AAA LIVE in the USA

On July 20th, AAA gave their first performance overseas in the USA at Otakon 2007. As people filled the ballroom, concert goers passed the time by watching two large projector screens that were running AAA PVs. Finally the lights dimmed completely as a back track burst through the speakers and the show started.

The group emerged from the side of the stage wearing matching costumes and broke into a synchronized dance routine. Screams rose from the delighted audience as the first song, Dragon Fire, started.

During Let it Beat Mitsuhiro Hidaka rallied the crowd into throwing their hands in the air during his rapping part. After the second song was over, the group began another dance routine to cheers from the audience. Each member had their turn at an incredible dance solo, showcasing a variety of moves from cartwheels to jumps and twists with fancy footwork.

During the third song, the group removed their first set of costumes while dancing onstage, revealing new white ones underneath. After the song was over, it was time for the first MC of the night. Misako Uno stepped forward and addressed the crowd in clear English. "Konnichiwa! Are you enjoying yourselves?" The audience yelled and applauded in answer. “Let us introduce ourselves. I'm Misako Uno; let's have a good time together!" Chiaki Ito introduced herself quietly and the two women of the group left the stage. Mitsuhiro Hidaka was next. "I am Mitsuhiro Hidaka! Do you like Dragon Ball?" Members of the audience started cheering. "You like Dragon Ball?" The audience cheered once again as the guys stepped forward on the stage in a line and shouted "KAME HAME HA!" in unison. "Sorry for my bad English," he said, before passing on to the next member. As the crowd's screams settled, Shinjiro Atae and Shuta Sueyoshi introduced themselves. When it was Takahiro Nishijima's turn, Naoya Urata told the audience to "Just call him Nishi!" After Naoya spoke, the rest of the group introduced him as their leader. Mitsuhiro stepped forward again, "Do you know geisha?" The audience cheered. "You know kimono?" more cheering. "You want to see kimono girl?" the cheering grew louder. The question was asked again and suddenly a new light filled the stage.

The guys ran off the stage and Misako Uno and Chiaki Ito reappeared in their Kimono Jet Girl costumes. Fast paced with synchronized dancing, it was impressive how they could move around so much and still match each others' vocal pitch perfectly. Immediately after the song was done, they ran off stage and out came all the guys to perform Soul Edge Boy.

After the song was over, the girls came back out and rejoined the group, asking the audience "You know samurai?" They introduced the next song as Samurai Heart.

After the song was finished, the second MC of the night began. Mitsuhiro Hidaka asked if we liked Naruto. Naoya Urata pointed in Takahiro Nishijima's direction and said "He likes One Piece!" to which Mitsuhiro responded "Luffy is our friend!" Misako Uno took some time to promote her acting, asking the audience if we liked the movie, The Grudge. "I play the part of Miyuki in The Grudge 2, it's out now; you should check it out!" They talked amongst themselves in Japanese, but to the audience in English saying that they enjoyed Baltimore and want to return.

The next two songs had incredible dance moves and AAA never once lost their stamina. The group would pick up one of their members and toss them in the air to land gracefully after doing some sort of somersault. As Climax Jump ended, AAA went off stage.

Wanting more, the audience began chanting "Triple A! Triple A!" and cheered until they came back onstage for their final song, BLOOD on FIRE. Ending the concert, they said their final goodbyes, saying they hope to come back soon and Mitsuhiro said in his best Arnold Schwarzenegger impersonation before walking off stage, "I'll be back!"

SET LIST:

1. Dragon Fire
2. Let It Beat!
~ Dance Corner ~
3. She no jijitsu
~ MC ~
4. Kimono jet girl
5. Soul Edge Boy
6. Samurai Heart -tamashii-
~ MC ~
7. Get chuu!
8. Climax Jump

EN-1. BLOOD on FIRE