While we were moving only slightly quicker than a speeding parked car (´⌒｀。) ！which equals approximately 8 feet every 10~15 minutes (*>ω<)。。and with time winding down towards the slated 8pm showtime~* it became most uneasy and worrisome that perhaps the concert would begin before everyone was checked in and at this rate of line movement it became even more uneasy as the distant sounds (not clear enough to make out yet…) of thumping music♪ had become audible as 8pm drew nearer~. We noticed groups large and small leaving the line from both in back and in front of us and then came something which I found most upsetting (ノロ≦。)！I don’t know how common of a practice this is….but there was this person scaling down the endless line asking in a low tone of voice if anyone would like to “line skip?” (・c_・;)？He would then offer to take you immediately to the front entrance for $20 a person and mind you having already paid $30+ for a ticket it seemed absurd to need to pay any more just to get inside so quickly. And while I overheard someone asking him why the line was moving so slowly he totally sidestepped the question and instead led on to continuing to offer ‘line skips.’ After a few protests of $20 being much too costly he quickly downed his price to $10 a person….hm with the stipulation being that it’s less if you’re agreeing to ‘line skip’ in a larger group of persons (>_<)！And while many took his bait and agreed to pay additional costs…it seemed that the real concern to do so was out of the fear of missing part of the concert as the line kept stalling and continued to move along at a most slow pace~ as 8pm was now just a few minutes away (;´□｀)。 After two hours or waiting in line we reached the front door at about 8:40pm and upon stepping inside we readily saw that contrary to our fears the concert had not begun and so really this
‘link ‘line…(I think my brain was skipping from exhaustion when I wrote link..or maybe I subconsciously wanted to *link* something here :P) skipping’ thingie seems to be much more scam than anything else. I mean, if we’d all been assured that the concert wouldn’t begin until everyone holding a ticket was inside, surely I think that most would have not paid an additional $10~$20 each to get in ahead of the others as it didn’t seem to make very much sense then (u_u*). What made it even more suspicious is that we actually saw this person leaving promptly after the line had begun moving much quicker….so I’m thinking that he wasn’t even an employee of Pipeline Cafe and perhaps a friend of the door persons? 怪しい！！ ( ┰_┰)
9:02pm: Utada takes the *stage~*!!!! ＼(^o^)／☆ ♪♪～♪♪～～♥！
The right side Pipeline Cafe’s sort of backwards “L” shape features three projected images of the stage up ahead~ along its wall….and this is when one most wishes~* to be much much taller!!! (゜ロ゜ノ)ノ。。。as rather than trying to enjoy the concert through projections you’d so much want to see Utada ‘In The Flesh’ as your ticket promises~! Cameras or cell phone pictures are not allowed but there was no warning prior to entering so I took a few although they didn’t turn out very well but as security appeared to become much more aggressive on this matter I quickly refrained from any more attempts……with the lighting and my cell phone’s limitations I’m so sorry that these few didn’t turn out any better~ (_´Д｀)ノ~~。
While the larger central screen at the back of the stage would alter in lighting and designs behind Utada’s tour logo~, the two smaller screens to each side would change throughout the show displaying the cover of either the single or album from which the current performed song was from which was really an awesome added visual and for attendees like myself whom have only collected Utada’s earlier works (*´艸`)。。it helped so much with seeing where each song could be found for later reference~ ＾ ＾。What was so impressive to aside from her amazing band!!! was just how immediately infectious each song to another became despite many of these being my very first time hearing them~ o(*´∀｀)o゛♪♪！！I never realized just how aggressive and heavy~*!!! so many of her songs are!!!!…and really I don’t think many hard rock bands would have anything on the performance put on last night!!! It was truly~ thunderous!!!…I may have lost some hearing I wonder?…um did you say something? 😛 And most impressive were Utada’s vocals which were nothing short of extraordinary~*….powerful~*….heartfelt~♥ and very much projected in the ways in which only those so gifted with top tier vocal talent can scale to~! The soft gentleness of her falsetto and beautifully controlled vocal *flutters~* and nuances so much in these moments seemed to even excel those which are found on her amazing studio recordings!! It must also be noted just how pretty~* and *beautiful** Utada is in person♥ and I found her most down~to~earth wardrobe with *hot* pants though (。ーωー。)！！to be most endearing…it was sort of like seeing an entire show being performed in what may usually be more like a ‘encore’ outfit but it so worked to perfection here and Utada really came across as most sweet~♥ and sincere in her well timed MCs which kept the show flowing without any feeling of lag at any time~. Within her MCs there was mention of her thankfulness to the Pipeline staff…her most amazing!!! band…and an inquiry of the audience of just how many of us were local~?….*loud cheer*!…how many were Japanese…..*louder cheer**!!…and finally how many in attendance had flown in from Japan, from our outer islands or out of state to see the show?….*loudest cheer***!!!! ＾ ＾。
A few firsts~* were also noted by Utada as this concert would be her only performance while she is 26 as well as her performances on keyboards last night being her very first such venture~* in a live performance!!!…the latter really being such an amazing surprise and Utada played so skillfully and amazingly~* too!!! In all she performed three songs♪ while on keyboards and vocals and I so have to find that …”sakura……” song! it was so much a favorite♥ of mine!!!! In fact I’m now really re~thinking my collecting ways of Utada’s music♪…..after me being delinquent on this I so now need to fill in the missing spaces of her works which I’ve been most dumb to not have owned by now~ (+_+)。
It’s wonderful~* that last night’s show marks the very start of Utada’s “IN THE FLESH 2010” tour and I’m so happy to have been able to have seen her live for the very first time….really one of Japan’s most prestigious and successful artists to date, I have nothing but so much more love~♥ of both her and her music♪….she’s just such an amazing person (*´∀｀*)♥♥♥！！
Just one thing though that puzzled me was the absence of any tour merchandise~ (;_;)! As she isn’t touring for one of her Japanese albums (“This is the one” headlines this tour) maybe not cellphone straps or uchiwa, but still I was thinking that perhaps a tour T-shirt or one which lists all of the upcoming dates of her tour through the U.S. and into Europe could have been made? It would seem like a golden opportunity to increase revenue and visibility~….but it’s really such a tiny thing, I mean after all this night was one of the very best and memorable live events~ in which I’ve ever been so lucky to have witnessed ＾ ＾！
While much of the set was comprised of her English releases~, Utada really brought out her arsenal even performing numerous of her Japanese releases~♥ digging deep into her catalog…..and what really gave me that *goosebump~* omg♥!!! moment were her performances of such beloved classics as “First Love” and yes~!!!! “Automatic” her very debut single~!!!!!!! ＼(^o^)／☆ Including one encore which included a performance of an upcoming single from “This is the one”…Utada’s concert ended at about 10:40 pm ＾ ＾。A most amazing night which I won’t ever forget and if you’re lucky to have Utada visiting a venue near to you I really so much encourage~* you to go see her as you’ll be so in for a treat from one of music’s and J~pops very best~♥ (*´∀｀*)。
..and now for a tiny bit of Utada nostalgia~♥…
It’s now 4:43 am ・゜・(ノД`)・゜・。おやすみなしゃい～♥。
