Wednesday, July 20, 2011

Comic-Con July 21-24, 2011


Comic-Con International kicks off tomorrow in San Diego!
The debut installment "Issue 0" of "Blood Red Dragon" will be revealed at Thursday's panel with Yoshiki, Stan Lee and Todd McFarlane.

The schedule can be found here:
http://www.comic-con.org/cci/cci11_prog_thu.php

Already planing to attend?
Let us know what you thought. by leaving a comment below!

Thursday, December 9, 2010

Karini: LUNA SEA Hollywood

News first hit the web late in May that Luna Sea fans could expect some sort of "Reboot" from the legendary group. The announcement was vague and I sat in my Las Vegas hotel room pondering what sort of "Reboot" was coming our way. The answer came a short time later at press conference in Hong Kong, Luna Sea would reunite for a world tour with a single stop in the US, December 4 2010.

Interviews posted to the band's official facebook had a tiny bit of uncertainty as to if the reunion was a permanent resurrection of the band or something a bit more fragile.

I arrived at the Hollywood Palladium exactly at two in the afternoon with my sister. The line was very short because it had been divided into VIP and General Admission. Waiting outside the venue fans were treated to what seemed to be an incredibly thorough sound check.

At 7 the VIP line was lead through the parking lot and to the doors of the venue. We were given vouchers for our shirts which had to be picked up before the show began in order to avoid missing out since it was part of the VIP package. We were than directed upstairs to get our VIP bags. The bags contained a letter thanking us for our support and a pamphlet signed by the band. It also included two wristbands, one white and one red. I met my sister at the barrier where she had been holding onto a spot for me. Front row in front of J and Inoran's side.

The show was incredible. I tried to keep telling myself I was really seeing them live, but it just felt so unreal. The setlist was perfect. Luna Sea has so many good songs it would have been impossible to hear them all that night, but their selection reached both ends of the spectrum. There was a nice balance between the newer songs and the well loved classics.

J and Shinya's drum and bass solo was really a treat. J's energy and charisma really shined through as he bounced around the stage.

SETLIST:
LOVELESS
Dejavu
SLAVE
END OF SORROW
TRUE BLUE
FACE TO FACE
gravity
RA-SE-N
Providence
GENESIS OF MIND
Drum Solo
Bass Solo
FATE
STORM
DESIRE
TIME IS DEAD
ROSIER
TONIGHT
Encore:
I for You
IN MY DREAM (WITH SHIVER)
WISH
setlist.fm

During Wish the members were all over the stage. Inoran came up to the crowd singing along to the words the crowd followed along with the chorus.
After Wish the members came back on stage, they were throwing towels, water bottles and picks out into the enthusiastic crowd. Sugizo took a few iPhone photos and all the members returned to the front of the stage. They joined hands and encouraged the fans to do the same. Together they took a bow. It might be a long shot but I do hope one day Luna Sea decides to return to the US. I would love to experience that kind of energy and excitement that only true anticipation can bring.


A few more photos of the event are posted here


Los Angeles Tour Shirt

Saturday, October 2, 2010

Karini: VAMPS Hollywood

Go don't... or go. You would think it wouldn't be that hard of a decision, but for the second year in a row I've waited until the very last minute to by Vamp tickets.

I don't recommend waiting until the day before a show to buy tickets because dealing with Ticketmaster's automated machine in the middle of the night is a nightmare!

The show was definitely worth it. The Avalon is a surprisingly pleasant little live house. Even Hyde commented once he was on stage and say how it looked pretty big and that he like it.

Vamps always puts on a "show". Their style could be considered a little rough around the edges but that's all part of the charm. In my opinion Vamp's music is written to hear live. Singing along with fellow "Love Addicts" really contributes to the bond they form with the audience.

SETLIST:
PLUG IN
DEVIL SIDE
REDRUM
DOLLY
THE PAST
GET UP
SWEET DREAMS
TIME GOES BY
IT'S SAD
VAMP ADDICTION
SAMSARA
MY FIRST LAST
EUPHORIA
HUNTING
ANGEL TRIP
TROUBLE
LIVE WIRE
SEX BLOOD ROCK N' ROLL
Encore:
LOVE ADDICT
REVOLUTION
MIDNIGHT CELEBRATION
setlist.fm

Mixing in a few favorites from Faith, the concert ended on the perfect song, Midnight Celebration. 666 hold's a special place in Hyde fan's hearts as it is the rambunctious opposite of the soft and angelic Roentgen album.

Friday, October 23, 2009

Karini: V-ROCK FESTIVAL 2009

Japan's V-Rock Festival has been on for about two hours now
currently preforming is Kra

It's definitely an almost surreal feeling knowing that this show is going on live in Japan

I can't wait to see the other bands, so far I was pretty impressed with
Awoi
Bounty
SuG

Kra has a very eclectic sound
very jazzy vibe at one point then the singer voice begins to growl and then returns to singing in almost a whispered tone
crazy combo

Wednesday, October 21, 2009

Karini: Miyavi's US Tour Canceled

Much to my disbelief I won't be going to see Miyavi tomorrow at New People Mall in San Francisco for a mini live and autograph session :(

After playing a show last night in Mexico he announced today that the US leg of his tour would be postponed until further. The reason has been attributed to many things including illness, injury, problems getting into the US, to problems with bookings at Venues

In my opinion, sales for tickets were probably not what they were hoping for.

It's unfortunate that so many things had to go wrong all at once, I was really looking forward the opportunity for a meet and greet.

Thursday, October 15, 2009

Karini: Upcoming Releases

The latest J-Rock videos I'm been watching

I've been waiting and waiting for the LM.C to release something following Punky Heart and Chemical King Twoon that would live up the the more emotional sound of 88.
In my opinion Ghost Heart delivers

Karini: GLAY

Setlist for Glay's 08 and 09 concerts
from their myspace blog:

1  GREAT VACATION
2  Yuwaku
-MC-
3  GLOBAL COMMUNICATION
4  Survival
5  Sen No Knife ga mune wo sasu
6  Cynical
7  STARLESS NIGHT
-MC-
8  RUN
9  HOWEVER
10 BE WITH YOU
-MC-
11 VERB
12 Synchronicity
13 I am xxx
14 HIGHCOMMUNICATIONS
-MC-
15 More than Love
16 Kanojo no "Modern…"
17 Theme of SHUTTER SPEEDS
18 ACID HEAD
ENCORE
1 Peak hatesinaku Soul kagirinaku
-MC-
2 I'm in love


1.VERB
2.YUWAKU
3.GLORIOUS
4.IKITEKU TSUYOSA
5.GIANT STRONG FAUST SUPER STAR
6.STARLESS NIGHT
7.AMERICAN INNOVATION
8.Lock on you
9.SORRY LOVE
10.HOWEVER
11.KUCHIBIRU
12.KANOJO NO "Modern..."
13.SHUTTER SPEEDS NO THEMA
14.PEAK HATESHI NAKU SOUL KAGIRI NAKU
15.BEAUTIFUL DREAMER

Encore
1.SOUL LOVE
2.ROCK'N'ROLL SWINDLE
3.SUFFRAGETTE CITY
4.ACID HEAD