Yes.

All ready a month into my final semester of school until I receive my Associates degree and I'm feeling pretty industrious. The focus I've somehow managed to shake myself into is invigorating and it makes me feel GOOD that I have plans and ideas for what I'd like to do. Within the past week or two alone I've gotten more random things done than I have in a long time; in an IM from a friend I was telling her how I need to set up my things for success so when I wake up tomorrow morning, I'm ready to jump back into working on something.

Either way, the upcoming challenge for me is writing an Artist's Statement for my class; we have to talk about why we make art, what we try to convey, why we think the way we think. It's such a bullshit sort of topic that the simplicity of it makes it even harder to concentrate. After making a few notes, I've come to the conclusion that chances are it'll come out as me just basically saying something along the lines of... "Seriously, I'm a jack of all trades. Me being eternally conflicted about where my interests lie is so very obvious in my work. The end."

Regardless, I'm happier right now than I have been in a while. One project after the

other after another... its tiring to know I have a huge list of things I'd like to accomplish, but so fulfilling at the same time. I know I have the motivation in me to keep cranking out new things if I really want to do so. And its interesting the reaction from others when they tell me that they're shocked at how creative in so many fields I can be. I just wish I could tame my spurts of inspiration and focus them like I can focus my work ethic when I really want to.

Also worth mentioning is that I'm finally going to go talk to that one professor that I've been afraid to talk to for months now. I'm a little bit ashamed by just how scared I was of the prospect of speaking with him. I felt that he'd be rather disappointed in how I haven't figured out what school I'd like to go to. He's a good mentor-- and his opinion matters, which seems so rare to me. I don't want to show him a bunch of pictures and have him look at me with the questioning look of, "So this is what you've done over the past year? I'm disappointed." Granted, I know he won't say that or be that blunt, but I know I'll be able to feel and hear how I have so much potential but I haven't been putting to good use what I can really do.

Since my last art post back in July, things in my artistic landscape have changed. Not in color or medium or target audience or anything like that... but now there's less time than ever before for me to get things done. I'm not worried anymore; I've come to the lovely realization that it doesn't matter that I feel unprepared. I'll always feel unprepared, it's a part of the process. It's about what I do with that feeling that motivates me to do more.

There'll always be someone who has it more "gotten together" than myself. Who has more pieces to show and who has more experience and who has better tools... things like that. It's my process in learning how to get there that is much more valuable.

Taking that little philosophical speal aside and going down to reality, I'm taking a portfolio building class this semester. The things I didn't do before to aid myself with my portfolio I have no choice but to do now. The class will be demanding and time consuming but I'm ready to dive into the subject and immerse myself in how much potential I really have when I actually fucking work on things.

As I write, I look to my left and see a painting of Kyo that's 18x24'' and that I'd like to finish in the next two days...

The things that spring to mind that'll bring success are organization, time management, and a set list of goals I'd like to actually achieve in all of this. I need to clean my hard drive and have a good archive of all my work. I need to set aside a set amount of time each day that is dedicated to doing something for my art. I need to have a set of deadlines for myself that can consistently motivate me to produce more. I realize that the more time passes, the more those things are important to motivating myself and how they've been lacking in my structure.

I guess I'm much more excited for my future than I have been as of the past couple years. Is this a backlash of the rather pathetic New Years celebration I had to ring in? Sitting alone in my room with a deliciously intoxicating cup of rum and coke and posting on an image forum made me feel different. Not wanting to put up with shit romantic relationships may have been a kick in the right direction for me. I'm just kind of sick and tired of life happening to me rather than me being a beacon for more positive things without depending on others for support.

I arrived at the Knitting Factory somewhat late, missing Thee Out Mods which was a band that one of my friends really wanted to see. When we got there Hagakure was all ready on the stage and we were greeted to music akin to oshare kei. Their outfits were definitely visual and after wiggling to the left of the stage, I had an unobstructed view of the show.
Kaya, the lead singer of Hagakure, was wearing a robe similar to a kimono and I couldn't help but thinking about how supposedly when an obi gets tied in the front it supposedly means that said person wearing it was a prostitute. I ignored that, however, focusing on his high pigtails and the yarn tied into it. Koro, the guitarist, was short and curvy and it didn't take more than a song into the show for me to realize that it was actually a woman which is an extreme rarity in Jrock, at least in  the visual genres of it. Shogun, the bass guitarist was closest to me and was dressed like... a samurai. His hair was pink, though. Gajiro, the drummer, had a bandana across his forehead reading "I love Sushi" and was dressed like a traditional fisherman or sushi chef-- little robe that went a little past his waist and loose shorts.

While I didn't participate in it, Kaya did furisuke ("furi") which is a coordinated movement of your arms to go along with the music that is being performed. Personally, I think most Jrock bands shouldn't have furi but it happens frequently in Japan. Regardless, about half of the crowd participated and did it whenever Kaya started to do it; the other half either looked like they outright refused to do it or just didn't care for it too much.

Halfway through their set, Kaya introduced all the members and had people do a chant in order to remember and cheer for them and soon afterwards Kaya jumped off the stage to go backstage for a moment. The other members performed and showed off their skills and Koro threw confetti out into the crowd. Kaya came back a couple instrumental songs later wearing a Mickey Mouse glove and went back to doing another song. Cutely after it, he said in choppy engrish, "I think something is wrong with my hand"-- very cute!

After Hagakure jumped off stage, set up started to go on for Antifeminism and I bought myself a Hagakure x Antifeminism coupling show poster and walked around the floor of the Knitting Factory side stage, mingling with others. I have been to both stages at the Knitting Factory and realize just how little I like the speakers there on the side stage.

Antifeminism came on soon afterwards and I made my way back to the same part of the stage I was on before.

To be quite honest, before this live I didn't really know much about Anti Feminism. I knew the vein of the music, but

that was about as far as I went. I had lots of fun, however. All of the songs were extremely short but all was very very fast and involved lots of thrashing about. I wasn't in the middle of it by far, but when I looked back at the crowd there were people moshing and there were people hanging onto one another to head bang like crazy and not fall over.

Looking up at the stage itself, Kenzi- the lead singer and only permanent member of Anti Feminism- had come out last and had been wearing a potato bag over his head. He walked around the stage a couple times and then ripped off the sack and growled at the crowd through the bandanna tied around his face. He jumped up on the chairs set up at the front of the stage so he'd be elevated above his other band mates and did a cross between singing and growling the entire live show which I absolutely loved.

A good half of the way into their set, Kenzi grabbed a cup of thumbtacks and pulled out a single one-- and while the crowd cheered, he shoved one into his forehead. From my view, I don't know whether or not it actually stayed there, but it looked utterly painful nonetheless. Then pushing people aside at the front of the crowd, Kenzi jumped out into the audience and towards the center of the floor. The band continued to play as he dropped the thumbtacks all over the floor and literally JUMPED ON TOP OF THEM, face-first. He twitched and rolled around on the tacks and then after a while got up and ran back on stage to sing some more.

His fellow band mates looked completely un-phased the entire time. I've heard of some of the strange things Kenzi

does while on stage (breaking florescent bulbs on his head, setting his hand on fire on stage...)- but was skeptical about what he would and wouldn't be allowed to do in the United States. A couple songs later, Kenzi decided to do something like the first stunt, though it may or may not compare to the thumbtacks. He was given a medium sized trash bin by a roadie full of water. Again he jumped off the stage and into the crowd then pulled down his pants until he was stripped into his boxer briefs and dumped the water on himself. From people who were closer to him than I was I guess it looked like he was about to pull his penis out and urinate all over the floor but he refrained.

During the commotion that involved Kenzi being ushered back to the stage and the crowd regrouping around the band again, two guys suddenly ran up on stage and crowd dived but I think the audience wasn't expecting it to the point to where both of them fell to the floor. One of the two who did this was an acquaintance of mine and when he rejoined our group to the side of the stage, the approving look from the bass guitarist was amusing.

A song or so later security suddenly came out and began to kick the entire crowd out with flashlights and harsh words. Everyone was confused at the abruptness. Friends of mine had yet to have bought merchandise and were getting upset at how quickly we were being kicked out of the venue, especially at having heard that we would get a meet and greet. Once outside, word started to get around as to why we were kicked out-- a girl had gotten a tack in her eye and had been rushed off to the hospital. Apparently Kenzi had been told to not perform his thumbtack stunt and had done it against the wishes of the venue.

Representatives of the band passed word along to the crowd outside that the meet and greet would still take place but to wait in line. I don't remember how long we waited or what time we were kicked out of the venue, but in retrospect I think probably about an hour or so passed before we were rallied up and led in a single-file line around the side of the Knitting Factory to have the meet and greet outside on the sidewalk.

Anti Feminism looked as if they had all ready showered and were in their regular clothes while Hagakure were still in their stage outfits. I had Anti Feminism sign my chest and Hagakure sign the poster I bought. Kenzi signed both my chest (muttering "doki doki" under his breath to me) and his bandanna which I managed to nab off the stage before I was told to leave. The bands were cool enough to linger about and take pictures with fans before they were separated from the dispersing crowds and lead to their van which would drive them up to their next show in San Francisco.

On our way back to the parking garage where we'd left my car, my acquaintance that had stage-dove earlier during the night jumped up on the windshield of the van the two bands were in, leaving them all laughing in hysterics and my friends and I trying to not look embarrassed.

I had never been to the Staples Center and it was quite an interesting experience. Considering what I know about the Staples Center, I assumed that the layout would be similar to that of the Long Beach Sports Arena- and I was correct. Of course it was tons of times bigger. After finding friends and acquaintances, we walked in through the doors at around 7.30pm and were greeted to metal detectors and ticket handlers. The entire lobby that surrounds the actual floor itself was filled with teeny boppers, "mature" women in high heels and low cut tops as if they were about to go

clubbing, and gay men. Interesting combo with mothers running around with their 10 year old daughters; you had awide range of people there.

Along the way to finding our spot out on the floor were merchandise booths selling posters, t-shirts, and tour pamphlets. The pamphlets were 25$, which I suppose are a good deal, but I wish it could have been on nicer stock paper. I bought a poster and my friends and I headed down into the floor itself. The entire place was only about half filled but within the hour had filled to capacity.

My group was in the middle-bottom tier of the venue with clear view of the stage and the runway-like peninsula that came out about 1/3 of the floor. It was definitely like a high fashion runway show in set up. There were hanging screens that were designed to be able to move all over the place and there were seams in the floor indicating that there would be comings-and-goings through the floor on the stage.

We were then graced by the presence of David Beckham who waved from the back of the arena, gaining him clapping and cheering.

The show didn't start until almost 9pm and began with the screens at the front of the stage coming together and showing a movie. Girls dressed up like mini Spice Girls, cute and adorable, having a dress-up slumber party and opening up a box. Purple butterflies and light came out of the box when opened and spread out across the screens. After a couple minutes of flashing lights and great music, the girls came up from the bottom of the stage in a pose ready to go.

Having been to lives in the past, I'm much more used to small lives and people getting VERY into it. This was my first real arena live with "regular" music and I really had to get used to how... normal things could go. Just standing there and swaying from side to side in a semi-intoxicated way. People just swaying and singing along and not being too enthusiastic which is a big contrast.

Regardless, the show itself was happy and cheerful. Screens moved about and the girls ran up and down the runway as well as on scaffolds on both sides of the stage. They also sounded like they sung live, too.

Songs that stood out to me are "2 Become 1" for the poles reminescant of pole dancing and feather fans that reminded you of Las Vegas show girls... but it wasn't without taste. Also good was "Viva Forever" with bull fighter costumed dancers dancing with the girls and "Wannabe" which was greeted to the most cheering that night.

Notable is that each one of them had a mini performance of her own which I think was a great thing to showcase what

they'd been up to since they were last together. We got to hear one of Emma's own songs and choreography with checkered boxes and outfits. Mel B. performed the classic Lenny Kravitz song "Are you gonna go my way?" and it involved a mic with a whip on one end and taking a man from the audience and tying him up to grind against. Mel C. performed "I Turn to You" which the audience definitely loved. Geri came out in a skimpy outfit reminiscent of Wonder Woman and performed "It's Raining Men". Disappointing (or not), Victoria just walked down the runway thing as if she were a high fashion model to RuPaul's "Work it Girl" and then disappeared at the edge of the stage into the trap door.

I also want to bring up "Holler"- which was performed by everyone but Geri which really surprised me. I figured she'd be written into the song or that nothing from that era without her would be sung. But they did it. And it was interesting because even now that song could still be popular with the music that's out today.

As for their outfits, everything matched in color scheme and fabric-type, but of course everything was tailored to each girl. Emma wore dresses that were above the knee, Geri wore skimpier things. Mel C. wasn't wearing track suits, but they all had pants and I liked her outfits the most in general. Mel B. definitely wore tighter outfits and everything Victoria wore had some sort of legging and was very very straight which I think accented her height.

At the end of the show, confetti flew into the air and medleys were performed from "We are Family" to a really really long version of "Spice Up Your Life" while on the screens in the background flags from countries around the world flashed past.

The show ended just short of 10.30pm, effectively making it an hour and a half long. Behind me I heard people talking about how they'd always wanted to see the Spice Girls live and on my way to the parking lot to pick up my car, their music blasted through the speakers from almost every single car that drove by.

To say that this show was as easy going and non stressful as the two Dir en grey shows the day before would be a downright lie. However, due to the fact that I'm really not at liberty to talk about what happened, I'm going to disregard it all and merely start from me actually sitting in the venue after having bought my merchandise.

The concert was held inside the Long Beach Arena, which is right in the center of the Long Beach Convention Center. The arena hosts hockey, basketball games, as well as concerts, depending on the set up. Also interesting about it, the mural outside ((a "Whaling Wall"))- is considered the biggest mural in the world right now.

Anyway, since the floor usually serves as a game floor, the seats weren't imbedded into it. Instead there were long rows of fold down chairs, and with different connections and volunteer work, I was able to secure a seat towards the right side of the stage in the second row. I have to make mention of the rather bad security guards here. Although *my* seat was not in danger of getting taken away, I saw as guards walked around utterly confused as to where certain areas listed out on tickets were actually within the venue as they were misinformed. It was actually sort of sad to me.

Merchandise was bought very early on; I knew that if I waited, I would regret it. I jammed over to the merch booth and there were 2 shirts, both of which also had matching girl tees, which has actually been a first for me when its come to Jrock-related shirts. Out of all the concerts I've been to relating to Jrock, there hasn't ever been girl tees. I also purchased a SKIN sticker, 1-inch pin, and wristband. There was nothing with band pictures on it.

The show started rather late. I say this, because the doors were originally supposed to open near around noon, the show to start near 1pm. The doors actually ended up opening around 3 or so, and the show didn't start until around 4pm.

To greet us when it started, was darkness, and a screen in front of the stage. Music from their familiar Jrock Revolution trailer began ((now known to be titled "Violets")), with images projected on it. And when it was done, the screen dropped to reveal the band. I was actually sort of amused and surprised by it... everyone looked fantastic. However, I wanted to burst out laughing about Gackt's appearance; I actually think I was the only one who found it funny. I love and respect the man immensely ((the main reason I was there, next in line would have been Miyavi, but not nearly as much...))--- but he was wearing tight pants, boots, and a leather jacket with spiked hair to boot. In all honesty, my first impression was that he was trying "too hard" to fit in with what the music scene called for as well as his age. However, considering my years of being a big fan of this guy compelled me to ignore it and just be happy.

So random notes from here on out until the end:

• 

  [06.29.07] - S.K.I.N. (on stage)
  It was very difficult for me to get into the music because I didn't know any of the songs. "No duh, it was a debut."-- yes, true true. But I like researching bands before I go to their live so I know what to expect and look forward to certain songs and don't look like an idiot during the performance. So with the songs, it was hard to follow. Were we supposed to headbang, just cheer, or just stand there? I think knowing the band's work really just answers that question. But t the same time it was very much "I'm experiencing a bands' debut, no other fan of these men has heard this music before." I guess that remedied the problem for me.
  
• Sugizo was right in front of us for the show. I personally don't follow Sugizo, so I was a little bit saddened/upset that we couldn't get Miyavi on our side of the stage, but allas, I still cheered for the man when he came over.
  
• Gackt was pretty stationary until 3/4 into the show when he finally started going around to the different sides of the stage.
  
• I couldn't help but feel both Gackt and Yoshiki's professional aspects coming into heavy play during the entire live. Both perfectionists and with a flair for theatrics- both of which I don't mind if they're done in totality: everyone involved and entirely choreographed. Adding to that, that sort of perfectionist thing is what I liked about Miyavi's performance at Jrock Revolution; he impressed me by having such a chaotic, but choreographed performance that was a good balance and showed that he wasn't just running around on stage with no head screwed on.
  
• Dualing pianos by both Gackt and Yoshiki was totally "them"-- and to later hear Sugizo playing violin and Miyavi a traditional japanese instrument was amazing; it really pulled together all of their sounds and showed a more gentle side than I had originally thought they would produce. From people who don't ((or "didn't")) follow X Japan, I've heard a lot of confusion regarding Yoshiki's "loosing it" on the piano- was he mad? Did he hate it? Things of that nature. As it's been explained to me by friends who are bigger X Japan fans than I, this is completely natural for him and not uncommon. His way of "getting into" the music.
  

For part of my closing notes, I have to say I'm interested in seeing how this fandom turns out in general. Yes, the band is important, but the fandom as well. A lot of the people who are fans of SKIN are there for a single member only; for myself Gackt, and partly Miyavi. But I'm not a fan of Sugizo, and I only vaguely like Yoshiki, more just respect him for what he's done for the VK scene. However, it'll be interesting how the fandom evolves as a whole considering how die-hard we all are for a single member.

Adding to this, it'll be interesting how this band will be promoted to the United States. Through random things here and there, I can't help but get the impression that they'll be trying for the "mainstream" music scene. But this is completely unlike the music that is being promoted here in the States that it seems so difficult for them to find a place here. Dir en grey seems much more easier to integrate than SKIN might be able to.

In conclusion, the band played a total of FOUR SONGS. Yes, that's correct. However, four songs stretched to 45 minutes of music, and by the end of it, drum sets were destroyed and Sugizo had smashed his guitar to pieces, sending it out to the crowd to catch. The band was full smiles, and to be honest, I think I was most amazed by Yoshiki's smile. He stood on part of his drumset and was just grinning at the crowd cheering. The old-man of Jrock proud of his work and of us.

I want to see where they take us.

So ever so slowly but surely, I'm getting used to Photoshop. I never really thought it would be as complex as it is... it's not HARD exactly, but it's just tricky. After years of being used to Paint Shop Pro, at least I have some sort of foundation; I know the terms and I know what Saturation and Hue do. It's just a pain in the neck having to accommodate myself to having to use an Apple program on a PC.

Either way, graphic design class is helping me out a lot. Four hours, four days a week fiddling with Apple programs is giving me enough practice and when I can finally afford my own Apple computer, I'll be one happy camper.

I guess a few words about the two posted pictures would probably be a good idea. The first is Aki from the Jrock band SID. The image was all ready a montage; I fiddled with the colors, layers and text to make what I have presented. Took way too long, I think, but I made it for myself only.

The second is Miyavi, a Jrock artist as well. This was done in about two hours using about 6 different layered images. I think at first the professor was worried that it would look like crap ((even afterwards he said "I wasn't going to say anything, wondering what you were doing..."))-- but by the end of it he seemed very impressed. For me just jumping right in, it turned out pretty damn good.

After a rather confusing and frustrating time on the Los Angeles freeways, I arrived at the Gibson Amphitheater near 7pm. The amphitheater is actually located within Universal City, its entrance between City walk and Universal Studios. And unlike Viejas the day before, the Gibson is an indoor venue. The inside is filled with rows and rows of seats leading down to the stage, as well as a balcony up above. From what I've read in different places, the venue holds about 6,000.

My ticket was for a balcony seat, but surprisingly the lack of guards leading into the loge section made it easy to simply walk in and find a seat in any empty spot. After having to move a few times after people came by to claim their seats, my friends and I ended up almost directly behind the sound boards in the center of the venue so we had a clear view; we weren't nearly as close as the day before, however.

We weren't seated for very long before The Fall of Troy took the stage. Their performance in Los Angeles seemed to drag on considerably longer than the day before and the songs weren't as interesting, unfortunately. They made a little announcement about how this venue felt so "intimate" and wanted to do more emotional songs, or something along those lines. Either way, it was harder to understand them and the songs seemed more noisy than before.

I was joined by a couple coworkers who took the open seats behind me and not long afterwards Dir en grey came on stage with their familiar intro of G.D.S. It could have been that I was further than the stage and didn't notice, or it could have been that the band was simply more stoic. Also, the fact that all the fans of the band were so spread apart didn't help.

• Kyo did indeed cut himself on his chest after attempting to fish hook once. I personally was very surprised because it wasn't such a shallow cut to only allow red lines on his chest, but actual running of blood; it was deep, but not deep enough to be considerably dangerous.
• There were a lot of fans there for Dir en grey, but as mentioned, they were very spread apart. I think the assigned seating was the main and most important factor; I will always prefer standing-only venues after experiences such as this, as well as Family Values Tour last year.
  
• The lights were boring. During The Fall of Troy's set, I noticed that in the sound board, lights were also controlled. There was a roadie there who would move the switches according to the music. During Dir en grey's set, the roadie was there, messing with the switches, but it wasn't nearly as fast nor as innovative as the first opener. I blame it on the roadie not listening to their music very much.

The Fall of Troy calling this so "intimate" seems like a load of shit to me. Fans being spread far apart was no good and it made for the group support to be minimal. Dir en grey didn't seem as interactive with only one arm up in the pit giving them approval. But even with that, the set did seem longer than as fleeting as the day before, and by the end there was a lot more cheering than at the onset. Converted fans? Possibly.

As soon as Dir en grey's set was done, my friends and I all linked hands and rushed to where the meet and greet would take place. About 5 or 10 minutes later, the person whom we are to meet comes out and sits down: Kyo. From what I had heard, he had done the meet and greet in Vegas, and seeing him there was a shock and surprise considering all of us have heard he hates to do things like this. But there he sat with his sharpee in hand as everyone was given instructions.

I think I need to note just how spaced off and blah he seemed. He looked very "out of it", staring at the tiles on the floor ahead of him as if in a trance. Exhaustion? He was sick? I don't know. But the way he began to sign autographs was pretty... not good. I remember noting how he was just grabbing one thing, then another and another to sign, not looking up at the fan or acknowledging them or anything--- then by contrast noticing how happy the fan was. It seemed so contradictory and weird to me.

It wasn't long before it was my turn, and I had my Kisou CD ready to be signed. The thing about this particular CD is that I actually bought my copy during their first show here in the United States, so a little extra symbolism? Yes.

I set down the cover in front of him, he took it, and snorted/smirked, then signed. And considering what I had noticed from him doing autographs for others ((not even shaking hands!))-- I put my fingertips on the edge of the table and stayed there until he looked up and said "Thank you"; complete eye contact and he nodded. It honestly felt like an eternity and then some; the person besides me was having to wait to get their item signed.

Either way, my friends and I observed him from a little ways away, and when he left, he waved and walked away. I think I should also mention that he hadn't wiped the blood on his chest before coming out. He seemed like he just wiped his face and came out to do this as soon as the show was over. It explains how spacey he seemed.

I arrived at Viejas around 2.30pm to friends who had been waiting there since around 9am. When I arrived, there were only about 30 or so people there, most of which were there only for Dir en grey.

The venue was actually a stage set on a grassy space smaller than a football field- maybe half or 3/4 the size, all of which was surrounded by a sidewalk and stores that lined it; the venue was essentially set inside of an outdoor mall. I've been to Viejas only once before, and it has changed very little since last year. Casino across the street of the outdoor outlet mall; lots of fountains and statues.

After a couple hours, we weren't allowed to meander through the venue area as all the vendors and sound people were setting up the stage. During this time we started hearing of people spotting members of Dir en grey here and there; Die at a Coldstone and Toshiya shopping. Near concert time, representatives from Rock 105.3 and 91.1 X set up tents and soon we were allowed in.

I was lucky enough to be one of the first people in line and had my choice in spot for the show: rail right in front of where Toshiya and Kyo would be.

The opening band was The Fall of Troy and they started at around 7pm or so. They were a little better than I had originally expected with no set person to be a vocalist and only 3 members total. There was a guy going around recording them with a shirt that would direct you to their YouTube address. I think they played about 4 or 5 songs but it was honestly hard to tell, the songs were pretty long. The good thing about them was... well, they weren't very intimidated by the crowd, which I liked. Not put off and negative towards us as Fair to Midland was during the Dir en grey one-man tour. The bad thing about them, however, was just general over-use of sound effects, I think. The guitarist/lead singer was constantly messing with his pedals and it was distracting. I know they probably only have X amount of roadies to help, but it just seemed like too much. Interrupted the flow.
Dir en grey came on stage sometime between 7.45 and 8pm. Before their set, roadies flooded the stage and moved in instruments, fiddled with the drums- roadie-work. And true to their nature ((and hey, mine as a fan!)) as soon as the banner in the back of the stage reading their name fell, there was cheering. There were more Dir en grey fans there than I expected.

G.D.S. began and the photographer in front of me who was focusing on the stage, whipped around- surprised that we were chanting along.

From here on, just points until my summary:

• I shouted out "What's up, Toshiya?" to said band member right after G.D.S. He responded with a smile, headnod and "What's up?" in return.
• Kyo didn't cut himself during the show, which was actually a little surprising to be honest; he's done it at all the shows I've been to in the past. Also worth noting about Kyo's performance, he had his eyes closed for a good majority of the time he was singing. Part can be "getting into the music"-- but even then, he did most of the show with his eyes closed.
• Kyo's shirt read "Fuck your parents" or something along those lines. I thought it was interesting that he was wearing a baby-tee or something very similar; it was extremely fitted.

• Kaoru and Toshiya seem like the most comfortable within this "element" if that makes sense. Completely comfortable trying to get the American audience riled up and into their music.

During the show, I almost caught one of the few picks Toshiya threw out, but it was handed to someone a few people to the left of me. Also during the show, Toshiya decided to jump down off the stage, play for a moment, then hold his arms out, physically asking us to reach out for him. Which we did... at which he decided to fall/push into us. Being a Toshiya fan, I made sure to hug him and touch him plenty, as well as play with the strings on his guitar before he turned and made his way back on stage.

Other highlights were Kyo doing his now expected and adored a capella. I'm VERY curious as to how he came about composing it because it sounds so very shamanic and I can see the connection to the steer skull on the front of their US Inward Scream 2007 tour shirt.

They exited the stage to many more cheers than I had expected; at least half of the audience was into them and from I heard, there was a mosh pit for them which made me happy. I headed towards the merch booth, met up with friends and waited in line. For what? I didn't know at the time. I left the line to see why it wasn't moving and then saw it--- meet and greet after the show. I turned and headed back, but on the way noticed something odd: people looking at me weird and people moving out of the way. I turned around and low and behold it's Toshiya- trying not to laugh, with his hands up telling me to go first. I appearantly almost ran into him and he was giving me the right of way. Of course I was embarrassed, but kept walking back to my spot in line anyway.

A roadie was coming by, selling CDs for them to sign and I purchased my third copy of The Marrow of a Bone right then.

When it was time for me to get my things autographed, I greeted Toshiya and asked him if he was enjoying the tour, which he replied with "Yes." I don't exactly know how I gathered it, but the response and the easiness of it just  made me feel like he had good English, which I told him when I shook his hand. He grinned and said thank you and I moved onto Die who was there besides him. Die I greeted considerably more warmly with a "What's up, Die?!", making him laugh. As he autographed my CD booklet, I asked if he was drinking a lot and he laughed and said yes. I shook his hand, and that was it.

The band stayed to autograph things until everyone had gotten one, and then left to people cheering like crazy; they didn't get harassed which was both impressive and good.

As a final souvenir, I noticed Die had left his water bottle at the table they'd been at. ...I made sure to take that home with me.

I want to give my best friend a big hug. She's helping me expand on my skills with Adobe Illustrator and Photoshop; I WILL get considerably better by the end of my semester of graphic design.

Excited? Quite.

I'm taking a graphic design class over the summer which is proving to be... more interesting than I had expected. To be honest, I've done graphics and graphics design ever since I was like... at least 11 or 12. However, in a more professional setting? With much more professional tools? That's what makes it difficult.

With that said, even before I went into the class I decided I want to buy an Apple computer. This class reinforces that for me.

On the second day of class, the prof just let us fiddle around with the Apple programs... trying things out and slowly getting used to them. I've had a long history using Paint Shop Pro, so getting used to Photoshop is actually a little difficult. Not so much because I don't know what such-and-such tool does ((though there are a few I don't know)). But more because I can't find the tools I need!

Either way, the banner pictured is made from a macro picture I took a long time ago and had much more everyday colors at the onset. Reason I chose that picture to use? It was the easiest for me to find online at the time for me to play with. And as is obvious from the choice in text, I didn't want to have some cheesy lines on there, especially if the prof might see it in passing.

Today in class we actually worked on logo types... which I had never done before in my life. I want to do more now- more because I find it interesting and actually sort of fun. I only did one in class, while some of my classmates did multiple. I really couldn't work fast enough, plus was having some technical issues getting used to Illustrator.

I guess I can say that I'm completely in love with the fact that Apple programs work on my not-quite-legit copy of Photoshop on my PC. This logotype pictured I was able to just... copy straight from my USB drive, open in Photoshop, and save as a .jpg. Helpful? Oh yes. It actually made me extremely happy that it wasn't a hassle in the least!