"Merry Go Around The World VOL.2" tour final in Cologne, Germany!
Two days ago, on October the 19th was Plastic Tree's tour final show of their European tour "Merry Go Around The World" VOL.2 in Cologne, Germany!
Because the show has became a very memorable and awesome event, I will try to report on the whole concert from the very beginning till the end! Please enjoy ^^v
This is 'DOM', a beautiful building known for the big city in Germany, Cologne!
On Sunday the 19th of October, Plastic Tree hold their tour final concert in the city. (not in the DOM, it's just an important sightseeing)
When the band arrived at nearly 3 pm in a small bus, about 30 fans were already waiting for the band to come. Some of them were already spending 2 days in the cold, just to have the best view of the 4 charming guys.
First of all, staff guys came out and one by one all Plastic Tree members showed up, in warm clothes with an own camera-man for each member (these camera-guys were stalking us all the time and were also filming some parts during the performance, in a way even fans felt like stars XD)
Ryutarou was the very first who came out, wearing gray-green colored clothes with a funny bonnet on his head. Sleepy and with a cigarette he began to wave and bow to the fans. He came closer and got some presents from fans. Telling 'Danke schön!' (English: Thank You!) about 10-times, he went to the door, where staff-members were already waiting for him.
Bucchi was the next, who jumped out from the bus. Gaping all the time, he looked a little bit shy at the fans from a distance. Also him began to smoke. Akira was standing in the background, already smoking. Suddenly, together with his camera-guy he went closer to the fans and was showing at them, laughing and talking to the camera. Bucchi was standing next to him looking at fans as if he was looking for someone. A very cute moment!
Tadashi went out, wearing his dark-blue coat, standing in the background talking to the staff-members. But also him didn't forgot to smile and wave at the fans.
They went in and suddenly you were able to hear they sound-check from afar. In the next moment Ryutarou came out again and left in a car. The fans were thinking hard what he might be doing that long, even Bucchi came out to see if the car has came back.
(pictures were taken by maayatan)
A while later, after Ryutarou came back, the complete band ended their sound-check.
At the same time in the front of the hall there was a very HOT topic between fans: 'Will there be really a support band?'.
To be honest there was no information about a support act for the band. I found it out just by an accident. That's why many fans didn't knew a thing about a 'support act'.
Later on, just 2 hours before the concert, the 'support act' GARI has arrived. The one who caught my eyes was the one with red hair and everyone was telling: 'Woah, he looks nice'.
More and more people came and suddenly at about 19 o'clock, the fan-crowd moved to the open door next to the hall. The pushing has began. People felt like fishes in a box. It was really tight!
Gladly the security was this nice and let us in just 10 minutes past 7! After checking the bags everyone run to the stage and got his place.
I have to mention that the stage was really small and there was no barrier between the stage and us, fans.
More and more people came, music was played and suddenly it has stopped and a louder music began to fill the hall with its sound.
From the left 4 guys came on stage and began to play, 20 minutes to early. They played in total 7 songs. Their performance was really interesting. The bands drummer was really nice: smiling and enjoying the time on the stage, he was 'beating' the drums really hard, making the sound of the music harder. The bassist, the guy with the red hair has become the crowds favorite member. The bands guitarist was a very strange person. It looked to me as if he was shy or something like that, he never showed us his 'front', he always was playing guitar with his back to us. Once he even went to the left side and sat down on the stairs of the stage. He was a really strange but a very funny guy. I think lot of fans had to smile and even laugh while watching his performance. The singers voice was really high and it was really hard to understand in which language he was singing, I even couldn't hear his voice, it was all with the music flow.
When they ended their performance all the fans were clapping their hands and screaming for the band. Fans were really nice and gave GARI a great feeling, being good at the thing they are doing!
The lucky me caught the drummers stick. It was the very first time 'getting' something at a concert! I took a picture of it:
GARI members helped Plastic Tree's staff people to remove the instruments.
During the whole preparation for the main act, Bucchi came on the stage and tried to change his drums options, which should help him later not to have problems with the drums. But because he was that quick he had to change some options during the concert.
Our drummer left the stage, waving at fans because they were screaming his name. But somehow being all alone on the stage kinda scared him, he was all nervous.
When he left, the staff-guys tried out 2 bass-guitars, 2 e-guitars and one Ryutarou's guitar and put them to the right places.
Some minutes passed by and at 20:50 o'clock the into was played and the guys from Plastic Tree finally showed up!
The first one was Akira. He was wearing a dark-gray and tight jeans, a shirt a some kind of a dark-gray jacket with a hood and black shoes with some lines. His outfit was extremely sexy. He waved at fans, went to his 'place' and took the red guitar of his.
The second one was Bucchi. He was wearing a black shirt with some light-gray pattern and hood. Onto his shirt was a black vest. Besides he had his black trousers and sneakers on. He also waved at us, went back and sat down on his stool, taking out his drumsticks.
Tadashi followed him, getting his bass-guitar from the staff guy, he went to the front of the stage and let people scream more. He had black shirt and a long airy and a very big size coat, black shorts, long black-white striped socks and his famous white rocker-shoes on. He was looking at the big crowd of fans with a little smile on his lips.
Some seconds later the last member, Ryutarou came to the stage. He also was wearing airy and big size black shirt and a coat. A long skirt, black legging and brown Roman sandals made another part of his outfit. I have to mention the fake lilac flower on the right side of his chest, just like in NEOgeneis 27 outfit. His toe- and finger nails were black painted. Maybe because he had to walk around the cities this much, he had a blister pad on one of his feet.
The complete band was standing in front of the fans. The concert was about to begin and I felt taht I was getting a goose skin, when I heard the first accords of Nemureru Mori.
The band was playing a lot of songs. In total: 19!
I think the whole concert long there was a bond between fans and the band. Everyone seemed to enjoy it... But the first two songs were really horrible for Bucchi. I still don't know what exactly happened to him or his drumset, but during the first song a staff guy came up to him and told him something. I only could see Hiroshi nodding. After the first song was over, I thought the problem our drummer had was solved, but I was wrong. Watching Tadashi standing in front of you, I saw a strange face out of the angle behind him and had to take a look at Hiroshi.
I guess I have never seen an unpleasant face like that before and I also never will again. There were a LOT of laughter behind and next to me. It really looked funny, even silly. I tried to realize what the problem was and it seemed like one of his cymbals was making a wrong sound. He always had this 'Gnah, it sounds terrible, I can't hear it anymore, it's so wrong!' face on. Even Tadashi turn around to face him.
I think at this moment I could see Bucchi's most despaired face ever. But gladly the staff guys made some signs and the problem was solved - somehow! Yay!
Ryutarou had to wipe off his sweat really often. It was really hot inside, even someone out of the fans crowd shouted 'atsui' and Ryutarou answered that the Japanese word 'atsui' (English: hot) really suits here!
While drinking and drying their faces the fans were able to call the members names. I was the first who screamed out Tadashi's name. The band members looked at him and he had this amused expression on his face. He was really enjoying it and during the whole concerts he wanted the fans to scream more for him. The whole concert long, Tadashi was all cool, he was nearly always in the very front of the stage and allow fans touch him. While singing the chorus, he even scream into the mike few times.
In the end of their first encore, Tadashi let fans touch his hair full of hair spray, but someone tousled violent in it. That's maybe why his face looked that pain-filled.
Ryutarou also wanted the fans to scream more, he walked (or better jumped) from the middle of the stage to both sides again and again, waving with his hands and calling 'meh!', which should be German's word 'mehr!' (English: more!).
He was sweating a lot and tried to be and see every single fan in the crowd, even if you couldn't realize who he's looking at. His glare is strange. On the one hand it's paralyzing but on the other in a way empty.
He was the one who spoke to the audience. For the first MC which was after Elegy, he took his mike, waiting the fans to be silent and told 'Guten Tag!' (English: Good day!) and somebody out of the crowd shouted: 'Guten Abend!' (English: Good evening!) and Ryutarou repeated it in Japanese 'Konnichi wa!'! Everyone began to scream and he continued with the song Replay.
At the second break he was wiping his face off, so it was a good chance to call out Akira's name. The guy is so hot, but somehow, he has to get pushed to let him go. So it was my chance! Loudly I screamed out his name 'AKIRAAAA!'. The audience began to laugh because it was out of sudden and Akira looked to my side, smiling. Yes, it was the smile I wanted to see and I think it was the point which made him relax a little bit. He completely changed after this moment. Akira began to come to the front of the stage more often and making his hot faces while playing. He also was jumping around as if he was a little kid, who is happy about the things which were happening in Cologne at the moment of their performance.
At the same MC, when Ryutarou was drinking his water, someone behind me pleased me to call Hiroshi's name, because they didn't knew how to pronounce it. OK!
'HIROSHIIIIIIIII!, I was screaming again and even if Ryutarou was standing in front of him and we couldn't face him, Bucchi gave us a little solo and we were clapping hands like crazy.
Ryutarou came to the front of the stage. It was kinda sad his name wasn't shouted, that's why I had to scream out his name. After I did so he looked at me, smiled and told 'Hai!'! Everyone began to laugh and he was waiting for the chance to speak again. 'Cologne, good city!', that was the thing he told us. 'Ureshi desu!' (English: I'm happy!) and I felt it was a special evening! It definitely was for all of us!
At another MC, before Kuuchuu Buranko has began, Ryutarou told 'Ich ribe euch!', which was Germans phrase Ich liebe Euch! (English: I love you all!). He repeated this sentence really often! ♥
Touched by his words we were waiting for the announced song, Kuuchuu Buranko. The song has began with Bucchi's solo part. Some accords after, Tadashi accompany him and after him, Akira. During the instrumental part, Ryutarou was sitting on the floor. He only stood up, when Akira's part has began. The vocalist began to move to the rhythm slowly. The whole show for this song reminded me of the live in Budokan for their 10th major anniversary performance.
Listening to this song tears came and couldn't stop dropping down. To me it was the very best live performance of a song ever!
Next songs were played and Ryutarou had to dance his own Tarou-dance. It's so amazing! I still do not know how he can lift his legs that high. Amazing, just amazing! There is no other word to describe it!
After the first two songs Bucchi continue playing his drums without problems. Usually, when I look at him (on their past concerts in Europe), he had a concentrated look on his face, but it was different his time. He was screaming, looking at fans on the left site, watching Tadashi and smiling. He also count 'One, two three, four...!' during some songs. It was really a pleasant feeling to see him happy like that! He just blossoms out! ♥
During the last songs a fan on the right blow bubbles and Akira was shocked. Even if the idea was cute, I think Akira wasn't pleased by this fact. Ryutaou instead was enjoying the view of colorful bubbles and even grabbed for some of them.
After Makka na Ito - after Ryutarou was running from side to side at this small stage, touching fans hands - the last song has began, Ame ni Utaeba!
This was the song, I was waiting for most! When Akira has started the background music I could feel how my heart began to beat faster. Bucchi's glance and I was moving to the sound from one side to another. Just enjoying the musical event in this beautiful song.
Ryutarou took his black umbrella and was standing in the middle of the stand holding it wide open. He was singing to the very end with this umbrella and began to dance with it when the instrumental part of the song began.
To be honest I was afraid that the umbrella would hit someone of the fans, because Ryutarou was swinging with it as crazy.
Without realizing the songs ending, I saw Tadashi throwing his picks (he maybe has thrown about 20 picks during the whole concert! Yes, he also just gave them to the people in the first row!) in the fan-crowd and people in the middle were touching Ryutarou. Also Hiroshi came to the front and throw his used drumsticks (during the whole concert he maybe throw about 10 drumsticks into the crowd and sometime they hit people a little). I was able to catch one, and even if I was the one holding it first, another fan was mad (I don't know why), and because arguing isn't my thing, I let her have it, I just wanted to have a picture of it!
It was the end of the concert. It was kinda too fast. The guys left the stage and we began to call for encore immediately. We wanted more, MUCH more.
One of the girls had some circuit problems, so one of the staff members was so nice and throw some water bottles in the audience. He even throw the band-members bottles and I got Ryutarou's. I drank a bit out of the bottle and gave it to somebody else who wanted to drink. A 'nice' fan, took the bottle away from me and was all happy to have Ryutarou's bottle, he was drinking from, in the end.
During this time fans continue calling 'encore' and after some minutes the members arrived on the stage.
Even if the staff members gave them new cold water, Tadashi had a beer-bottle in his hand. The other three guys were holfing and drinking red-bull.
Tadashi and Bucchi were wearing same clothes. Akira had no t-shirt anymore, only his sleeveless jacket with the hood from before. Now, fans had a great view on the guitarists beautiful tattoos.
Only Ryutarou had a big difference for his stage outfit. No, he wasn't wearing a kimono. He had an XXL size t-shirt on, which was used for one photoshoots (I figured out that there was a leakage on the left sleeve of the shirt). The legging were turn up and same shoes as before.
The encore has began with harienju. The whole hall trembled. Fans were enjoying the performance and the band-members we dancing, jumping and having a lot of fun.
The second song has began, Ghost and everyone gone crazy. Head-banging, dancing and jumping. Everyone was at the latest all into the concert.
Ryutarou's crazy dance, he was jumping and moving on the stage that much, that even fans had to take care of him, him not to fall into the crowd. He was really lurching a bit.
[EDIT ON]
During this song - you know there is a short break - Ryutarou took his new cold water and drank a little bit. I wasn't paying attention to him, but Tadashi, till I suddenly felt something cold dropping down my hair. Shocked I tried to realize what happened and saw Ryutarou spinning around with the open bottle! Gosh! He even dump the water on his own head and continued to move around. I guess that lots of people had wet hair after this songs performance! (haha)
[EDIT OFF]
Again, the band left the stage, but fans still hadn't enough.
Also the band, quicken by red-bull and beer, stepped on the stage for the last time, to continue the awesome performance for their fans.
Honjitsu wa Seiten nari, angeldust took the very last power of everyone who was there. In the end of the powerful song, angeldust, Ryutarou was laying down on the floor and I had the feeling it was the end of the concert.
Everyone was totally exhausted. But with the last power everyone enjoyed the very last song of the setlist, psychogarden.
I never have seen this much power in a performance. It was as if everyone was on fire. Bucchi was playing while standing, Akira was jumping around, Tadashi was head-banging with the fans in the first row as if there was a contest who's better and Ryutarou was everywhere on the stage. For the songs chorus Akira was screaming like crazy and even the staff guy was laughing, recording everything and the whole burning atmosphere in the small hall.
Suddenly a short break...
'HUH? WHAT'S WRONG?', I saw the band members gasping for breath. Akira put his guitar in the hand and showed it to Tadashi. He did the same and they went to the middle of the stage. They switched the sides AND instruments. I was paralyzed. Akira was standing some centimeters away from me. His fingers were dancing on bass-strings and I felt like dying because of the awesomeness.
With this formation the concert has ended and everyone was smiling and feeling as flying in heaven.
Akira gave his hands into the crowd, after he turn Tadashi's bass-guitar back to the staff guy. He took my hand on his own, squeezed it. While doing so, I called 'Arigatou!', seeing him smiling and laughing a little bit, he answered 'Arigatou mou!', squeezed my hand again and continue to thank to the others. It was such a cute moment.
I love the guys being that familiar with their fans. All of them were so lovely and touching.
After doing so, the charismatic guitarist went over to the other side to thank the fans over there.
So it was time for our Leader-sama to get touched by us. Also him began to squeeze hands and smiling. Sadly he was grabbed by some fans that much that he almost fell into the crowd. After ending shaking hands, he left together with Akira.
At this time, Bucchi was playing drums, standing ON his stool, grinning and smiling like crazy. Also he went to the middle of the stage and gave his hands to the audience. He was about to leave, but I called his name again and he smiled and came over to us to shake the hands. I was thanking him for everything and he grabbed my hand with both hands, looking at me, saying 'Arigatou'. This was the very first time, I had a chance to shake his hand and he was so gentle and nice, it almost killed me, he's just so nice and smart.
I let go of his hand and someone grabbed his hands. He was touching fans and again someone was pulling him a little bit, so I have to push him back, so he could stay standing on the stage.
It was funny, because he was laughing as if it's the first time for him being touched like that! He went to the background and was waving at fans. Ryutarou came, giving his hands to the very end of the crowd. He really was nice, thinking of everyone in the hall.
Saying 'Danke schön!' Ryutarou left the stage.
Everyone were still in a trance-feeling, walking around the hall.
Someone 'stole' Ryutarou's black umbrella, saying 'He throw it away, he doesn't need this anymore!'. Erm! Even if there were a lot of nice fans, there were also strange some (haha)
In some minutes I left the hall with my friends, because we had to catch the train. I heard that in a while the guys were signing things and were all happy when someone was holding Utsusemi in his/her hands.
It definitely was an awesome and unforgettable evening, I wish it could last a little bit longer, this moment of the burning air, these faces full of joy!
Because the show has became a very memorable and awesome event, I will try to report on the whole concert from the very beginning till the end! Please enjoy ^^v
This is 'DOM', a beautiful building known for the big city in Germany, Cologne!
On Sunday the 19th of October, Plastic Tree hold their tour final concert in the city. (not in the DOM, it's just an important sightseeing)
When the band arrived at nearly 3 pm in a small bus, about 30 fans were already waiting for the band to come. Some of them were already spending 2 days in the cold, just to have the best view of the 4 charming guys.
First of all, staff guys came out and one by one all Plastic Tree members showed up, in warm clothes with an own camera-man for each member (these camera-guys were stalking us all the time and were also filming some parts during the performance, in a way even fans felt like stars XD)
Ryutarou was the very first who came out, wearing gray-green colored clothes with a funny bonnet on his head. Sleepy and with a cigarette he began to wave and bow to the fans. He came closer and got some presents from fans. Telling 'Danke schön!' (English: Thank You!) about 10-times, he went to the door, where staff-members were already waiting for him.
Bucchi was the next, who jumped out from the bus. Gaping all the time, he looked a little bit shy at the fans from a distance. Also him began to smoke. Akira was standing in the background, already smoking. Suddenly, together with his camera-guy he went closer to the fans and was showing at them, laughing and talking to the camera. Bucchi was standing next to him looking at fans as if he was looking for someone. A very cute moment!
Tadashi went out, wearing his dark-blue coat, standing in the background talking to the staff-members. But also him didn't forgot to smile and wave at the fans.
They went in and suddenly you were able to hear they sound-check from afar. In the next moment Ryutarou came out again and left in a car. The fans were thinking hard what he might be doing that long, even Bucchi came out to see if the car has came back.
(pictures were taken by maayatan)
A while later, after Ryutarou came back, the complete band ended their sound-check.
At the same time in the front of the hall there was a very HOT topic between fans: 'Will there be really a support band?'.
To be honest there was no information about a support act for the band. I found it out just by an accident. That's why many fans didn't knew a thing about a 'support act'.
Later on, just 2 hours before the concert, the 'support act' GARI has arrived. The one who caught my eyes was the one with red hair and everyone was telling: 'Woah, he looks nice'.
More and more people came and suddenly at about 19 o'clock, the fan-crowd moved to the open door next to the hall. The pushing has began. People felt like fishes in a box. It was really tight!
Gladly the security was this nice and let us in just 10 minutes past 7! After checking the bags everyone run to the stage and got his place.
I have to mention that the stage was really small and there was no barrier between the stage and us, fans.
More and more people came, music was played and suddenly it has stopped and a louder music began to fill the hall with its sound.
From the left 4 guys came on stage and began to play, 20 minutes to early. They played in total 7 songs. Their performance was really interesting. The bands drummer was really nice: smiling and enjoying the time on the stage, he was 'beating' the drums really hard, making the sound of the music harder. The bassist, the guy with the red hair has become the crowds favorite member. The bands guitarist was a very strange person. It looked to me as if he was shy or something like that, he never showed us his 'front', he always was playing guitar with his back to us. Once he even went to the left side and sat down on the stairs of the stage. He was a really strange but a very funny guy. I think lot of fans had to smile and even laugh while watching his performance. The singers voice was really high and it was really hard to understand in which language he was singing, I even couldn't hear his voice, it was all with the music flow.
When they ended their performance all the fans were clapping their hands and screaming for the band. Fans were really nice and gave GARI a great feeling, being good at the thing they are doing!
The lucky me caught the drummers stick. It was the very first time 'getting' something at a concert! I took a picture of it:
GARI members helped Plastic Tree's staff people to remove the instruments.
During the whole preparation for the main act, Bucchi came on the stage and tried to change his drums options, which should help him later not to have problems with the drums. But because he was that quick he had to change some options during the concert.
Our drummer left the stage, waving at fans because they were screaming his name. But somehow being all alone on the stage kinda scared him, he was all nervous.
When he left, the staff-guys tried out 2 bass-guitars, 2 e-guitars and one Ryutarou's guitar and put them to the right places.
Some minutes passed by and at 20:50 o'clock the into was played and the guys from Plastic Tree finally showed up!
The first one was Akira. He was wearing a dark-gray and tight jeans, a shirt a some kind of a dark-gray jacket with a hood and black shoes with some lines. His outfit was extremely sexy. He waved at fans, went to his 'place' and took the red guitar of his.
The second one was Bucchi. He was wearing a black shirt with some light-gray pattern and hood. Onto his shirt was a black vest. Besides he had his black trousers and sneakers on. He also waved at us, went back and sat down on his stool, taking out his drumsticks.
Tadashi followed him, getting his bass-guitar from the staff guy, he went to the front of the stage and let people scream more. He had black shirt and a long airy and a very big size coat, black shorts, long black-white striped socks and his famous white rocker-shoes on. He was looking at the big crowd of fans with a little smile on his lips.
Some seconds later the last member, Ryutarou came to the stage. He also was wearing airy and big size black shirt and a coat. A long skirt, black legging and brown Roman sandals made another part of his outfit. I have to mention the fake lilac flower on the right side of his chest, just like in NEOgeneis 27 outfit. His toe- and finger nails were black painted. Maybe because he had to walk around the cities this much, he had a blister pad on one of his feet.
The complete band was standing in front of the fans. The concert was about to begin and I felt taht I was getting a goose skin, when I heard the first accords of Nemureru Mori.
The band was playing a lot of songs. In total: 19!
- 01. 眠れる森 (Nemureru Mori)
02. イロゴト (Irogoto)
03. エレジー (Elegy)
04. リプレイ (Replay)
05. アローンアゲイン、ワンダフルワールド (Alone Again, Wonderful World)
06. 空中ブランコ (Kuuchuu Buranko)
07. 秘密のカーニバル (Himitsu no Carnival)
08. hate.red,dip.it
09. 怪物くん (kaibutsu-kun)
1o. 雪蛍 (Yuki Hotaru)
11. 涙腺回路 (Ruisen Kairo)
12. メランコリック (melancholic)
13. 真っ赤な糸 (Makka na Ito)
14. 雨ニ唄エバ (Ame ni Utaeba)
[Encore 1]
17. 針槐 (harienju)
16. Ghost
[Encore 2]
17. 本日は晴天なり (Honjitsu wa Seiten nari)
18. エンジェルダスト (angeldust)
19. サイコガーデン (psychogarden)
I think the whole concert long there was a bond between fans and the band. Everyone seemed to enjoy it... But the first two songs were really horrible for Bucchi. I still don't know what exactly happened to him or his drumset, but during the first song a staff guy came up to him and told him something. I only could see Hiroshi nodding. After the first song was over, I thought the problem our drummer had was solved, but I was wrong. Watching Tadashi standing in front of you, I saw a strange face out of the angle behind him and had to take a look at Hiroshi.
I guess I have never seen an unpleasant face like that before and I also never will again. There were a LOT of laughter behind and next to me. It really looked funny, even silly. I tried to realize what the problem was and it seemed like one of his cymbals was making a wrong sound. He always had this 'Gnah, it sounds terrible, I can't hear it anymore, it's so wrong!' face on. Even Tadashi turn around to face him.
I think at this moment I could see Bucchi's most despaired face ever. But gladly the staff guys made some signs and the problem was solved - somehow! Yay!
Ryutarou had to wipe off his sweat really often. It was really hot inside, even someone out of the fans crowd shouted 'atsui' and Ryutarou answered that the Japanese word 'atsui' (English: hot) really suits here!
While drinking and drying their faces the fans were able to call the members names. I was the first who screamed out Tadashi's name. The band members looked at him and he had this amused expression on his face. He was really enjoying it and during the whole concerts he wanted the fans to scream more for him. The whole concert long, Tadashi was all cool, he was nearly always in the very front of the stage and allow fans touch him. While singing the chorus, he even scream into the mike few times.
In the end of their first encore, Tadashi let fans touch his hair full of hair spray, but someone tousled violent in it. That's maybe why his face looked that pain-filled.
Ryutarou also wanted the fans to scream more, he walked (or better jumped) from the middle of the stage to both sides again and again, waving with his hands and calling 'meh!', which should be German's word 'mehr!' (English: more!).
He was sweating a lot and tried to be and see every single fan in the crowd, even if you couldn't realize who he's looking at. His glare is strange. On the one hand it's paralyzing but on the other in a way empty.
He was the one who spoke to the audience. For the first MC which was after Elegy, he took his mike, waiting the fans to be silent and told 'Guten Tag!' (English: Good day!) and somebody out of the crowd shouted: 'Guten Abend!' (English: Good evening!) and Ryutarou repeated it in Japanese 'Konnichi wa!'! Everyone began to scream and he continued with the song Replay.
At the second break he was wiping his face off, so it was a good chance to call out Akira's name. The guy is so hot, but somehow, he has to get pushed to let him go. So it was my chance! Loudly I screamed out his name 'AKIRAAAA!'. The audience began to laugh because it was out of sudden and Akira looked to my side, smiling. Yes, it was the smile I wanted to see and I think it was the point which made him relax a little bit. He completely changed after this moment. Akira began to come to the front of the stage more often and making his hot faces while playing. He also was jumping around as if he was a little kid, who is happy about the things which were happening in Cologne at the moment of their performance.
At the same MC, when Ryutarou was drinking his water, someone behind me pleased me to call Hiroshi's name, because they didn't knew how to pronounce it. OK!
'HIROSHIIIIIIIII!, I was screaming again and even if Ryutarou was standing in front of him and we couldn't face him, Bucchi gave us a little solo and we were clapping hands like crazy.
Ryutarou came to the front of the stage. It was kinda sad his name wasn't shouted, that's why I had to scream out his name. After I did so he looked at me, smiled and told 'Hai!'! Everyone began to laugh and he was waiting for the chance to speak again. 'Cologne, good city!', that was the thing he told us. 'Ureshi desu!' (English: I'm happy!) and I felt it was a special evening! It definitely was for all of us!
At another MC, before Kuuchuu Buranko has began, Ryutarou told 'Ich ribe euch!', which was Germans phrase Ich liebe Euch! (English: I love you all!). He repeated this sentence really often! ♥
Touched by his words we were waiting for the announced song, Kuuchuu Buranko. The song has began with Bucchi's solo part. Some accords after, Tadashi accompany him and after him, Akira. During the instrumental part, Ryutarou was sitting on the floor. He only stood up, when Akira's part has began. The vocalist began to move to the rhythm slowly. The whole show for this song reminded me of the live in Budokan for their 10th major anniversary performance.
Listening to this song tears came and couldn't stop dropping down. To me it was the very best live performance of a song ever!
Next songs were played and Ryutarou had to dance his own Tarou-dance. It's so amazing! I still do not know how he can lift his legs that high. Amazing, just amazing! There is no other word to describe it!
After the first two songs Bucchi continue playing his drums without problems. Usually, when I look at him (on their past concerts in Europe), he had a concentrated look on his face, but it was different his time. He was screaming, looking at fans on the left site, watching Tadashi and smiling. He also count 'One, two three, four...!' during some songs. It was really a pleasant feeling to see him happy like that! He just blossoms out! ♥
During the last songs a fan on the right blow bubbles and Akira was shocked. Even if the idea was cute, I think Akira wasn't pleased by this fact. Ryutaou instead was enjoying the view of colorful bubbles and even grabbed for some of them.
After Makka na Ito - after Ryutarou was running from side to side at this small stage, touching fans hands - the last song has began, Ame ni Utaeba!
This was the song, I was waiting for most! When Akira has started the background music I could feel how my heart began to beat faster. Bucchi's glance and I was moving to the sound from one side to another. Just enjoying the musical event in this beautiful song.
Ryutarou took his black umbrella and was standing in the middle of the stand holding it wide open. He was singing to the very end with this umbrella and began to dance with it when the instrumental part of the song began.
To be honest I was afraid that the umbrella would hit someone of the fans, because Ryutarou was swinging with it as crazy.
Without realizing the songs ending, I saw Tadashi throwing his picks (he maybe has thrown about 20 picks during the whole concert! Yes, he also just gave them to the people in the first row!) in the fan-crowd and people in the middle were touching Ryutarou. Also Hiroshi came to the front and throw his used drumsticks (during the whole concert he maybe throw about 10 drumsticks into the crowd and sometime they hit people a little). I was able to catch one, and even if I was the one holding it first, another fan was mad (I don't know why), and because arguing isn't my thing, I let her have it, I just wanted to have a picture of it!
It was the end of the concert. It was kinda too fast. The guys left the stage and we began to call for encore immediately. We wanted more, MUCH more.
One of the girls had some circuit problems, so one of the staff members was so nice and throw some water bottles in the audience. He even throw the band-members bottles and I got Ryutarou's. I drank a bit out of the bottle and gave it to somebody else who wanted to drink. A 'nice' fan, took the bottle away from me and was all happy to have Ryutarou's bottle, he was drinking from, in the end.
During this time fans continue calling 'encore' and after some minutes the members arrived on the stage.
Even if the staff members gave them new cold water, Tadashi had a beer-bottle in his hand. The other three guys were holfing and drinking red-bull.
Tadashi and Bucchi were wearing same clothes. Akira had no t-shirt anymore, only his sleeveless jacket with the hood from before. Now, fans had a great view on the guitarists beautiful tattoos.
Only Ryutarou had a big difference for his stage outfit. No, he wasn't wearing a kimono. He had an XXL size t-shirt on, which was used for one photoshoots (I figured out that there was a leakage on the left sleeve of the shirt). The legging were turn up and same shoes as before.
The encore has began with harienju. The whole hall trembled. Fans were enjoying the performance and the band-members we dancing, jumping and having a lot of fun.
The second song has began, Ghost and everyone gone crazy. Head-banging, dancing and jumping. Everyone was at the latest all into the concert.
Ryutarou's crazy dance, he was jumping and moving on the stage that much, that even fans had to take care of him, him not to fall into the crowd. He was really lurching a bit.
[EDIT ON]
During this song - you know there is a short break - Ryutarou took his new cold water and drank a little bit. I wasn't paying attention to him, but Tadashi, till I suddenly felt something cold dropping down my hair. Shocked I tried to realize what happened and saw Ryutarou spinning around with the open bottle! Gosh! He even dump the water on his own head and continued to move around. I guess that lots of people had wet hair after this songs performance! (haha)
[EDIT OFF]
Again, the band left the stage, but fans still hadn't enough.
Also the band, quicken by red-bull and beer, stepped on the stage for the last time, to continue the awesome performance for their fans.
Honjitsu wa Seiten nari, angeldust took the very last power of everyone who was there. In the end of the powerful song, angeldust, Ryutarou was laying down on the floor and I had the feeling it was the end of the concert.
Everyone was totally exhausted. But with the last power everyone enjoyed the very last song of the setlist, psychogarden.
I never have seen this much power in a performance. It was as if everyone was on fire. Bucchi was playing while standing, Akira was jumping around, Tadashi was head-banging with the fans in the first row as if there was a contest who's better and Ryutarou was everywhere on the stage. For the songs chorus Akira was screaming like crazy and even the staff guy was laughing, recording everything and the whole burning atmosphere in the small hall.
Suddenly a short break...
'HUH? WHAT'S WRONG?', I saw the band members gasping for breath. Akira put his guitar in the hand and showed it to Tadashi. He did the same and they went to the middle of the stage. They switched the sides AND instruments. I was paralyzed. Akira was standing some centimeters away from me. His fingers were dancing on bass-strings and I felt like dying because of the awesomeness.
With this formation the concert has ended and everyone was smiling and feeling as flying in heaven.
Akira gave his hands into the crowd, after he turn Tadashi's bass-guitar back to the staff guy. He took my hand on his own, squeezed it. While doing so, I called 'Arigatou!', seeing him smiling and laughing a little bit, he answered 'Arigatou mou!', squeezed my hand again and continue to thank to the others. It was such a cute moment.
I love the guys being that familiar with their fans. All of them were so lovely and touching.
After doing so, the charismatic guitarist went over to the other side to thank the fans over there.
So it was time for our Leader-sama to get touched by us. Also him began to squeeze hands and smiling. Sadly he was grabbed by some fans that much that he almost fell into the crowd. After ending shaking hands, he left together with Akira.
At this time, Bucchi was playing drums, standing ON his stool, grinning and smiling like crazy. Also he went to the middle of the stage and gave his hands to the audience. He was about to leave, but I called his name again and he smiled and came over to us to shake the hands. I was thanking him for everything and he grabbed my hand with both hands, looking at me, saying 'Arigatou'. This was the very first time, I had a chance to shake his hand and he was so gentle and nice, it almost killed me, he's just so nice and smart.
I let go of his hand and someone grabbed his hands. He was touching fans and again someone was pulling him a little bit, so I have to push him back, so he could stay standing on the stage.
It was funny, because he was laughing as if it's the first time for him being touched like that! He went to the background and was waving at fans. Ryutarou came, giving his hands to the very end of the crowd. He really was nice, thinking of everyone in the hall.
Saying 'Danke schön!' Ryutarou left the stage.
Everyone were still in a trance-feeling, walking around the hall.
Someone 'stole' Ryutarou's black umbrella, saying 'He throw it away, he doesn't need this anymore!'. Erm! Even if there were a lot of nice fans, there were also strange some (haha)
In some minutes I left the hall with my friends, because we had to catch the train. I heard that in a while the guys were signing things and were all happy when someone was holding Utsusemi in his/her hands.
It definitely was an awesome and unforgettable evening, I wish it could last a little bit longer, this moment of the burning air, these faces full of joy!