good thing that I’m as prepared as I could be…mastered the reported set list (although it was not fully followed but that’s okay) and watched (and re-watched) as many of the past Laruku concerts, even observing the choreo of the audience (don’t want to be left out). It was a surreal experience, there are times during the concert that I can’t believe that I’m really watching them, and then I’ll shift my focus on the screen on the side and see Hyde’s face and then it’ll hit me. It was pure adrenaline for two hours, I spouted of lyrics which I hoped were right but don’t care eitherway.

Thank God I didn’t cry, or else I’ll be a wreck…although I really thought I would cry before I even left for HK. When I heard the opening notes for Get Out from the Shell and THEN saw their silhouettes, my eyes suddenly filled up…shet, silhouette pa lang yun…and then I just covered my face for a brief moment to stop them from spilling out. Then I realized that I would really succumb to tears if I suddenly get emo while they’re playing, so I consciously tried not to get all melancholy while watching them.

Also got to meet a friend from the Twilight group (sa HK pa nagkita! Haha) and other Filipinos who love the band. It was so great! I spent a lot from the merchandise but I don’t care…too bad they ran out of the free fan from the Kiss album…Hyde was hot there.

General highlights:

Now I realize that the right arm movement choreography was no fake, people really do it in their concerts…then I discovered that their fingers move when making the forward motion instead of being tight-fisted…crap I can’t explain it well here. Where did they get that much energy? I mean I’m pumped up during the concert but I can’t make my right arm do that motion for a whole song…nangalay talaga ako, hehe

I love the impromptu audience wave during the intermission, hehe. And I think we all did it more than 10 times from opposite directions, with the whole arena clapping after each successful wave is done…I don’t think that’s possible in a concert in the Philippines, hehe

I really lost my dignity for two hours, well it was slightly dark and no one knew me so I guess it was a clear enough chance for me to go crazy.

HYDE is HOT!!!

Song highlights:

Get Out from the Shell – this is a great opening for the whole concert, and I remembered this song since I saw it used in a commercial for a car years ago. I wasn’t a fan then, but I already recognized the name of the band due to Rurouni Kenshin. Kind of a full circle moment right from the start.

Driver’s High – second song and will always be a staple in any Laruku concert…one of my favorite songs…and I was really on a high and so happy when all the fans jumped and screamed during Crash! And Flash! parts, hehehe. Of course I jumped (and screamed) with them and was a bit happy that those in the arena are familiar with the concert choreo (that’s what I use to term them)

My Heart Draws a Dream – this is my latest LSS from the Kiss album and I always get goosebumps from this one. I said to myself when I first heard this song (knowing that they will perform it) that this is the other song that will potentially reduce me to tears (aside from their last song in the list, Anata). True enough, my eyes filled up again when they sang this, especially when they let the audience sing the line: yume wo egaku yo…of course I sang with them, waving my right hand to the beat, got all emo but still did not cry. My favorite was the ending part because it reminded me of the ending part of Fourth Avenue Café.

Revelation – I love this song because of the slightly metal rock slant to it, and I love the audience participation again, especially when Hyde made us jump a couple of times. I was pretending I was Yukihiro the whole time although I knew that I sucked at playing the drums when I tried it before.

Stay Away – one of my favorite songs…I would have to say that when I heard this song I really confirmed that I’m a Laruku fan. And they did it in Formation A (I think) wherein each member gets to sing a part of the song so it was so cool…I almost hoped Hyde would dance like he did in the music video.

Honey – My bro’s favorite song…this song was memorable during the concert because the dude who was standing at my back was just steady throughout the concert but got really hyper and sang a lot during this song…so I guess that’s his favorite, hehe.

Link – another recent LSS from Kiss album…I expected that there’s going to be a clapping sequence like in their music video but I guess it’s not that widespread since a few people did the clapping part (including me, hehe)

Anata – wow I love this song, this is on of my favorite ballads of Laruku (next to White Feathers which is still my favorite Laruku song, and Hitomi no Juunin) and I’m glad they sang it instead of Pieces (which I thought they would sing) since I’m more familiar with the former and therefore I easily sang the song. Again, when they let the audience sing the chorus my face crumpled again, letting myself be in emo mode (coz then I just suddenly realized that this could be the ONLY time I’ll get to see them live), but thankfully did not cry. But my hands were shaking so much…

Band highlights:

Crap I really love this band! I don’t know what their image is in Japan, but I really love their work. And these guys are almost in their 40’s! I love it!

Hyde – where do I start? The moment I saw him I was so stoked (rarely used that word) that he’s sporting my most favorite hairstyle of his…and the bangs! He was so cute when he was really struggling with his Cantonese MC, and what’s really great is that he really tried to perfect it. Hay, he really has charisma, there’s no way to say it fully, he definitely has this pull (over my heart? Haha) And his movements! I won’t elaborate or else you’ll think I’m sick…but he’s…wow…(is it obvious that I love him?)…and his voice…grabe, yun lang! You could really feel his emotion on every song, with every gesture that he does. I was planning to write longer about him in this, but then again, it’s really hard to express it in paper. Did I mention that he was hot?

Ken – he’s my second fave member of the band since he made the music for White Feathers hehehe. I love it when he threw his paper (containing his MC script) out of frustration since he cannot pronounce the words correctly. He’s such a rebel, hehe

Tetsu – and his trademark banana! The moment he emerged from the side stage for his MC, bringing a banana, I suddenly shouted, “Tetsu! BANANA!” which actually sounds weird if taken out of context. Asa pa ko na umabot sa kin yung saging di ba? And he was really moving a lot on stage, really glad that I get to see his concert moves recreated live (as opposed to watching them on tv)

Yukihiro – I also love this guy and his reserved manner, man he kicks ass on the drums!

So there, that is my first (and hopefully not last) Laruku experience…I do hope I will have another chance to watch them, but I was already glad with this one since I already eliminated all hope before that I will get to watch them live. I’m really happy that the organizers priced the tickets the way it was, it is of great help for people like me. I was still shocked after the concert, I kept kicking (even two days after the concert and I was already in Manila) and asking myself, “did I really get watch them live?”. I laid down all of my merchandise and watched their 15th anniversary dvd the moment I got home and suddenly got all emo again.

Note: I have a travel log which I immediately filled out 30 minutes after the concert (I was still in the arena)…I can’t believe the stuff I put in there, hehe