Schwarz Stein Immortal Verses Tour Encore Final -Daywalker-

Okey, this is odd. Never ever have I written a live report over 6 MONTHS after it acctually took place :P I considered not Writing anything, but as a huge fan of Schwarz Stein (and other smaller Visual kei bands) I know the available material is limited and therefore decided to write this...based on what I remember.

I wasn't even sure I'd be able to attend this live due to some issues with my uni in Osaka (one of my courses was going on a fieldtrip that very weekend and I was told it was mandatory). In the end I obviously decided to go anyway...because it's Schwarz Stein :P but it was stressfull because it wasn't very planned out from my part and I ended up leaving Saturday night from Osaka arriving on Sunday morning in Tokyo. With barely any sleep I headed for Shibuya where the live would be and spent a couple of hours at the infamous Starbucks (I tried waiting for as long as I could but I never got to see the crazy amount of people crossing unfortunately), then went to Donki to change into my live clothes and back to Hachiko to meet up with my friend. I've mentioned Before how I didn't really like it in Osaka, so I was so happy to be back in Tokyo, seeing my favorite band and meeting up people that I know (in contrast to my life up the mountains alone in Osaka:P).

This live was during daytime, like the title hints, and I have to say it was a bit disapointing. For me it was rather convenient as I could return to Osaka the same evening but I do prefer going to lives at night.

Kaya had mentioned on Twitter (I think) that there would be announcment during the live so I was hyped thinking there might be a new single or something, I'll get back to the disapointing news later...

Shibuya Rex was not so crowded, I bought my ticket late due to the issue with uni and assumed I'd get a high ticket number, but I ended up on the second third row from stage (and during the heavier songs I even managed to get to second row) so I wasn't too disapointed. I don't remember the exact order of the songs, but I do remember morgue and Apocalypse being in the begining and I really like those songs so it really got me in the Schwarz Stein mood. Kaya told us that people had been a bit jealous of the setlist from Hokkaido so they would basically do that, except for Beautiful the Virgin! The moment he said that I wanted to cry a bit (Beautiful the Virgin is one of my favorite songs and I still haven't been able to hear it live yet). Obviously they played all the songs from Immortal Verses and they were all good live, especially Immortal Light and Lotus. I'm not saying that just because Hora does vocals for them, but I've realised that the songs in which Hora acctually do have vocals Kaya tend to improvice more to be part of the performance if that makes sense. Everyone who hasn't been able to see them live, perhaps you've seen their live dvd from 2011? During Creeper and Syphilis and Disorder for example, Kaya will add stuff (might it be the arm movement during Creeper or the shouts in Syphilis and Disorder) so that he still is a big part of the song, and that I really like. They also played Release Me, one of my all time favorites so I was pleased. 

So what was the announcment? Before the live I noticed a woman to my right holding a paper or something with an image of Kaya and Hora, and my mind went wild imagening what it might be. Ticket for soemthing perhaps? ...oh no. The announcment was that added to the merch was a sticker set... 1000yen for 3 tiny stickers. sorry, but that was not what I expected (didn't stop me from buying it though...) Funny thing was they had a new photoset of Hora which was not announced and I think that was a lot more of value...

Like they seem to do most of the time nowadays, an after event was held as well as a 3person cheki. Unfortunately they're charging 2000yen for a cheki now, used to be 1000yen, so with the after event ticket, sticker and regular cheki I couldn't afford 2 but got 1 cheki with them. I'm not gonna post my cheki, because I fucked that one up bad :P let's just say it turned out to be the most funny cheki I've ever taken but also a really big failure. (I will be so disapointed if that will be my last cheki ever with Schwarz Stein XD)

Truthfully I don't have much memory from the after event, I don't think any special questions were raised and they didn't do any extra performance if I remember correctly. I do remember thinking it was way too short, I seriously think it was shorter than their previous after events I've attended which is a shame considering the price.

After the live, me and my friend went to a Hawaiian restaurant, in Hora's honour. Warning, if ever ordering pancakes, make sure you're REALLY hungry. The restaurant is called Moke's Hawaii and is located in Meguro, highly recomended. Very nice restaurant, the macadamia milk cocktail was really nice :3

HIZAKI Birthday Live 「Elizabeth」

I've realised that I'm not keeping up very good with updating here. I'm doing awesome things all the time and yet I never find the time to write about it. This entry is dedicated to the Hizaki solo gig on the 17th at Shibuya Rex!
I wasn't sure if I was going to go to this gig acctually. I was tempted since I really liked Hizaki's solo album Rosario but then again, I'm not a huge fan and I'm not rich so I thought about not going until when I went to Family Mart to pick up my Schwarz Stein ticket. For those who don't know, Family Mart offers a ticket service by using their machines, the Fami Port. You can search for tickets, or pay or pick them up. I was going to pick mine up, but this time it was a bit different and I had the wrong code, so I never got the Schwarz Stein tickets. However, being an awkward person I felt weird going in, especially since the machine at this store was right infront of the register, without getting anything. So I ended up buying a concert ticket! (Yeah I know it sounds stupid).
I felt kind of bad about it, even until the day of the gig, especially since my ticket number was kind of bad (C :P), but now I certainly don't regret it!

I got there right after school, and I had not been at Shibuya Rex for quite some time so I felt a bit nervous about finding my way, I really don't want to get lost, I have the worst sense of direction. I did find it, and I even saw the people who sat next to me at the Versailles concert! (Not that I talked to them, the guy next to me stared at me like I was an alien, I just remember him because he looked like hide). I assumed Rex would be all full and I'd stand in the back concidering my number, but oh no. Most people stood in the back and either the ticket's were limited in numbers or some people never showed up because I can't believe that I had a C ticket and the club was that "empty" when I got in. I checked the merch and they sold some photosets, a pamphlet, Rosario of course, clearfiles and then they had this paper in yellow stating 1000yen and then lots of Japanese. I began reading what I could read and finally I understood that you could pay 1000 yen to take a cheki with Hizaki! I got so excited because I've never been to a gig where they offer that, usually it's limited to either fanclub or instore events. Not a huge fan, but Hizaki's been with me since high school so obviously I wanted a cheki with him! I didn't quite get when and how this would happen, so I went to buy something thinking I could ask the woman at the merch table. Before me however was another foreigner, who did not speak Japanese, so they tried to tell her the rules in some simple Japanese/English, and I finally understood that everyone was welcome to participate and that you'd pay after the gig and also take the photo then.

The gig was a bit late, but hey most are. Hizaki and the support members got on stage while Elizabeth was playing, and I really love that song so I got so excited! Hizaki was really pretty, he wore the Rosario dress (same as the one he has on the photoset below) but with another hairstyle. He basically played all of Rosario except for Presto, and I really got to appreciate songs that I haven't payed that much attention to while listening to the cd, such as Silent Knight and Church Candle. Seeing Hizaki play in itself is an event. I really admire how awesome he is at it, he is so skilled! Seeing him play live was such an experience, it was great to see how carefully he plays to get certain sounds and how many different techniques he really uses! As a special guest for the day of honour, being his birthday event, Teru joined in and played with Hizaki for a couple of songs. I thought there would be even more people there especially since Teru would be a guest, I mean if Versailles could play Budoukan, how could not more people come when two of the members play a smaller venue?
Anyway, Hizaki did some MC inbetween and at one point they talked about the previous touring in Europe and said it was nice to be back, and then Hizaki pointed out that there was a lot of foreigners in the audience today, so he said welcome to Japan in English X). I didn't really notice until later that there was A LOT of foreigners, perhaps many came to Japan just for the Versailles concert? Also Zin came in on stage with a tiny cake and some flowers for Hizaki. It was kind of funny, because at first I didn't see it was him, I don't listen to Jupiter so I don't keep up with his looks, also he wasn't in costume. Hizaki pointed that out as well, how different he looks without make up.
Before the gig a fan handed out those crackers which explode into strips of paper (no idea what they're called), I was kind of suprised but it was a cute gesture I think. Well, by the time for the cake and flowers we all used those, I was unfortunatley a bit late, hehe. One fun surprise was that Hizaki acctually played a cover of Sara Brightman's Time to say goodbye! He said it was the first time he did it, and it was really nice made as a guitarcover.
When the gig was over it was time to wait for the staff to start the cheki taking. Basically we just waited until everyone had left the floor, so we who wanted to have a photo with Hizaki got to wait in line outside. I was a bit late so I ended up outside for real, and it was cold :P When I got into the club again I saw that they had put up some walls to create a more private space and I could spot Hizaki in there. You were allowed to take several pictures and you could also pose with his guitar! When it was my turn I wished him happy birthday and I decided to just have the photo taken with him, so I had my arm around his waist and he acctually got close enough so that our heads met X) I sort of expected him to be a bit reserved so I wasn't sure I could even tough him but he was totally fine with it. I got my picture and left. The sad thing about polaroid pictures is that they develope slow, I went to pick up my stuff and when I look at it I notice that I closed my eyes! How could I f** do that, I get 1 photo with Hizaki and I'm not even looking!!! XD I'm so pissed at myself.

I had a very nice evening though, and I'm super happy I went! I'm really looking forward to the live DVD he'll be releasing and also future albums! (he mentioned a mini album) Might not be able to see him live again though, since I'm working on getting my ass to that Schwarz Stein/Közi gig in June X)

Schwarz Stein der Winter

I don't know where to start, I'm seriously speechless, that's how awesome this live was. If I were to pick on gig that I've been to that's better than any other, this would be it. But let's start from the beginning.

The live was Schwarz Stein's first oneman since last spring! So it's been a long time, and they haven't released anything new since Sleeping Madness in November 2014! So it was a happy surprise when they announced the new single Fleeting Beauty and its following oneman at Shibuya Rex.
Since the single won't be released at record stores, and therefore not have an instore event, they also decided on an afterevent.
This time around the tickets to the gig wasn't sold through e-plus or any of the other regular online services, but at Shibuya Rex/Ruido's webpage. The tickets were released in December, and at that time I was still in Sweden but desperate as I am for a good ticket I decided to try and buy the ticket by paying with credit card and have it printed when I arrived in Japan. Normally it haven't worked to do so with other tickets but this time it acctually did! So I payed and got it confirmed in December and then I went to a Family Mart here in Tokyo to get the actual ticket. Because of this I assume I got a good number, sort of, 57! Considering many like to stand in the back I felt like I had a chance to get pretty close to the stage. For once I got myself a coinlocker, and for everyone's information, at Shibuya Rex they're 300yen! The thing was that I didn't know if I were supposed to be scared that the remix cd would've sold out unless I bought it when I arrive, I also had a tiny gift for Hora which I wanted to give the staff, and at the same time I wanted to get in as quick as possible to get a good spot infront of the stage. I decided to leave the shopping and gift for last, and hoped I'd be able to get everything I wanted. I always go for the right side of the stage since Hora stands there :P and there was only one person in front of me so I had a pretty good view. The music we were left listening to while waiting was Sopor Aeternus, might have been another band too but I recognized some of the songs playing. They started almost on time, just a bit passed 7 p.m, and the entrance was made to The Alternation of Generations -Conception- (I was a bit sad it wasn't Testament). Hora entered first followed by Kaya, and they wore their Sleeping Madness outfits, just Kaya wore another wig, a dark long and Hora had a very good looking cardigan on top of his corset. I seriously loved Hora's cardigan, I wonder where he bought it...
The gig started off with a lot of slow songs like Transient and Lilith, then when they played Queen of Decadence Hora and Kaya made people move around a bit. Everyone was so still and silent I almost felt bad for them, I know it's Japan but it still can't be fun to stand on stage and performing to a crowd which doesn't make any noise whatsoever. They also played Lapis Lazuli, which was the first time for me to hear live! That song has really grown on me, to begin with I wasn't too excited but now I think it's really good acctually.

I also got to hear Fester Love, which is one of my favorite Schwarz Stein songs and it's amazing live! The first one I went to, in 2012, Kaya brought out a whip. Unfortunately I haven't experienced that since then... I got the feeling the setlist was aiming to a slower and darker sound, so they also played Cocoon -Fallen-. This is song which I think gets better live than listening to it on CD/computer. The bass is so loud live, and I really love how that helps project that kind of dark image they're going for. The stage lightning was red, but it kept shifting between red and no light at all. Hora was standing by his keyboard, but Kaya danced around slowly, making it look like he didn't move at all since he would be standing in a different position and place when the light would be turned on (if anyone has seen the horror movie Lights out, you get what I mean).
Like always Kaya and Hora keeps joking on stage, Hora made fun of Kaya's dramatic poses by making a similar but way too exaggerated and silly version of it making both the crowd and Kaya laugh. Kaya pointed out that they should save the talking to the after event but it seems like they enjoyed it so much it was hard to stop.
Of course they played the new single, Fleeting Beauty as well! Kaya presented it and they played both the title track and the B-side, Hakobune
The songs followed the slow theme, imagen Transient sort of. Hakobune has a Hora solo song in it, I got to excited so I can't recall which one, might've been Flow but I don't want to promise anything!
Out of the more speedy songs I got another favorite of mine, Release me. It's so good live, and they really got the crowd going for that.
Just like always, when they leave stage everyone immediately starts calling for an encore. However this time Hora came out alone, grabbed a mic and said it's been 14 years since last time and then he presented no less than BIO GENESIS! I've been waiting for this song, forever! I've requested it, I've been hoping everytime but I've given up on it ever being played live, and then he does it today! I can't say how happy I was to be there for this live. I love BIO GENESIS and being able to hear it live, I'm out of words. Kaya wasn't present during this song, Hora did it mostly looking up the ceiling but god was it awesome or what? I got so excited it felt like it ended just after it began. I still can't believe he did that!
After that kaya joined him for the rest of the awesome, harder songs (Creeper, Syphilis and Disorder, Sleeping Madness and Succubus). They ended with Last Hallucination, and eventhough I haven't mentioned it they also played Perfect Garden and New Vogue Children. Then te live was over and we had to wait for the after event to start.
I didn't realise, but when I paid for the pass I received a paper on which I could write a question for the event, I just put that paper in my envelope for my ticket and didn't realise what it was until it was too late so I didn't ask any question. We waited for a while until those who wouldn't stay for the event had left and for the staff to collect the questions and check that everyone had their pass. When the event started some choir song started and the curtain was raised. On stage Kaya stood in some dramatic pose with a mac. It was time for his Dj session. It was really short but it included trance music with the choire, and in that some old Japanese pop songs and then Hora joined in and they played Sodomy! Eventhough I rather would've heard another Schwarz Stein song (or Hora solo), it was nice since I really like Sodomy. This was followed by Medusiana. Then they began reading the messages. They talked kind of fast so it was hard for me to follow, but someone asked Hora which kind of song is the easiest to compose, and he said that the harder songs are easier than the slower ones, and then someone else asked about their make up. Kaya mentioned that people used to coem in cosplay more often before, and Hora said that if everyone showed up in white make up next time they'd make an album. They then also mentioned how Hora never have shown himself without make up. He said that after a gig with Moi Dix Mois years ago, he and Kaya went to the car, passing fans and at that time he didn't wear any make up but it didn't seem like anyone noticed. Hora also said he had shown himself before, or after I think, an instore event.
The afterevent was a lot shorter than I imagened, especially considering it cost 2000yen, so I felt a bit sad when it was over so quickly. They said good bye and Hora came to wave and touch our hands again and then it was over. I went to buy Fleeting Beauty and some chekis (it started with four chekis, but I only got one of Hora so I decided to get two more, look carefully on the picture below and you'll understand why I couldn't help but to smile when I saw the Hora one...)
Anyway, I was just about to go and get my drink before getting my coat and hand my present for Hora to the staff when I see that Hora and Kaya is standing in the door saying bye to everyone who leaves! I panicked, my fellow fangirls/boys will understand this, but it was like in one of those dreams, when you see your favorite musician and you can't understand that they're really standing there and then when you're about to walk up to them you wake up. Just that this time it really happened! I was so happy that I didn't hand my gift to the staff, I sneaked by Hora to get my stuff from the locker, scared they'd go before I came back. Rushed back and then I noticed the line got smaller so I went to get a drink thinking since I have a gift it might be better to wait until last. So as fourth counted from the back I approached them in the line. When I got closer Hora saw me and gave me a smile and I felt like a child on christmas eve X) I first got to shake hands with Kaya, his smile is contagious so I just smiled and I couldn't really think of anything to say because I just really wanted to get to Hora XD I told him thanks for making wonderful music and it felt so sweet because he really looked at me when I talked to him, and his hands were so warm (I'm always cold so it was very nice). Then I finally got to Hora! I'll just sum it up, I'm so freaking happy, and his hands were also very warm and nice to hold.
This was such a great evening and the setlist was perfect except for Testament (I also would like to hear Beautiful the Virgin some time...). I'm so happy I got to be here for that particular live, I can't describe it in words.

Kaya announced something very nice during the evening, which now is on Twitter so some might already have seen it, but Schwarz Stein will make a coupling live in Nagoya in June with no less than Közi! I'm gonna do my best to get there since Közi and Hora are my two favorite musicians, I feel like I can't miss this. Too much awesomness...

I'm so tired now, so I'm gonna leave it like this, I'll update with a setlist when or if Kaya will post one.
Now I'm off to some sweet Schwarz Stein dreams~

Setlist from Kaya's blog:
2017.2.24 『Schwarz Stein der Winter』
SetList
１：transient
２：Perfect Garden
３：current
MC
４：lapis lazuli
５：Lilith
６：Queen of Decadence
MC
７：Fleeting Beauty
８：方舟
９：cocoon-fallen-
10：fester love
11：Release me
12：Rise to Heaven
13：New vogue children
MC
14：Last Hallucination
encore
15：BIO GENESIS
16：Sleeping Madness
17：CREEPER
18：Syphilis and Disorder
19：Succubus