Future Pop - Perfume 4th World Tour

[_honorentheos]

Truth is overrated. Amirite?

That seems to be the theme of this thread.

[_Res Ipsa]

Truth is overrated. Amirite?

That seems to be the theme of this thread.

I certainly hope you aren't insinuating that I've been untruthful in this thread. If so, I'm afraid it's pistols at dawn.

If not, perhaps I can clue you in on the rest of my concert schedule for the year (as it stands today) so you can criticize to your heart's content without fear of transgressing the rules. May 31 is Big Mike Grier, performing as Puddles Pity Party. A few days later is Zoe Keating. The week before Perfume was the Met's Die Valkure, film version. Somewhere in the summer will be some EDM something and perhaps some EBM something, both with friends who are fans of each. TBD.

Now, there's got to be something in there to delight the heart of any critic.

[_honorentheos]

I'm sorry to insinuate, well, openly state that the thread has an underlying theme about truth being secondary to...whatever it is. That's not to say anyone is dishonest, least of all the OP. Perhaps I'll just say that it strikes me a bit like the mystery of school spirit. Some people have it, I guess. And to others it is...

[_Res Ipsa]

I'm sorry to insinuate, well, openly state that the thread has an underlying theme about truth being secondary to...whatever it is. That's not to say anyone is dishonest, least of all the OP. Perhaps I'll just say that it strikes me a bit like the mystery of school spirit. Some people have it, I guess. And to others it is...

Fair enough. Thank God I don’t have to dig those old dueling pistols out.

[_Dr. Shades]

Doors opened at 7:00, and I arrived a couple minutes before that. I was very surprised to see a line that stretched for several blocks. I was about 20 feet back from the stage.

Hold the phone: You arrived at the end of a line that stretched for several blocks, and you still got a spot that was only 20 feet back from the stage??

This gives me hope. I'll be arriving in San Jose at about 9:30 a.m. local time, then taking an Uber to the theater to sit in line all day, so hopefully I'll be able to get even closer to the stage.

My only complaint about the whole performance was that the bass in the first set often overpowered the singers.

That's too bad. Hopefully that was a quirk of that particular theater's sound system and not indicative of the tour as a whole.

The singers were also stony faced during this part of the program. In fact, at one point, it struck me that the singers weren't enjoying themselves at all.

That's sad. Maybe they were self-conscious about the bass being too high?

But the unchanging expressions were, I think, simply a part of the future. (The future is, I guess, serious business).

I'm going to hope that that's the case.

The intermission was unique. The singers came out and talked to us through the entire intermission. They each talked a little in English. Then A-Chan said something in Japanese. Several hands went up. She had asked for people who could translate for her. She handed a mic to guy in the first row, and he proceeded to translate.

They do this at every overseas concert. As you can imagine, I'm hoping upon hope to be the guy they choose to translate during their next show (as I type this, they're in Southern California performing their setlist at Coachella. Their time slot is today [Sunday] from 8:20 p.m. to 9:10 p.m. Pacific Standard Time. So their "next" show is in San Jose). Believe it or not, I even bought, and will be wearing, a long-sleeved flourescent yellow safety shirt to hopefully get noticed easier.

She talked what they had done in Seattle the last two days, including a story about finding sculptures they liked that turned out to have been done by a Japanese artist. It came across to me as the singers caring about their audience in a way I'd never seen at a concert before.

You're 100% correct about that last part. It's yet another detail about Perfume that's so endearing. For two examples, during their first performance in the Tokyo Dome, in November 2010, Kashiyuka's dance moves were about a half second ahead of the background visuals during her 30-second solo routine (her mistake was captured on film and uploaded to YouTube here). During a radio interview the next day, when asked about the concert, she broke down and started crying, thinking she hadn't delivered the performance that the audience deserved. After their first New York concert, sometime around 2013 give-or-take, all three of them wept backstage because they didn't think the audience had enjoyed themselves very much.

The second half was older music that consisted of crowd favorites. (At least judging by the crowd reaction.) And I enjoyed it much more than I had the first set. The singers got to be much more of themselves: the excited exuberance of A-Chan, the wry smile of Kashiyuka, and the studied elegance of Nocchi. They were having a blast, and their mood was infectious.

That's AWESOME NEWS!!

On the dancing, I was impressed by how the singers were always in motion. There was no standing in place and singing. They were always moving and the movements were very precise. They must practice the choreography as much as they practice the singing.

And that's yet another way Perfume goes the extra mile for their fans. . . and why they're loved for it.

TL/DR I really enjoyed it. Thanks, Shades, for the opportunity to get out of my normal music zone and enjoy something that I never would have thought to try.

And thank you for typing this up for us!!

Perfume has grown on me a bit since first being introduced to the group by the good Dr. Shades. Like you, I enjoy their kinetics and watch their videos now and then, as much for the visuals as for the audio.

You are to be commended on your good taste.

I do hold a high regard for Shades.

Wow! (blushing)

But, even more than, taking opportunities to do things out of my comfort zone has resulted in some of the most amazing experiences I’ve had.

You know, that's a good policy. Considering how well it's worked for you, I really should start doing the same.

How many bulletin boards that I’ve posted on have an official band? One! How many chances will I have to attend that band’s concert? One, that I know of. And how many chances to share an experience with a guy for whom I have a ton of respect (and who is a helluva nice guy)?

Aww, thanks SO MUCH for the kind words! I appreciate them 100%.

Maybe one. So why not go for it, leave my comfort zone, and go see the board’s official band?

EVERYONE: Read and learn.

I had a good time and now have a shared experience with someone I like and respect. What’s not to like?

Dude, you're warming my heart over here. Thanks so much. Of course, I'll be giving a return-and-report on the San Jose concert, too, and my experiences thereat.

Just doing my part to ensure the board maintains its reputation as a free speech forum.

Thank you (not). Now that that's out of your system, please begin observing Universal Rule #11 beginning right. . . now.

And saying what's true.

What you said wasn't actually true.

There's a tension between that rule and maintaining a free speech forum.

Maybe, but there's absolutely no reason for you to test that tension.

And frankly, having more than one Perfume-based thread running takes it beyond sport to an object deserving commentary, in my opinion.

Seriously? The number of running Donald Trump-based threads vs. the number of running Perfume-based threads is, what, 1,000 to one? And it's the latter that concerns you?

RI went to see Perfume. Shades is going to see Perfume and very likely going on stage with them.

Heh, I SHOULD BE SO LUCKY!! No, the person who translates for them doesn't get to go up on stage with them. That person is simply handed a microphone and they translate from where they're standing.

Although I like your method much, MUCH better.

Get a therapist and keep your envy-driven negative Nancy remarks away from our board band!

DAMNED STRAIGHT!!

[_moksha]

The singers were also stony-faced during this part of the program.

Wonder if that could be part of the performance, acting congruent with the electronic voice modulation and presenting themselves as being partially animatronic.

Just a thought.

I hope Shades can post some video of his San Jose Perfume concert experience.

[_Res Ipsa]

Shades, I got the theater after being at the back of that long line, had time for a quick beer, and was still only about 20 feet back. BUT, as you can see from my photos, I was off to the side. If I were to do it again, I’d stay in the center. If you want a shot at being the translator, go early and get as close to the front rail as you can. (That would be awesome!)

But mostly just enjoy. You’re gonna love it.

[_Res Ipsa]

The singers were also stony-faced during this part of the program.

Wonder if that could be part of the performance, acting congruent with the electronic voice modulation and presenting themselves as being partially animatronic.

Just a thought.

I hope Shades can post some video of his San Jose Perfume concert experience.

Being the wise penguin that you are, I think you are exactly right.

[_Jersey Girl]

RI went to see Perfume. Shades is going to see Perfume and very likely going on stage with them.

Heh, I SHOULD BE SO LUCKY!! No, the person who translates for them doesn't get to go up on stage with them. That person is simply handed a microphone and they translate from where they're standing.

Although I like your method much, MUCH better.

I hope you have the best time ever! I'll be thinking of you as I'm making an airport run on Wednesday--nothing so exciting as you are doing. Get to the front like RI advised-make it happen! Also, please. Please. PLEASE post pics and vlog for us if it's possible.

I'm very happy and excited for you! Blue skies, green lights!

[_Jersey Girl]

But mostly just enjoy. You’re gonna love it.

Your pics totally jazzed me! I'm getting excited and it's not even me doing it.