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LUNA SEA concert report: notes for Saitama Super Arena, impressions, etc.

LUNA SEA concert report: notes for Saitama Super Arena, impressions, etc.
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Joined the battle on December 23, 2016 (the report being a bit out of order with the one from the 24th is just a little quirk).

LUNA SEA’s two-day show at Saitama Super Arena.

I’d like to share some notes and impressions about Saitama Super Arena here.

LUNA SEA The Holy Night -Beyond the Limit- at Saitama Super Arena

LUNA SEA The Holy Night -Beyond the Limit-

http://www

lunasea.

jp/

I had actually planned to take part on December 24 and had bought a ticket, but on the same daySHINThey announced Kun’s comeback concert, and I agonized over it.

I worried so much I thought I'd go bald (just kidding).

In the end, I decided to go to SHIN’s concert on the 24th, and I rebooked a ticket for LUNA SEA on the 23rd.

It’s not unusual for concerts to overlap, but when important ones clash like this, I seriously wish I could split myself in two (tears).

Well, I think December 23 feels more like a memorial day for LUNA SEA, so it worked out in the end.

December 23rd for LUNA SEA.

This day has meaning.

Their major milestone has always fallen on December 23, and it can be said to be a special day they have welcomed together with the SLAVES (the name for their fans), a day on which their history is rewritten.

By the way, when I flipped through my ticket file to check when I last went to a LUNA SEA concert, to my surprise (or not?), it turned out to be the December 14, 2012 show at Zepp Tokyo (The End of the Dream tour).

It means I haven’t been to a live show for four years.

Had I really not gone that often? (Though I did see them at the VJS festival.)

When I think about why I didn’t go to LUNA SEA’s concerts for four whole years, to be honest I’m not really sure, but I feel like it was something like a sense of stagnation, or that I just didn’t get to hear the songs I wanted… I think it was reasons like that.

Conversely, why did I decide to go on this day after such a long time?

Because their act at VISUAL JAPAN SUMMIT was definitely cool.

I had bought the ticket for December 24th earlier, but it took me a while to book the ticket for the 23rd again. (I mean, two days of concerts in a row is exhausting. Haha)

What ultimately convinced me to go was being overwhelmed by the sheer performance prowess and charisma I witnessed at VJS.

Saitama Super Arena

The venue is Saitama Super Arena, one of the largest arena venues in the Kanto region.

Saitama Super Arena Official Website

It’s a very famous arena in the Kanto region—on par with the Nippon Budokan, Yokohama Arena, and Yoyogi National Gymnasium First Gymnasium, and in fact boasting an even larger capacity that immediately comes to mind when you think of arena venues there.

There are plenty of explanatory websites, so I think a detailed explanation here is no longer necessary.

By the way, what do live-music fans even call this venue?

For example, I think 99 out of 100 people consistently call Yokohama Arena “Yoko-Ari,” but when it comes to Saitama Super Arena, it feels like people use a variety of different names for it.

Is it the best ant?

SSA (Esu Esu Ē)?

I am “Tama-Ari.”

Access

Official websiteis easy to understand.

3-minute walk from Saitama-Shintoshin Station on the JR Keihin-Tohoku Line, Utsunomiya Line, and Takasaki Line.

It's located just a short walk to the left after exiting the ticket gate.

There’s no room for doubt.

After exiting the ticket gate, there’s a convenience store on the right, and on the right side you can see Cocoon City, a huge shopping center. On the way to the venue, there’s a Royal Host and an Excelsior Caffé, and in the underground Keyaki Plaza in front of the venue you’ll find a convenience store, Starbucks, and other eateries, so you shouldn’t have any trouble killing time.

capacity

I think many concert events use Main Arena Mode End Stage 2 (or End Stage 1 in Stadium Mode).

merchandise sales

It’s often done around the area between the outside front A Gate and B Gate. (On this day it was being done inside the B Gate, but I think that’s a rare case.)

admission

It varies by event, but different seat types often use different gates.

have experienced

The main gate is Gate A at the front of the venue, and floral stands are often displayed just inside this Gate A.

The W Gate feels like a loading dock, so it doesn’t really give off that exciting live-show vibe, which is a bit disappointing.

By the way, on this day everyone was directed to enter through Gate A, so it took quite a long time to reach our seats.

audience seating

Official websiteis easy to understand.

Since there’s an in-venue view mode, you can get a rough idea of the view by selecting a spot close to your seat.

To briefly explain the structure, it consists of five levels: the Arena (equivalent to the Center at Yokohama Arena), the 200 Level (1st-floor stands), the 300 Level (2nd-floor stands/Suite seats), the 400 Level (3rd-floor stands), and the 500 Level (4th-floor stands).

In my personal view, because there’s a very large vertical distance (a straight-line distance from the stage), the side seats in the stands are overwhelmingly easier to see from than the middle-to-rear sections of the arena.

Or rather, if you're in the back of the arena, you should be prepared not to see the stage at all.

Also, since there’s a considerable distance to the back of the stage front whether it’s the arena or the stands, I think that even if the view is quite obstructed from the side, seats closer to the stage will be more satisfying in terms of proximity to the artist and the sense of presence.

Since it's all a matter of personal preference, please use the above only as a reference and check the official seating chart to choose your seat.

By the way, the ceiling is movable and can be lowered, so you can make it look as if the 400 level doesn’t exist at all (commonly known as “crushing the 400 level”).

Doing this makes it look full at first glance, but unless it was for staging or some other production reason, I think the reality is the tickets really didn’t sell. (Sadly, the show that day had the entire 400 level closed.)

As for the sound, it's relatively good for a venue of this capacity.

toilet

Overwhelmingly fewer than the venue’s capacity.

Two options: either get in early and just keep waiting in line, or use the restrooms at places like Keyaki Plaza beforehand.

shop

I’ve seen a few stores on the 200 level inside the venue. I’m not really sure where else they are.

They sell alcoholic and other drinks as well as light snacks, but needless to say, the prices are high.

On top of that, depending on the event, some places may not be open or may close quickly, so it’s wise to take care of your needs at a convenience store.

setlist

01.

WITH LOVE02.

TONIGHT03.

Limit04.

DESIRE05.

TRUE BLUE06.

Sweetest Coma Again07.

IN SILENCE08.

I’ll Stay With You09.

gravity

10.

Dr Solo 〜 Bass Solo

11.

Be Awake12.

I for You13.

SHINE14.

PRECIOUS…15.

IN MY DREAM（WITH SHIVER）16.

ROSIER

-encore-

en1.

HOLY KNIGHTen2.

Dejavuen3.

WISH

LIVE REPORT & Impressions

Before getting into the main topic, why is LUNA SEA’s merch line always so slow?

It really isn't moving forward.

It takes about three hours.

I lined up for a moment and gave up just as quickly.

For someone like me who just wanted a big towel, spending three hours on a towel is a bit ridiculous.

One factor is likely that the merchandise images aren’t uploaded until the day before.

No one has decided which one to buy.

I'm standing in the store going, 'Hmm, what should I do?'

For example, at GACKT’s concerts, if you line up at the merch booth you’ll get a flyer with the goods information (with photos, of course), and if you want, you can even order online in advance.

At least compared to LUNA SEA, the line is moving overwhelmingly faster.

Since they’ve been holding events in arena-class venues for quite a long time now, I wish they would take a few more measures.

So, figuring the show would start late anyway, I queued for the restroom before heading into the venue—only to find the house lights already dimmed, which threw me off.

A staff member kindly asked, “Shall I show you to your seat?” so I gratefully showed my ticket, and they said, “There’s a line marked over there by the stairs, and there are numbers on the back of the seats.”

I know that much.

I thought they were using pretty low-level part-timers.

The concert started about twenty minutes after the scheduled start time, if I recall correctly.

Beautiful stained glass, like that of a grand cathedral, was projected onto the screen set up on the stage, and the venue instantly shifted into Christmas mode.

The first song is (surprisingly?) “WITH LOVE.”

A huge cheer rises from the audience.

I was impressed by the stylish choice of opening with an oldies-style track.

With a typical band, I don’t think they’d have the courage to start with this kind of arrangement.

That distinctive atmosphere is abruptly shattered by the following track, “TONIGHT.”

It's also interesting to try placing a song that usually hypes up the latter part of the live show here.

As an aside, what deserves special mention is SUGIZO’s guitar solo system, perhaps.

When it gets to the solo, a gust of wind whooshes up from below the stage and the smoke billows up like whoosh (lol).

The cedars sway.

All sorts of things are fluttering.

Both the hair and the outfit are whooshing/flaring out.

That's so cool.

It was shocking the first time I saw it, but when it happens over and over, I can’t help but chuckle a little (lol).

Afterward was RYUICHI’s MC. (Just the vibe/nuance, lol)

Thanks for waiting! It’s been a while since LUNA SEA, and the members are really excited right now. I always say this, but today, as long as you don’t get hurt, you can do anything! Just don’t get injured. But if you don’t get hurt, you can do whatever you want.

So anything goes? That’s rock ’n’ roll (lol).

Next, Limit—honestly, when I first listened to the song, I didn’t think it would shine that much live, but when I saw the actual performance, my heart danced more than I’d imagined.

I think this is a song that will keep growing through live performances.

Despite it being a new song, I felt RYU’s boldness in prompting the audience to sing already.

And then they keep piling on with smash hits like “DESIRE” and “TRUE BLUE.”

In just two more years, we’ll hit our 30th anniversary as a band. When the members and I were figuring out the setlist for this show—what songs we should play—we realized that somehow we’ve come this far, our songs have grown so many in number, and we’ve become a band overflowing with things we want to express. The 23rd and 24th are very important days for us, LUNA SEA, and for all of you.

I can’t stop clapping! LOL

I was blown away by the performance of 'Sweetest Coma Again' that followed that MC.

It's one of my favorite songs, so I almost screamed when the intro started (lol).

This heavy track with an irresistible groove has a B-melody where I just can’t get enough of SUGIZO’s guitar.

It's a song with a guitar melody structure that makes you wonder why the chorus moves like that—like, is it just being perverse? (lol)—and then J's bass solo that follows is just ridiculously cool.

When I hear it live, my whole body just heats up.

I felt like it was fine to just go home already (that was quick).

After plumbing the mood into something decidedly darker, the day’s setlist abruptly pivots to line up beautiful medium-tempo numbers like “IN SILENCE,” making for a truly distinctive structure.

After Mya’s fiery drum solo and J’s manly, full-of-guts bass solo, they launched into the fast-paced “Be Awake,” saying, “Let’s feel it cosmically!” (laughs).

With a full-on SUGIZO-scale track, my field of vision suddenly feels like it’s sparkling brilliantly.

I forget where it was, but in the middle of the MC, when RYU and the SLAVEs went into “thank you” mode

It’s okay, it’s okay! We’re not breaking up tonight!!

There was a moment like that and I laughed.

If we both get all sentimental and keep saying thanks—thank you, really, for everything!—it ends up feeling like the vibe of a farewell concert (lol).

Because it’s LUNA SEA, a band that has already had its curtain fall once, saying that makes it an utterly surreal joke.

I was also happy that I got to hear my personal LUNA SEA coming-of-age song, 'PRECIOUS…'. ← I bet there are people who can relate to this (lol).

I also like how in number 2 the members gather in the center.

The dramatic chorus that unfolds into a hard track has a level of polish that’s hard to believe was achieved during their indie days.

When I play it now, it may lack the madness of those days, but it carries a sense of melancholy, and it feels like I burn out with this song.

So without letting it burn out there, the main story’s finale is “ROSIER.”

You can really feel how Alternative truly shines live—the sense of speed is palpable! A fantastic way to end the main set. (But the main set was quite short! I wanted to hear more!! Maybe it was a hold-back setlist because it’s a two-day run?)

Encore.

A chorus of the familiar SLAVES singing “Silent Night” resounds.

When I hear this, it really feels like I’ve come to LUNA SEA’s Christmas (Christmas Eve Eve, haha) live show.

Merry Christmas! We made LUNA SEA’s first Christmas song, “HOLY KNIGHT” (a CD sold exclusively at this 2-day venue), but it sounds like the CDs might sell out today. This is bad—there might not be any left for tomorrow.

No way...! (lol)

Why wouldn’t you keep them separate…?! Are you stupid or something?! (And by the way, that wasn’t a joke or anything—it was for real.)

We created it with the image of our sacred ground being the live performance, the stage, and of five knights who protect this sacred ground.

And then they performed the Christmas song “HOLY KNIGHT.”

The blue lighting harmonized with the melody beautifully, and I was drawn into the song.

After that, there was a short member MC.

I was happy when SUGIZO said, “I’m SUGIZO from LUNA SEA. Tomorrow I’ll still be SUGIZO from LUNA SEA,” (laughs).

Lord Sugi, you said it twice because it’s important, right? (lol)

Maybe he had various thoughts lately, possibly because he was juggling X JAPAN at the same time.

And then we even got a “I freaking love you guys!” and I felt like I could go home satisfied after that. (Second time today. lol)

Prompted by RYU’s “Sensei, please!” Maya stepped forward and said, “While I was playing drums here today, I was thinking about what a miracle really is. And I realized it’s not something that happens here—it’s the fact that everyone got ready at home and came all the way here. That’s the miracle!”

Sensei—!! lol

I don’t really understand what you mean!! lol ←

And an announcement from RYU.

Right, there’s something I have to tell everyone. LUNA SEA will mark the 25th anniversary of our debut next year. Today is an important day for LUNA SEA, but we have another anniversary too, right? It might be getting ahead of ourselves, but we’ve booked the Nippon Budokan for May 29 next year! It’ll probably sell out in a heartbeat, so do your best to get tickets and come!

May 29 is the anniversary of LUNA SEA’s formation and the day their activities began, when the five of them first stood together on the stage of Machida’s PLAYHOUSE. Announcing a Budokan show on such an important day is the best Christmas present.

The final run from another Christmas present, “HOLY KNIGHT,” is the classics “Dejavu” and “WISH.”

After all, I can't end without these two songs.

Hearing the customary final song, 'WISH,' makes me realize that today’s concert is really coming to an end, and I feel something welling up deep in my heart.

"After all, the 23rd is our Christmas, right?" said RYU.

Finally, we did the customary group jump while holding hands, bringing a special night to a close.

I don’t know if I can get a ticket, but it was a night that made me feel I absolutely want to go to the Memorial Day show at Nippon Budokan.

And I want to etch LUNA SEA’s path—and miracles—from here on out into my eyes. (In other words, I should go to their concerts more often. lol)

Lastly, the flowers that came from the wonderful artists. (From the back: Acid Black Cherry, DAITA, GACKT, BUCK-TICK)

Thank you to everyone who has read this far.

Please note that all of this is based on one individual’s vague memory, and there may be parts that differ from the facts, sections where the memory has been unintentionally embellished, or descriptions based on personal interpretation. Thank you for your understanding.

Also, please be advised that these are solely my personal opinions, and I do not accept objections or disparagement regarding differences in opinions or perspectives.