V Love☆Live-International-

V Love☆Live-International- brought together a variety of bands from the visual kei genre including Seremedy and DNR from Italy and Sweden. The venue was the tiny Meguro Rock May Kan but the live was streamed live across the world so that fans could join in from anywhere. Between the sets, a video comment and introduction from each band kept crowd and online viewers entertained, with subtitles in English to cater to non-Japanese fans.


Allegretto

Allegretto appeared as the opening act, a visual kei band with a rare punk edge. They played only two songs but though the set was short, it was memorable, guitarist Jujo making a strong impact with his zombie-Frankenstein get-up.

Set List:
01. Noroibumi
02. Tomoshibi


Ninjaman Japan

Ninjaman Japan had a pre-show exhibition for the crowd, bassist Metal introducing the band’s hired "bad-guys"/back-up dancers and getting the crowd riled up for the cameras – as well as for the bandmen watching from backstage. Then the real show began, kicking off with Ninjaman Japan no Theme which sounded very much like a "Power Rangers" opening and looked it too. The “bad guys” fought real action movie combat scenes with the five ninjas of varying color, then gave up their evil-doing ways to dance back-up instead. Senkou was a real happy number, vocalist SARINO overflowing with charisma. “Hey, we’re Ninjaman Japan! Hey, everyone. Today is V Love☆Live-International-. Thank you to everyone gathered here. Even today there were bad guys hidden here waiting for us but people are watching from around the world, seeing that Japan has such cool rock music!” The vocalist, or, rather, ninja master, went on to announce the band’s coming TV appearance and the exciting news of the world distribution decided for their collaboration with the Konami game Jubeat +. SARINO spoke to the cameras in his best impression of a foreigner speaking Japanese — which didn’t make it any more intelligible to non-Japanese speakers — asking the foreign market to give it a try.

Then it was time for a song the foreign fans were surely familiar with… only with a visual kei spin. Hoshi ni negai wo is better known as the Disney classic When You Wish Upon A Star, Ninjaman Japan’s contribution to the V-ROCK Disney cover album. With lots of cute pronunciation and a double dose of energy, the number had the crowd dancing to upbeat drums. A guitar solo of the main theme really brought the number home but the final button was all Ninjaman Japan, SARINO posing with hands clasped and forefingers pointing in a ritualistic ninja gesture you might recognize from "Naruto."

After the dancers showed their stuff in Onmitsu Dancers, –SHINOBI– took a heavy turn, heating things up with a smoky stage as SARINO draped himself sexily over the speakers and lead guitarist Lida joined in on harmony during the bright chorus just made for moshing. They wrapped it up with Dreamer. “Got it? This is the last one! Jump! Jump! Jump! Now… ready? We’re gonna mosh! Three, two, one, go! Ok! Clap your hands!” cried SARINO, guiding the crowd through the number before introducing a nice bass solo by Metal which kept up a deep sound under the slower section of the music. The set ended with a unified chant of “Warera Ninjaman Japan!” (We’re Ninjaman Japan!)

Set List:
01. Ninjaman Japan no Theme
02. Senkou
03. Hoshi ni negai wo
04. Onmitsu Dancers
05. –SHINOBI–
06. Dreamer


Awoi

Taking one for Osaka, Awoi transformed Rock May Kan into a fight-pit for about thirty minutes with a heavy set that brought out the hardcore spirit even in the most hair-spray addled princesses. The crowd were in it from the start, bringing a loud shout to Melancholy and filling the set with diving bodies and flying hair. Otogi wound them up at every opportunity and the musicians kept up a class act of head banging and attitude. blind had the fans screaming to the rhythmic tune, although Otogi put them to shame with an intense, unintelligible growl before he slipped into falsetto for the chorus. A slight pause and whisper of “bastard,” only fuelled the flames further despite the song’s nice chorus melody.

However, it was darling and then abelcain that put the finishing touches on the intense, heated set. The crowd broke out in unrestrained moshing, hands flying, while Saki and Sho bent with thrashing heads. The club sound in the chorus of darling drove Otogi to try and crawl atop a speaker, but his failed attempt looked more like a rape scene. To make up for it, he waded out into the crowd during abelcain, screaming out the heaviest strains of the song surrounded on all sides by a mob of pretty girls before the stage hands fished him out by the microphone cord. Finally, to scream his thank-you’s, Otogi took a moment to unbutton his shirt. Got to thank the audience properly, of course. After he left, bassist and guitarists posed like demons before the crowd and Saki tossed a bottle straight up in the air before spiking it deeper.

Set List:
01. Melancholy
02. Suzumushi
03. blind
04. bastard
05. darling
06. abelcain


DaizyStripper

Having slated themselves as Japan’s Sparkliest, DaizyStripper stalked out with a mean attitude, darker-than-usual make-up, and a mouthful of water spat over the front rows courtesy of vocalist Yu-Giri. Their opening number was reflective of their rebellious spirit, Zero Crysis getting the crowd worked up to their level in no time at all.

The attitude was backed with ego. “We made you wait, Rock May Kan. I know it was hard waiting for us all this time.” As a reward, the crowd were treated to the band’s upcoming single, 5×Starz with a rhythmic emphasis and full of high notes which Yu-Giri wailed out without holding back. “DaizyStripper!” he screamed at the end. “We’re the Japanese Sparkle Ambassadors, DaizyStripper. When we heard we were taking on that role today… I darkened my make-up. By the way, this is our 250th live, worthy of celebration. Sometimes we do lives twice a week to get here. That’s nice, right? Twice a week…” Yu-Giri didn’t forget the at-home crowd, giving a shout-out to the cameras and getting the live-audience to add their voices. “Since it’s our 250th,” he finished, “You’d better step up. Can you do it? Let’s go!”

Awairo no yume, with a heavier twist than the norm, and the crazy PSYCHEDELIC HEAVEN had both band and fans all over the place, shouting, head banging, clapping and above all, moshing. Then, it was time for DaizyStripper to reveal their true selves and prove why they earned the title of "Japanese Sparkle Ambassadors." “Lastly, please sing along with us. Dandelion,” announced the vocalist, his voice full of emotion for the touching, first single the band is known for. As he sang the opening strains, amending some of the lyrics, “ashita mo Rock May Kan juu,” his eyes sparkled with love… and mischief. When the opening chorus came to a pause, the crowd nearly fell over. Prepped for the opening instrumental beats, a loud, angry tune greeted them instead, but they were on the ball and soon followed the band’s lead, head banging into the real show-stopper, BlackDROPPer. “Don’t go sitting in a freakin’ chair you lot! Get up!” Yu-Giri harried the few wet rags who were soon shamed into joining in. The devil-may-care attitude, shocking feint and subsequent mayhem made for a brilliant end to the evening.

Set List:

01. Zero Crysis
02. 5×STARZ
03. Awairo no Yume
04. PSYCHEDELIC HEAVEN
05. Dandelion~BLACK DROPPer

You can re-live the show here On-Demand, complete with English subtitled video comments from all the bands including Seremedy and DNR!