For our second segment of the day, we have the live report of AWOI's performance at Anime North... For the previous segment, please click here. If you have already read it, please continue with the report below.
Next up was AWOI. There was a short break while they changed the drum kit set up and swapped out instruments. Once all that packing was done AWOI came onto the stage to loud cheering from the fans. Shou, Saki and Sin started playing towards Ryo like a quick tune up. Just as they rise up in volume Otogi bounds onto the stage. Otogi asks the fans 'Are you ready?' Huge screams of, “YES!” from the fans. Once again Otogi asks if the fans are ready. All you can hear from the fans are screaming. He points to the left side, middle and right asking the fans if they are ready. The fans were definitely more than ready still being pumped up from the previous performance. Then, all of a sudden, they broke out into their first song. It was a great song to start off with, excellent beat for head banging done both by the fans and the artists. Shou and Sin both played close to the stage for the fans, and Ryo was playing so hard his whole kit was shaking. Shou and Sin went up and played toward Ryo again for a few beats then went back to the front; Otogi I find is a very dramatic singer. You can tell is very into the lyrics and music but expresses it in a different way, with lots of large movements. For example arm sweeps, full body head banging, etc. The end of the song seemed to come too soon, as Shou lifted his guitar above his head. Just when you thought the song was over there was a deep scream from Otogi and a very powerful and steady beat from the rest of the members. Shou got down low and played close to the fans, which they adored. The song officially ended with the last note played loud and hard. Shou leaned into the crowed to shake some hands. Sin was teasing the fans by leaning over them but just out of reach. Otogi then introduces the next song and they get right to it.
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| Vo. Otogi |
Otogi must have really strong vocals with the amount of screaming there is in their songs. His transitions are very smooth as well. The fans were back at head banging again. Finally! Saki graces the fans with his presence up at the front of the stage and played in front of them. But, sadly Saki had to move back again. Shou was doing some awesome head banging and his pink hair just made it so much cooler. Otogi got the crowed into fist pumping to the beat. Otagi has an amazing vocal range it is really interesting to listen to. You don't really expect it and it's quite pleasant. With a soft finish, the song was over. Lots of screaming coming from the fans they were clearly enjoying the performance and couldn't wait to hear more!
Otogi raised his right hand in the air and the fans hushed down. Ryo gave a few notes intro into the next song which started full body head banging from Otogi. He then got the fans into fist pumping and jumping along with the band. I must say I distinctly remember this song because it was quite squishy at the front of the stage with everyone jumping and fist pumping. I swear anyone who was at the front of the stage must have come away with an impressive stage bruise. Just goes to show how much the fans loved the concert. This song was really nice because you could definitely hear the bass being played. Shou was jumping around a lot, Sin did support vocals for this song and it was really nice to hear. It just gave an extra layer to the vocals and a bit of depth. I find a lot of the time live performances give you the added bonus of being able to really tune in and hear those extra little parts that sometimes, when recorded, get swallowed up in the editing. Back to fist pumping from the fans; Oh, and I haven't mentioned yet that Otogi had a jacket on...but no shirt! Many of the fans loved this. Eventually the song came to an end which was followed by a short water break and tune up. Lots of fans were screaming “Otogi!” during the break.
Starting with a drum intro and a few notes from a guitar, they were rocking right into the next song. Sin was up to the edge of the stage again getting the crowed pumped. He also does support vocals for this song as well. Shou does support vocals also. To the fans delight Saki was back to the front of the stage! Saki and Shou played at the edge of the stage together and kind of low for the fan's benefit. We then get back into some head banging both fans and artists. With the end of this song there was cheering from the fans. Without wasting any time at all, Otogi introduced the next song.
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| Gt. Sin |
They started the song off with some screaming and head banging! I actually heard from one of the fans that they ended up giving themselves a bit of whiplash while head banging to AWOI. So the fans were really into the performance and having a lot of fun with it. It was just a sea of hair flying around; it really is an awesome sight. This song has an interesting combination of screaming and lighter tones. The parts complement each other really nicely. Sin was up to the edge of the stage, crouched down and playing, giving the opportunity for the fans to touch him. Otogi also crouched at the front of the stage for the fans, and then the song ended with just a yell from Otogi.
Without even an introduction they did a seamless jump into the next song. The song starting off with a few bars of steady, repetitive tunes while Otogi added his low, mysterious voice while standing at the edge of the stage leaning over into the crowd shaking some hands. The volume and beat picked up slightly, and the fans were back to fist pumping and singing parts of the song. Just when you think it couldn't get any better, Otogi takes off his jacket part way. Of course the fans screamed over that. At this stage Otogi was sweating a lot and you could see that sexy sheen on his chest. Don't believe me? Here's a photo to prove it! The song came to an end with rising screams from the fans.
The space between songs almost seemed seamless, and it started off with a weird but interesting sound. He took off his jacket! It was so wild to have topless Otogi performing on stage right in front of you. You can’t even imagine what the fans were like. It was really fun to watch Ryo rocking on the drum kit. He was really into it and can produce a really powerful sound. This particular song is interesting because Otogi sings in a higher register and pulls it off really nicely. If you have the opportunity, definitely see these guys live. They have an interesting and unique sound quality. The song ends with the same type of weird and interesting sound that it began with.
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| Ds. Ryo |
Otogi screams out an introduction of the song before the first note was strummed. Otogi was crouched at the front of the stage again and fans took the chance to do a little harmless groping, which was so tempting with him so close and no shirt on. Sin was back up close to the edge of the stage crouching down a bit while playing to the fans. The fans were totally spoiled with being able to be so interactive with the bands at this stage. Shou was all into this song, dancing and bouncing around. It was really fun to watch, he was then on his knees playing close to the fans. The energy is so contagious! This song ended as quickly as it began. Sin threw one of his picks to the crowed. At this point they were taking a small breather. Retuning and grabbing some water. From the way the fans were screaming, you'd think that they were just starting the concert! It is truly amazing how the fans have a consistent amount of energy and support for both the bands over the course of the two hour concert. Otogi was asking the fans 'Are you ready for us!?' huge scream of 'YES!' from the audience. 'Here we go!' from Otogi. Saki had taken his nose/eye band off at this point. All the band members were clapping their hands above their heads to get the audience to do the same. Which they obliged. "One, two, three, four hey let’s go!” is what Otogi said before they were full out into the next song.
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| Ba. Saki |
Otogi, Sin and Shou were dancing and bounding around the stage, especially Otogi! Fans were back into fist pumping. This song is so bouncy, so easy to get caught up in the moment. Otogi crouched at the edge of the stage to the fans delight! He was grabbing a lot of the fans hands. He started at the one end of the staged and moved along the front to the other side trying to get to all the fans. Sin and Shou switched sides so they could play close to the fans on the other side. Shou and Sin were still on the opposite sides and Saki was playing over the fans. Then as if the fans weren't overwhelmed enough, on the right side of the stage Otogi thought it would be great to slip off the stage a bit and stand over the cowd. With one on the speaker in front of the stage and his other foot on the side rail he was grabbing hand and making fans go nuts. It was one of those super special moments that those particular fans will be talking about forever. Eventually Otogi had to get back onto the stage. With guitars ending the song we were getting pretty close to the end of their performance with only a few more songs to go.
Otogi announced the last song. All the fans gave a sad “Awwww!”, clearly not wanting the concert to end so soon. This song is a bit more mellow compared to the rest of their songs, and it was a perfect ending song. What it made it even better was that the acoustics in this space carried Otogi's voice perfectly. All too quickly the song came to an end. The fans were screaming and cheering. Otogi shook a few hands in the front then exited the stage. The others played some last notes and ended on the last one all together around Ryo's drums. The fans were screaming as Shou, Sin and Saki lifted their guitars about their heads. Sin pointed his at the audience kind of like a gun. Ryo came out from behind his kit and everyone was screaming for him. At this point Shou and Sin had exited the stage. Saki and Ryo stuck around for a bit point and waving to the fans, then Ryo left the stage. Saki was still their shaking and grabbing fan's hands on the right side of the stage. Shou came back on stage for a bit to shake a few more hands. Ryo ended up leaving the stage and Shou picked up a mic! Here is what he had to say 'uuuh hello!' (adding more in later, needs translating). With that Shou ran along the edge of the stage and grabbed a few hands before exiting the stage for the last time. The fans were screaming and chanting for an encore but unfortunately even though the fans showed great spirit in wanting more songs, the time just didn't allow for an encore. That was it, the show was over, with amazing and fun performances from both bands.
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| Gt. Shou |
Set List:
- 鈴虫 (Crickets)
- 絶望の太陽 (The Sun of despair)
- 哀しい歌 (Sad Song)
- メランコリィ
- bastard
- Anti-Music
- エデン
- Butterfly
- abelcain
- blind
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