live report ~ Glayi: September 12, 2009
Los Angeles, CA - House of Blues Sunset Strip
Usually when the words “Glay is coming” are uttered the JRock community goes into a series of spasms and shock, because a live performance by them is truly an electrifying event to witness.
The members of Glay revealed themselves on stage to uproarious applause, signaling to those few unaware of Glay‘s appeal their legendary status. One by one they entered, Seiichiro on keyboards, Toshi on drums, Hisashi on guitar, Jiro on bass, Takuro on lead guitar, and front man Teru on vocals.
The live encompassed a wide range of music styles. I can firmly disclose that there was indeed “something for everyone” at this event. The live initially started out with charming songs filled with positive energy, and gradually drifted into more somber songs that impressed a deeper introspective. Carnal songs that unleashed the head banger in everyone were next. Synchronicity started out on a particularly captivating note. Teru held the haunting notes as long as his lungs would allow, re-capturing the audience’s attention before allowing them to go crazy once more.
Teru’s MC was both amazingly brilliant and amazingly funny. He has a way with words that prompts the entire audience to clap with enthusiasm whenever he says something off-the-wall funny. The crowd interaction tonight was just superb.
During Starless Night, Teru divided up the audience to sing in different parts, girls and then boys. “Not you! You’re a boy! Just girls!” It’s rare to see a vocalist interact so much with fans. He would often respond to questions thrown at him from the audience members, or even stoop down to talk face to face with zealous fans in the front row. Despite the capacity for House of Blues this threw into effect a familial and intimate tone to the live, which makes Glay’s return to the US all the more precious.
Two years, four live events later, and High Communications still carries the same weight it did at this venue as it did then. The entire audience participated faithfully with Teru as he swung his arms into the air, punching it with fervor.
More Than Love finalized the set before the encore, and screams rocked the venue as a shirtless Teru sauntered about the stage, screaming into the microphone with his out-of-this-world vocal range. If screams could move tectonic plates, Teru’s would be a close match. An earthquake could have occurred at any moment and I wouldn’t have been surprised. The room was exploding with an assortment of energy.
The encore rattled the loyal Glay fans with favorites such as Kanojo no “Modern…” and Peak Hateshinaku Soul Kagirinaku, during which a mass of arms waving from side to side frenzied the audience into hysteria. Glay’s bassist Jiro had a glorifying moment in the spotlight during SHUTTER SPEEDS no Theme where he… well, there is no other way to word this… raped his bass with a hard thrashing that made bass enthusiasts jizz in their pants.
Rather than end things with a huge blow-out, Teru and Takuro traded in their mic and electric guitar for a set of acoustic guitars for their last song of the evening, the immortal I‘m In Love. It was a lovely send off. By the end of the night the audience could earnestly proclaim to Glay, “I’m just in love.” Repeatedly the audience sung with no vocal accompaniment whatsoever. I do wonder what was running through Glay’s head at that time during such a touching moment.
Luckily Teru knew exactly the right words to say. “We’ll be back.”
We look forward to seeing you Glay.
set list
~Tokyo Vice terror~
GREAT VACATION
YUUWAKU
-MC-
IKITEKU TSUYOSA
GLORIOUS
Cynical
STARLESS NIGHT
-MC-
RUN
HOWEVER
BE WITH YOU
-MC-
VERB
Synchronicity
I am xxx
HIGH COMMUNICATIONS
-MC-
More than Love
SHUTTER SPEED no Theme
ACID HEAD
-ENCORE-
Kanojyo no Modern
Peak Hateshinaku Soul Kagirinaku
I'm in Love
live report by Sarah; photos copyright Shunji Kobayashi
Thank you to BAM! Entertainment for making this possible.
links
Glay Official Website
Glay Official MySpace
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