Today we present to you our new feature "Throwback Thursday". It is a time that we VKH authors take the chance to post any of our late live report, interviews, etc. and publish them to help reflect on the past events as well as get our information out there! If you've noticed any reports missing recently, don't worry, we've got it covered now. It will all be published during our weekly/bi-weekly segments over time until we are all caught up! When we fall behind, the cycle will begin again. With this first feature, we remind you of Umbrella's and Awoi's live at Anime North earlier this year in a two part live report.
Well with any good review you have to start at the very beginning...of the line that is. People started lining up about an hour before the concert even began. I felt a bit bad because it was so windy and quite chilly. That didn't faze the anxious fans that were patiently waiting and taking turns doing coffee runs. Of course I took this opportunity to talk to a few people who were waiting. I found out that there were quite a few attendees that had travelled a fair distance up from the States just for the chance to see their favourite bands rock out. Thanks to J-rock North Promotions I was allowed to slip in a bit early so I could scope out a good spot for photos.
Well with any good review you have to start at the very beginning...of the line that is. People started lining up about an hour before the concert even began. I felt a bit bad because it was so windy and quite chilly. That didn't faze the anxious fans that were patiently waiting and taking turns doing coffee runs. Of course I took this opportunity to talk to a few people who were waiting. I found out that there were quite a few attendees that had travelled a fair distance up from the States just for the chance to see their favourite bands rock out. Thanks to J-rock North Promotions I was allowed to slip in a bit early so I could scope out a good spot for photos.
They were a little late letting people in. During the sound check there had been some technical difficulties that needed to be fixed before they could proceed. Once people were let it, there was a mad dash to the front of the stage so many fans wanting to get up close to the bands. It was nice to see a good crowed filling into the space. It took quite a few minutes till everyone was in and ready. Without further adieu Shay from Jrock North Promotions came out on stage. Riled up the fans and introduced Umbrella! as the first band to play. As a huge roar erupted from the fans, Sho, Syu, Hal and Yui came onto the stage. The fans were really excited to see them and couldn't wait till they started playing!
Eventually the fans started to get a bit restless and
started chanting 'Um-brel-la' as the guys were getting set up to play. Sho
stood up behind his kit and waved his arms up to make the fans chant louder, which
of course they obliged. Then the band started clapping a slow, steady clap, getting
all the fans to join in. Part way through they started picking up the pace. Syu
and Hal played a few notes that carried through the clapping sounding very
mystical. It quieted down for just a few seconds before they went straight into
their first song. At this point the stage lights came on and illuminated the
band. Oh and did I mention Hal and Syu
both had light rings on their strumming hands? Sho had them on his drum sticks
and Yui on his right hand. It was a pretty cool site when they all started to
rock out.
 |
| Vo: Yui |
With the start of the next song Yui asks the audience 'Are
you ready to rock?' with a unanimous 'whoooo!!' from the crowed. Immediately
following the start of the next song, Yui got the crowd into more
chanting. Yui also sang the first part
of the song with a folding fan. It was a really unique it added a certain flare
to his movements. It felt like an extension of his hands and voice, adding more
expression to the music and it was just really cool. I found Syu and Hal were
at the edge of the stage a lot of time. It was really nice because the fans
loved the opportunity to be so close to them playing. With this song there was
a lot of jumping and fist pumping from the audience who were clearly having fun
with it. I slipped into the crowed at the beginning to get some snaps of the
artists and I distinctly remember getting kind of crushed during this song.
It's really hard taking good photos when a crowed of fans are jumping around
but it was great to see. Once this song came to a conclusion they wasted no
time drumming into the next song.
Back with the chanting! With Syu and Hal encouraging for the
fans to go louder, this next song they played was from their newest album. One thing I have to say about Umbrella their
music and energy they have performing is so infectious. You just automatically
want to jump right in and rock out with them. There is no way you cannot keep
moving during a performance. At this
point Hal and Syu decided to check out the other side of the stage and switched
places. Even Yui decided to get close to the fans on the one side by touching a
few hands. Then everyone went back to their places. Yui does a lot of dancing
around when performing; it's really cute and fun to watch. Hal dances and spins
around a lot too. They are so entertaining.
Before getting into the next song Yui gets the crowed
screaming and excited again. This song
is a bit softer than the previous songs, it was a nice contrast. This gave the
drummer a bit of a break, but not by much. I find a lot of people take the drummer
for granted, but drummers have to keep a steady beat and rhythm throughout
every song and keep up the energy. It takes a lot of coordination and endurance
to be able to do that. It was amazing to watch Sho drum, keeping the pace and
the drumming combinations. It's amazing how fast he was making the drumsticks
just fly over the set. The fans started to clap to the music. This song has a
very steady but interesting beat to it.
 |
| Gu: Syu |
This next song is one of their newer ones from their album
that was released in 2012. The audience started clapping along to the beat in
the beginning then changed over to fist pumping. Syu and Hal were right up to
the crowed again. Interestingly enough, Shou stood up while playing! It was just the base drum beat section of the
song. I have never seen that done before. To see a drummer stand up during a
performance, still keep the beat and without losing control was really cool to
see. It was really impressive and yes can't get over how epic it was! It's not
too often that you see a vocalist play guitar live and I have to say it was
really neat seeing three guitarists up front. What was really fun about it was
when they were all rocking out on their instruments at the same time. It looked
like so much fun! Kind of like when you're listening to a favourite song and
your playing air guitar....except they are playing for real. As they finished off the song, the fans
started screaming again. They sounded louder this time though, I do not know
how they managed to up their enthusiasm but they did. I think for Canadian fans
it has to do with being so deprived of Jrock here. We end up having an endless
supply of craziness and energy when it comes to Jrock concerts. Of course I
also find Canadians just have a real love for music in general so when we're at
a concert we can't help but get carried away and get lost in the experience. I
am sure it is the same for a lot of people around the world but I just notice
this trend a lot more when I'm at a concert in Canada.
They didn't waste much time leading into the next song, which
was a bit softer than the previous songs but still had a great steady beat. It
is really nice to hear the variety and range that they have in their music. This
song is a really beautiful song and filled with a lot of emotion.
When the last song finished they went right into the next
one. This was another ballad with a very steady beat but is also a soft song.
It's a song that sounds like it transcends space and time. Kind of has an epic
quality to it. Also, there’s a bit of a march section to it which is pretty
neat. Syu was playing with the fans with his guitar then waving for the fans to
go louder while Yui stepped up to the front and grabbed a few hands. The audience
eventually quieted down in anticipation for the next song to start.
Starting off with a few bass notes and Sho's cymbals, Syu
started in and before you knew it they were into the next song, which was
upbeat and had a quick tempo. I find Yui is a very expressive vocalist which is
a lot of fun to watch because he uses his hands to express different parts of a
song or dances around on stage to the upbeat parts. It keeps the audience
engaged and they get sucked into Umbrella's world. This is a great combination
song, by that I mean there are some slow and soft sections. Then, in the same
breath, there is an upbeat and quick tempo part. The transitions are smooth and
seamless, making for a great, well rounded song. Lots of fist pumping from the
crowd and screaming, ending with drum beats and cheers from the fans.
 |
| Ba. Hal |
The fans were pretty loud a bit on the high pitch side. Hal introduced Sho who is on drums, then
introduced Syu on guitar. The fans were yelling at Syu, so Syu tricked them by
running toward the end of the stage like he was about to crowed surf but
stopped short. Hal introduced himself on bass shortly after. Last but not least,
vocalist Yui was introduced. Hal then said, “We love you, Canada.” which of
course this just made the fans go nuts with cheering. Hal passed out stickers
to the rest of the members and they started flinging them to the fans. Sho came
out from his kit and grabbed a few of the fans' hands. Hal asked the fans if they
had a t-shirt; some did, some didn't. I couldn't quite make out what Hal said
next because well the fans were just really excited and screaming a lot and
really loudly which pretty much drowned out everything else.
Everyone settled down a bit as a few noted were played on
the guitars. Sho then went full swing into the next song with a very upbeat and
fast tempo. This was another song from their most recent album. Fans were fist
pumping to the beat again; this song is interesting because Hal and Syu both
sing a bit in it as well. Syu noticed me off to the side as I was taking a few
photos, gave me a thumbs up and stuck his tongue out at me. I couldn't help but
dance to their music. Syu then went over to Hal's side and started playing with
him close to the fans. As Syu came back over to his original side Hal followed
him so he could play to the fans on that side of the stage. Hal moved back to
his side. The fans were encouraged to fist pump to the beat of the bass drum by
Sho and to rock out with Yui as he did. The song ended with lots of screaming
from the fans.
 |
| Dr. Sho |
Sho said thank you again, later joining Syu in shaking hands as Hal had already exited the stage. Yui jogged over to the side of
the stage where Syu was playing to shake some hands as well and he waved at me.
Syu had exited the stage at this point, but Yui was waving to fans and eventually found a light ring to toss to them.
Sho was practically in the crowed on the other side trying to shake everyone's
hand. Yui and Sho exited the stage, during this whole
time the fans were screaming and cheering. I realized that the fans have
amazing endurance to keep up that constant cheering at the same pitch. Anyway
that was the end of Umbrella's session. It was really well performed and I am
really looking forward to seeing them live again.
Set List:
- ギザギザ回路 (Gizagiza kairo)
- Kousounikki
- モノクローム
- Kuroneko ga toru
- 風穴
- ワスレナグサ
- Requiem
- LoV
- 五月雨 (Samidare)
- Tsuk
I'm happy now lol I got a IMVU credits code and it wasn't invalid! I got it from http://imvucreditsgenerator.com
ReplyDelete