The action from one of the major stages on the first day of V-ROCK.
First to appear on the R Stage was PENICILLIN who opened with a famous SE in the form of DRAGON QUEST. Vocalist HAKUEI, attired in a leopard print coat, was ever his glamourous self, swaggering around the stage with confidence. They started their set with the famous INAZUMA, featuring an amazing solo from guitarist Chisato. The audience went wild, waving their hands towards the stage during the main melody.
The next song, BLACK HOLE, with its edgy guitars and heavy bass, was a bit darker and led neatly into the cyber tinged New Future, and then Blood Red Snow White. Before their final song, PENICILLIN played ROMANCE, their most famous song, to the obvious enjoyment of the fans who jumped around and sang the main melody with the members. PENICILLIN closed their set with the fun OTOKO NO ROMAN Z. As Chisato rallied the fans, HAKUEI shouted “V-ROCK!” over and over, bringing this energetic first R Stage performance to an end.
Set List:
SE
1. INAZUMA
2. BLACK HOLE
3. New Future
MC
4. Blood Red Snow White
5. ROMANCE
6. OTOKO NO ROMAN Z
Next up was jealkb, a unique band consisting of seven members. Their vocalist, Haderu, is a famous comedian in Japan as part of London Boots. His comedic talents were well evident in his MCs, which were hysterically funny. He also could stir up the audience with his shouts too, as jealkb showed their musical worth. The opening Nageki no endless was something of an anthem, earning a singalong in addition to the frenzied arms waving in the air. During D.D.D, the audience got wild to the addictive rap-metal, while the aggressive SADISTIC MARIA saw the hall filled with a few thousand headbanging heads.
The set concluded with shell, another assault of heaviness that gave the audience plenty to headbang to before the more pop-styled next act on R Stage.
Set List:
1. Nageki no endless
2. Yugaizm
3. D.D.D
4. SADISTIC MARIA
5. Mousou amerie
6. Tsuiraku
7. shell
The arrival of BREAKERZ changed the mood a little, as they brought an entertaining set that began with the risque-titled NO SEX NO LIFE. Then it was onto the famous SUMMER PARTY. This band was not about looking moody, and their bright music filled the vast Makuhari Messe with a sound of summer. They even gave proceedings a Latin taste with BAMBINO. During the MC, vocalist Daigo did his signature hand-crossing gesture, to which the fans responded with screams and making grand gestures back at him.
After making announcements of a new single release in November, they resumed with the fun, danceable LOVE FIGHTER, before some energetic towel swinging by way of Shakunetsu took the set to an energetic end. Daigo, before leaving the stage, once again did the famous hand-crossing gesture, and the look of delight as the audience mirrored his actions again was fantastic to see.
Set List:
1. NO SEX NO LIFE
2. SUMMER PARTY
3. BAMBINO~BANIBINO~
4. LOVE FIGHTER~KOI NO BATTLE~
5. SHAKUNETSU
After a short break, during which Angelo played on the L Stage, the popular Alice Nine appeared confidently on the R Stage and their fans screamed in eager anticipation as the five members took up their instruments amidst the SE. As they started their set with the beautiful namel, the audience started jumping, punching their fists at the air excitedly as Shou's sweet vocals dragged the whole venue into the Alice Nine's world.
Unfortunately, a few technical problems attempted to thwart their performance, but Shou, ever a professional showman, gave the audience a sudden MC, chatting with them as the problems were sorted out behind him. Barely catching a breath, the quintet made up for lost time with the irresistibly catchy RAINBOWS; its neat balance of melodious electronica pop and heaviness prompted a frenzied mass of headbanging.
Watching the five members perform and the response of their fans was quite fascinating. "Let’s spread V-ROCK to the world!" Shou shouted, introducing the last song Heisei juushichinen shichigatsu nanoka. From the dulcet introduction, the sudden rush in music propelled the set to a fitting, fun close. The audience jumped enthusiastically and sang in one voice with the band, calling for them long after they had left the stage.
Set List:
SE
1. the beautiful name
2. Shunkashuutou
- MC -
3. RAINBOWS
4. Kowloon - NINE HEADS RODEO SHOW
MC
5. TSUBASA
6. Heisei Juushichinen shichi gatsu nanoka
The final Japanese act on R Stage Saturday was Abingdon Boys School, a much lauded band for whom the large crowd was visibly excited for before the SE had even begun. The screams grew to a deafening level as the group took to the stage and began with the pop-rock tune STRENGTH.
Keeping the tension up with Freedom, vocalist Takanori Nishikawa ran the length of the huge stage from left to right, his powerful, clear vocals reaching far beyond the limits of the room. Takanori delivered a typically cheerful MC, giving the audience a breather midway through, and it was hard to imagine that it was the same person a few minutes later, shouting hellishly for the heavy-rock tune Fre@k $HoW.
"Everyone, let's come together and enjoy the festival!" he said to the audience. Even those waiting for the next show at the L Stage, were also pumped up. The high levels of energy continued unabated to the end with the fantastic Kimi no uta. The audience had been warmed up perfectly by the Abingdon Boys School set, and all eyes now looked to L Stage in anticipation of La'Cryma Cristi.
Set List:
1. STRENGTH.
2. Freedom
3. HOWLING
4. Nephilim
5. From Dusk Till Dawn
6. Fre@K $HoW
7. JAP
8. INNOCENT SORROW
9. Kimi no uta
