Every year around October 31st,
VAMPS organize their own Halloween party, divided between two cities over several days. At every concert, there are different guest artists attending and bands performing at the big event. Their last concert was held on October 25th at Makuhari Messe and completely sold out. Many in the audience went all-out on their Halloween appearances, ready to celebrate Halloween with the bands tonight.
In the big hall, projections of ghosts, bats and skeleton flew through the hall, accompanied by the soundtrack from "The Nightmare Before Christmas". The stage was also fully decorated in Halloween style. As the venue darkens, a pumpkin head appears on two big screens either side of the stage to announce the show to start, asking the audience if they've died yet.
Tommy Heavenly6 is the opening performer and she welcomes the audience to the Halloween party. The music is like a twisted amusement park melody. The guitarist that accompanies the singer shouts to the audience: “Boys and girls, are you ready for some candy?” Her
Fairy Tale Medley consists of three songs, each with it's own distinctive feel.
Tommy Heavenly6's style has a rock feel, but she mixes it up with pop and electro elements. The music is catchy and the artists walk around on stage, posing at corners, getting as close to the audience as possible. The big screens display close-ups of the singer, her guitarist and bassist, so everyone can check out the costumes they’re wearing. In no time, she’s already playing her last song
Hey my friend: the start is mellow, but builds up towards a rock finish with a great guitar solo. The set ends way too fast, but
Tommy Heavenly6 showed her talent and started off the show with a blast.
© Hideaki Imamoto, Toshikazu Oguruma & Kazuko Tanaka
The host, dressed in a bloodstained tuxedo announces that
BREAKERZ are next and starts talking about a marathon. In no time, the vocalist
DAIGO, dressed as a marathon runner jogs from the back of the venue towards the stage and climbs up, giving a small speech [background music included] that makes the audience chuckle.
The decorations that conceal most of the stage slide aside, revealing the room of an old castle covered with pumpkins. In keeping with the marathon skit,
BREAKERZ start off with
RUN AND RUN. At first glance, one of the guitarists looks just like
Golden Bomber’s drummer, but it’s really
Shinpei. It’s his first and last time as
Kenji Darvish. The band keeps the audience entertained, asking the audience during the MC if they’re having fun, a question the crowd answers with screams.
Their songs are heavy and upbeat, have a dramatic edge to them, and are perfect for furitsuke. Towels are swung in the air during their last song. Both guitarists come towards the crowd, leaning in while playing, pirouetting and striking poses. To end their show, the audience is asked to jump altogether, yelling “Ready, set, go!” His command obeyed,
DAIGO says they had fun and thanks the audience before walking off.
Between the sets, there’s entertainment to prevent the audience becoming bored. There’s a fashion show with models posing in all kinds of Halloween costumes: characters like Maleficent and Edward Scissorhands walk on stage in the company of pirates, creepy brides and more. Aside from the models, a bunch of Tetris blocks walk on, and comically try and fit themselves into each other to make a good pose. They’re recognized as
Kameleo and talk briefly with the host before hopping offstage. The night is filled with surprises and cameos like these.
© Hideaki Imamoto, Toshikazu Oguruma & Kazuko Tanaka
Soon after the fashion show, the group
HALLOWEEN DOLLS get on stage and sing their own version of
Halloween Junky Orchestra's
HALLOWEEN PARTY. All dressed up as cute witches, they sing and dance to the music. The little girls are really talented and not shy about performing for such a big audience.
Last but not least, there’s a glimpse of the costumes of this year’s
HALLOWEEN JUNKY ORCHESTRA, with musicians like
DIR EN GREY's
Shinya,
Sid's bassist
Aki,
YUKI (
DUSTER-3,
Rayflower),
TATSURO（
MUCC),
Kanon Wakeshima and
Hiro from
MY FIRST STORY. They walk around on stage, showing off their costume of choice before leaving the stage amid loud cheers. The next show will soon start, continuing with
Dempagumi.inc.
Set List:
Tommy Heavenly6
1. Tommy’s Halloween Fairy Tale Medley
BREAKERZ
1. RUN AND RUN
2. WE GO
3. YAIBA
4. Shakunetsu
HALLOWEEN DOLLS
1. HALLOWEEN PARTY
Read part 2 of the report at
http://www.jame-world.com/us/articles-118614-vamps-halloween-party-2015-part-2-.html.
