I got a FEVER...
and the only cure, is more “W!” So this past Friday, Krystal, Kevin, Val. William, and I went to Osaka, for the WEEZER CONCERT!! Jealous??? You better be because the show was freakin’ awesome! It’s been a while since I went to a concert and I was glad that I started by seeing Weezer. The “W” that the band has on stage behind them as they play was one of the most memorable things in my life. We walked into the already crowded small standing room only concert hall and the only thing I could see was the giant “W”. As we waited for the band to come out the anticipation was killing me. And sure enough the band came out and said a few funny things in Japanese and on the first note of the first song the “W” goes off!! It has got to be one of the coolest things in the world. And since that very first note, all the way back home to Kyoto I couldn’t get the image out of my head. I think it might be in fact burned into my retinas.
Anyway the concert was on a Friday in Osaka. To get to Osaka, it takes about 45 minutes or so on the express train. The gates opened at 6 and the band was going on at 7. The thing is that we get out of work at 4:30. That means we needed to get to the station and leave by 5:15 to get there in time to get up close. This would be impossible if we followed the rules. So Krystal and I asked our schools to give us permission to go the education center and from there we checked in and then left right out the door. We were able to get home by 4:20 and make it to Osaka by 5:45. The only thing was that we needed to take more trains within Osaka and that took an extra 30 minutes. As we got to the concert venue there was already a huge crowd by the gates. On our tickets it said random standing space but we also had numbers. They said Group 21 #1-6. This meant that we were the 21th group of people to go in, this made getting in semi-orderly. Anyway we get in and the whole stage is step and I crap my pants. This brings up to the “W”.
The band was so AWESOME! They really know how to play to the Japanese crowd. I was impressed with the Japanese fans as well as the band. The fans new pretty much all the words of the songs off the new album as well as the old school stuff. It was pretty funny jumping there and hearing the guy behind me screaming, “ipu U wanto to desutoroii mai suweta, ohh, woo woo woo. Jes puru the su-ed ando waku a-wey.” (Translation; If you want to destroy my sweater, woo woo woo, just pull the thread and walk away.) HAHAHA it was pretty funny. Another cool thing was when the band finished a song and walked off stage, the lights all went out and we all thought the concert was over but somewhere right behind us Rivers Cuomo was standing on a small stage playing an acoustic version of Island in the Sun. IT WAS CRAZY!! He finished the set and the rest of the band was on stage again and this time they were asking if there was someone in the audience that could play acoustic guitar to come to the stage. I never wanted to be able to play guitar so bad in my life. But anyway they got this guys that was closer to the front to come up and play The Sweater Song with the band. The dude looked like he was crying at one point of the song. God, if only I knew how to play guitar. Anyway, Weezer finished the set and it was time to leave. So as the Japanese ushers were trying to get out I went up to the stage and started asking the stage crew/roadies fir anything of the band. The girls in front of me were yelling for something and one of the guys ripped off the concert song set list and threw it to them. SHIT so I started screaming “Nani ga Chodai!” (Translation: Give me Something!) But they were just ignoring me. So in English I yell out, “Do you guys have anything from the band up there? Anything, anything, come on man, I came all the way from Hawaii to see these guys.” Then one of them turns around and asks, “You’re from Hawaii? Which island?” I say, “I’m from Oahu, Honolulu, you know.” Then he asks, “Where in Honolulu?” I say, “Kaimuki!” He picks off something off the floor and walks over and hands me something, ignoring all the girls in front me and hands me a PICK! It was one of River Cuomo’s PICKS!! HOLY SHIT!! As the guy is passing me the pick he tells me that he used to leave in Maui and in Kailua. Is that AWESOME?! I can’t believe I got to see Weezer and get a souvenir.
I got some pictures for you guys to drool over. MUAHAHAHAHA
Anyway the concert was on a Friday in Osaka. To get to Osaka, it takes about 45 minutes or so on the express train. The gates opened at 6 and the band was going on at 7. The thing is that we get out of work at 4:30. That means we needed to get to the station and leave by 5:15 to get there in time to get up close. This would be impossible if we followed the rules. So Krystal and I asked our schools to give us permission to go the education center and from there we checked in and then left right out the door. We were able to get home by 4:20 and make it to Osaka by 5:45. The only thing was that we needed to take more trains within Osaka and that took an extra 30 minutes. As we got to the concert venue there was already a huge crowd by the gates. On our tickets it said random standing space but we also had numbers. They said Group 21 #1-6. This meant that we were the 21th group of people to go in, this made getting in semi-orderly. Anyway we get in and the whole stage is step and I crap my pants. This brings up to the “W”.
The band was so AWESOME! They really know how to play to the Japanese crowd. I was impressed with the Japanese fans as well as the band. The fans new pretty much all the words of the songs off the new album as well as the old school stuff. It was pretty funny jumping there and hearing the guy behind me screaming, “ipu U wanto to desutoroii mai suweta, ohh, woo woo woo. Jes puru the su-ed ando waku a-wey.” (Translation; If you want to destroy my sweater, woo woo woo, just pull the thread and walk away.) HAHAHA it was pretty funny. Another cool thing was when the band finished a song and walked off stage, the lights all went out and we all thought the concert was over but somewhere right behind us Rivers Cuomo was standing on a small stage playing an acoustic version of Island in the Sun. IT WAS CRAZY!! He finished the set and the rest of the band was on stage again and this time they were asking if there was someone in the audience that could play acoustic guitar to come to the stage. I never wanted to be able to play guitar so bad in my life. But anyway they got this guys that was closer to the front to come up and play The Sweater Song with the band. The dude looked like he was crying at one point of the song. God, if only I knew how to play guitar. Anyway, Weezer finished the set and it was time to leave. So as the Japanese ushers were trying to get out I went up to the stage and started asking the stage crew/roadies fir anything of the band. The girls in front of me were yelling for something and one of the guys ripped off the concert song set list and threw it to them. SHIT so I started screaming “Nani ga Chodai!” (Translation: Give me Something!) But they were just ignoring me. So in English I yell out, “Do you guys have anything from the band up there? Anything, anything, come on man, I came all the way from Hawaii to see these guys.” Then one of them turns around and asks, “You’re from Hawaii? Which island?” I say, “I’m from Oahu, Honolulu, you know.” Then he asks, “Where in Honolulu?” I say, “Kaimuki!” He picks off something off the floor and walks over and hands me something, ignoring all the girls in front me and hands me a PICK! It was one of River Cuomo’s PICKS!! HOLY SHIT!! As the guy is passing me the pick he tells me that he used to leave in Maui and in Kailua. Is that AWESOME?! I can’t believe I got to see Weezer and get a souvenir.
I got some pictures for you guys to drool over. MUAHAHAHAHA
This is the "W" that I got burned into my retinas.
This is not a picture from the concert because cameras weren't allowed but I just wanted you guys see what the "W" looked like with Rivers in front... totally aweosme!
This is the announcement we got, just to show you guys that I wasn't making nay of this up,
This is RIVERS CUOMO'S Pick that I got for being from Hawaii!
Enough gloating, anyway I should be coming home very very very soon. Can’t wait to see everyone and eat some Zippy’s!!
I got a fever and the only cure is more “W”!!
posted by Chris at 5:35 AM
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