exhausted
*chu* To lovely Thai fans (& cat's bbs & Rei chan for telling me) for their live pic - This was very much like the view I had..
I feel somewhat like a little kid does post Christmas day.. it seems an eternity waiting and waiting, then BLIP! It's gone..
It was incredibly uncomfortable during Friday's pre-reg/reg line up-athon. My heart went out to anyone in a cosplay outfit. I'm surprised I didn't see people fainting left & right. The first thing I did when I received the almight Concert sticker was call Leigh - ^-^ He was very pleased. After walking around in my usual Otakon-daze-lost&clueless mode that I employed during the entire weekend, I managed to meet up with
claireredding (who quite made my experience so enjoyable, I owe her a debt) & the as lovely in person/as she is online pimpinhyde. (Blufish's friends were also there..but *doh!* I am forgetting their lj names) - Friday Highlight - Meeting up with
chocowasabi & fadestory ^-^!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Claire & I sat next to Chiye & Midori at the Angela concert. It was great that they had such a big crowd, about 2,000 people.. Harummphhh.. The crowd COULD have been a bit more enthusiastic.. Angela, however, couldn't have been more appealing or adorable. The sound system didn't do them justice, but I really enjoyed them. The vocalist Atsuko is incredibly cute- & Katsu amazed us with his English SHE'S BABE!! Saturday - Hurry up & Wait-A-Thon Claire & I set out to stake our spot in front of the arena at about 9:30 am. The Japanese fan contingent was well represented ^.~... I regret that I never forced myself to try and chat with any of the fans from Japan (which now I realize was due to PMS, as my rather naturally low level of self confidence completely disappears at that time- )
After a few hours, we were joined by
domorrigan & hydebelle It was SO GREAT to finally meet them... (as I fought off any jealous feelings of standing next to Claire/Domo/HBelle... who are Just so darn cute! ^.~) Super trooper blufish showed up WITH A BROKEN FOOT. I think she would be an ideal vacation partner - Whining and complaining from the loverly bfish for spending most of Friday in the hospital emerg room? No, I say!!
When joined by the drive_til_you_drop
lirimaer & drops_of_colour I was incredibly relieved.. (Oh I think I worry like a mother hen sometimes) I remember the "I'll step on you to see the Who" line made famous years back when some fans got trampled at a concert. I was quite afraid of that happening to me. When they allowed us to actually approach the arena doors - >.< it was SCARY.. Well scary for me anyway.
After much screaming at by staff to back up - which was impossible - Claire & I got separated from Hydebell & Domo, but thank goodness they managed to stay right up at the very front.. Finally, they let us in - more yelling, screaming, starting, stopping. Thank goodness Blufish was able to get escorted in before the crowd *tips my hat to Otakon*..
Then the wild dash to the seats started.. and after being in the sun for over 6 hours made it hard for me to run as fast as my friends - so yet again I get separated. I make my way for the section right in view of Hyde's microphone..
After deciding to take my life if they start playing Full Metal Alchemist for a third time.. (The concert was late as people kept filing in - but a full arena is a good thing).
How lovely of L'arc~en~Ciel to start off with 2 of my favorite tracks, Seppun & Loverboy. I tried to take a quick inventory of what they were wearing - Hyde/ leatherpants & and a jacket that had a trenchcoat look..
He took the jacket off after a few songs - and I was trying to figure out what the heck he was wearing *laugh* Some type of black mesh & red shirt with a vest contraption.. It wasn't made out of fur *laugh* so that's a good thing. Tetsu had on a shirt that looked white/pink & dark pants with a 'skirt'. Yukihiro had the typical headband, and a jersey & dark pants. Ken had black pants & a white tank -
pts remarked in his SMILE review that Hyde 'is such a girl on stage'... and MY OH MY he is!!! Thank you Hyde san.. You just can't help flirting like a girlyman *yay!* (as Hyde places hands on Hips & looks like he's ready to audition for Will & Grace)- Hyde was quite animated as he shakes his head like a eager puppy dog & runs to the corners of the stage to flirt with 12,000 fans. I think Hyde's goal in life is just to make fans like myself always end up feeling a bit conflicted - Not quite sure how one person can be so appealing in rather contradictory ways Then Hyde has to go and do a hair tugging, eye misting, microphone panting rendition of Eien. It WAS my least favorite SMILE track, but now I'll always have the performance image in my head- WOW! Was it good for you too Hydesan? *laugh* Can I have a cigarette? ^.~... (Oh wait, I see you are busy feeling up Tetsu, never mind) Just when I think I can recover, Kasou~.......I'm glad I was standing up, or I probably would have fallen off my chair
Ken can hardly become any more appealing - and his Dolphin/Duck routine was a laugh riot.
Tetsu could have been a bit more animated.. Maybe he didn't eat enough bananas.
Pokes Yukihiro... SPEAK Yuki! SPEAK!
I was just amazed at how good they sounded. Often, I've thought SMILE was written with Lives in mind & it was just my guess.. I rarely know what I'm talking about. Oh my, however I think I may have actually been right on the money..I think SMILE was tailor made for live performance.
It was just so nice to actually see them FOR REAL - and to be able to try and express in audible way how much I appreciate them. I must say my silly little Hyde/Laruku obsession - well no chance of that ending soon.
One of the things that made me happiest... Domo & Hydebelle were in the FRONT ROW & I saw Ken blow them kisses. Us Laruku fans couldn't have asked for better representation - Cute, energetic, and singing along with all the songs & cheering to the top of their lungs~!!!! Yay Domo & Hydebelle!
Other people have already done better/more detailed reports then I can - so for more detailed descriptions you can check them out:
http://www.livejournal.com/community/larcenciel/193165.html
http://www.livejournal.com/users/hydebelle/
I wouldn't hesistate to do it again -
Note to self ... don't give out your cell # to everyone then figure out you don't know how to use it worth beans >.< .. Sorry to anyone whose call I missed because I was too stupid to answer the phone right.. ^^;;
I was very happy to come to the hotel room after the concert and find the tell tale P.o.T. plushie on the bed - which meant Richan had been there. How great to meet with her at last.
It was also great to meet up with Codi & Cori.. I think I may have left my camera in their room. but *beats head* I'm not sure what I did with it.
Thank you L'arc En Ciel
While it can be a hassle to suffer bouts of chronic endo & IBS.. I'm so happy that this waited till after the concert to hit me.. Yay me, this morning I survived the most painful bout of Endo I have ever had in my life -
