I am sad. Chantel has buggered off back to cross the border and the post-concert blues has set in strong. Yesterday (so, the 7th Dec), I ran off to Manchester to go and battle my way to the barrier so I could see my favourite of favourite bands in all their screamy shouty rock gloriousness. And it was brilliant. It was, by far, my absolute favourite night of the year.

And I’ve waited nearly 10 years to see One Ok Rock live. I’ve waited 12 to see their vocalist in concert. I am so emotional right now.

Most of you are probably very aware of my love for what I endearingly term ‘shouty Japanese rock music’. I enjoy many genres – everything from the trashiest of trashy pop to Shostakovich – but my heart will always truly lie in the rock genre. Which means that most concerts I go to end in neck ache and bruises and sweat because, tbh, it’s a work out.

But seeing One Ok Rock, for me, wasn’t just another concert. I’ve seen a fair few bands that hail from Japan (SCANDAL and MUCC this year) which have been crazy fab, but it’s a whole other level when you see the one that tops your own personal charts. I’m actually proud of myself that I didn’t cry. Or go crazy at the merchandise table. The cliff notes version of #TheWait to see One Ok Rock is this: Taka (the vocalist) used to be in a pop boyband called news – my introduction into the world of jpop was their debut in ’03 – which he then left and went a bit mia until he wound up in One Ok Rock in ’05. The band started releasing music in ’06. So yeah, Long time Fii has waited to see them live.

Anywho, concert. Concert concert concert.

The set list was mainly from their newest album, 35xxxv, with Take Me To The Top as the opener, and Mighty Long Fall as the closing number. We were also treated to Deeper Deeper, The Beginning, Nothing Helps, Decision, C.h.a.o.s.m.y.t.h, Clock Strikes, and a new (!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!) song. I felt utterly spoit tbh.

Despite flying over from Dublin the night before, and being well into their tour, the boys gave such unbelievable energy for every song. The crowd gave back just as much, and I don’t think there was a real moment of ‘down time’ other than just before the encore, or when Taka was mc’ing. There was such an intensely hyped atmosphere.

I’m also going to be forever proud that Chantel and I started the happy birthday song for Toru, the guitarist, in one of the quick water breaks they had. We got the whole room involved without prior coordination, which I think definitely deserves a spot on my CV. (I’m only sort of joking…)

Without gushing too much, the rest of the concert was fab. I was having the time of my life and it’s definitely going to be a highlight of this year. In both the calendar and the academic sense. Honestly gutted that I wasn’t in Glasgow tonight, and that I can’t feasibly make seeing them in London a possibility.

Ohh and the support act they had, We Came As Romans, was really good too! I’d never heard of them before, so we did a quick spotify in the queue and didn’t really know what to think (we couldn’t hear very well, lol), but live?? Yessssssssssssssssss. Def going to look out for them in the future!

So yeah. Trying to adjust to the post-concert life and eyeing up the doughnuts I bought earlier… potentially send help?

(you can check out One Ok Rock’s youtube channel if you so choose – I thoroughly suggest you do…)

Have you ever seen your favourite band live? What was it like?? 😀

♥

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