The Metal Resistance Arrives In Seattle - BABYMETAL Review! 7/12/16
Babymetal
Showbox SoDo
Seattle, WA
July 12, 2016
The suspension of disbelief is common when one watches
films. To let your imagination run wild
while suppressing the logical aspect of your mind that says what you are
watching is an impossibility such as when E.T. flies in the sky with Elliott on
his bike, this would be a prime example of the suspension of disbelief.
Why do I bring this concept up in a concert review? When it comes to Japan's biggest musical
export in years, Babymetal, some concert goers need to get into that headspace
where you are just there for the spectacle of it all, to let loose and just
enjoy the experience.
Babymetal have divided the metal community since their
inception. Why you may ask? A J-pop trio of teenage girls that are an
offshoot from their first group (Sakura Gakuin), backed by a four piece live
metal band (Kami Band). Singing in their
native Japanese, dancing through tight choreography as headbanging music bleeds
from the speakers, they are a dichotomy of musical genres.
Metalheads are a fickle bunch. Always have been. They are also one of the most dedicated
fanbases in all of music. I went to my
first show in 1979 (KISS). My second
show was in 1982 (AC/DC). My third show
was also in 1982 (Scorpions with special guests Iron Maiden). I've lost count of how many shows I've been to
since. Metal back then was about going
against the grain, against the mainstream culture, and forging your own path.
Pop music was considered the complete antithesis of heavy
metal. Manufactured, at times
lip-synched, with no "real" talent to speak of, many a metalhead
loathed the acts they saw on MTV back in the day or heard on their local radio
station.
Babymetal have taken aspects of well-known metal bands for
inspiration. X Japan, Iron Maiden,
Metallica, Slayer, Anthrax, Megadeth, Behemoth, and Darkthrone just to name a
few.
So, the thought of putting these two adversarial genres
together would be pure blasphemy, not to mention the addition of teenage girls
in cute outfits you might see at Sakura Con, this concept would surely enrage
the diehard metal fan.
Not me.
The show on Tuesday brought out such a wide diverse crowd
that one would have to be completely ignorant to not acknowledge that this
concert was beyond a mere gig at the Showox SoDo. It was an international event!
If you're purely a metal fan, you're probably one of the
skeptics. A small part of me understands
the naysayers when it comes to Babymetal.
I love metal but I like many other genres of music, too. I went through a long K Pop period (not to be
confused with J Pop) as well. I saw X
Japan in 2010 here in Seattle. At the
end of the day, what I like is no better nor worse than what you like,
musically. Music is a personal
journey. What resonates with you is all
that matters if you ask me.
If you're an anime and manga fan, you were probably
interested as soon as you first heard of Babymetal in 2010. While I'm not a huge fan of either, I am
familiar with some of the more mainstream aspects of both. Also, being Japanese American, I do share
some common knowledge of my ancestor’s beliefs and culture.
And if you have a fascination with Japanese culture, then
you sponge up anything new that comes from the land of the rising sun.
The majority of the fans waiting outside of the Showbox SoDo
were hardcore fans. There were some
fence sitters and still others that were tagging along with their friends or
significant others that brought them to the show, but overall it might as well
of been a Babymetal convention waiting in downtown Seattle.
Being a long time metal and overall music fan, I was coming
into the show a fan of the band. I am
certainly not on the level of the diehard fans that traveled from cities such
as Boston, Los Angeles, Vancouver, Portland, and Tokyo to follow the band down
this last string of west coast dates.
You know the ones - they speak (some) Japanese, they have their membership
to "The One" fan club, they know every detail and fact about Sumetal,
Yuimetal, and Moametal that it'll make your head spin. The fan that dresses up as a member of the
Kami Band or the fan that has to pick from their collection of tour shirts to
display the right shirt for the evening so all the other diehard fans
notice. These fans were in Seattle in
mass quantities! And I'll tell you - I
loved it!
There's nothing like going to a sold out concert where the
communal aspect is evident, where the entire crowd is just counting down the
minutes before their favorite band takes the stage. Where you talk to the fan next to you only to
realize they drove 5 hours to get to the show while the fan next to them just
flew into Sea-Tac (Seattle Tacoma) airport last night to be at the show to the
VIP folks that paid the extra money to get a laminate, an exclusive merchandise
item, and early access to the merch table and floor access nearest the
stage.
The energy in the air as I made my way through the sodo
(south of downtown Seattle for you non-local readers) area of Seattle on
Tuesday afternoon was undeniable. I
found parking on the street (free parking!) and made my way to the Showbox
SoDo.
Since I was on the guest list for this show, I knew the
drill to get my ticket. I have to get it
from the box office once will call opens.
Since the doors weren't until 8pm, I had a feeling I would be waiting
until 8pm to get my ticket.
Having arrived around 5:30pm, I managed to find a venue
worker who told me exactly what I thought - I would have to get my ticket at
will call and meanwhile I would have to wait in the general admission line.
The line at this time for the show was split two ways. There was a VIP line that was split into two
directions facing each other to the main doors of the club in the middle. Behind the south end of one of those VIP
lines is where the general admission line started. For the general admission line, I was around
the 30th person in line I'm guessing.
Not too bad. Eventually the line
snaked down 1st Avenue and around the block and down Holgate.
The VIP line had flags lined up on the railings with some of
these fans having been there since the night before (!) I was told. There are photos on social media depicting
the fans that were there first, then the fans that came later on Tuesday
morning, and then the general admission line that grew and grew.
Two and a half hours to wait until the doors open then one
hour until show time. The weather was
cool, even by Seattle standards for mid-July, but that made it perfect for waiting
outside.
Around two hours later, a venue worker moved all the first
general admission line folks behind the VIP line on the north end of the club,
divided only to keep space open to the main doors of the club. There was confusion as to whether we were
going into the lounge entrance (21+) or going in after the VIP's went in
first. Eventually we found out we were
going into the lounge entrance. They
escorted those under 21 to suitable places in line in the other general
admission line further down 1st Avenue.
This all seemed fine as I've gone through the lounge entrance
before. However, about 8 people in front
of me they closed the lounge doors completely.
Questions and panic started to set in with our line as people, some of
whom traveled from Japan, didn't understand what was going on. Heck neither did I!
Before anything escalated, a strategy by venue staff was
announced. We would be going in right
after the VIP lines and then the second general admission line would go in
after us. A completely fair
solution! I have to hand it to the
Showbox SoDo staff - during all this confusion, they were polite as they got
many demanding questions, confused questions, and many upset glares if people
were going to lose their spots in line.
They handed out 21+ wristbands as soon as you arrived to speed up the
process as well. Kudos folks!
A little after 8pm, the doors opened, the VIPs went in
first, I got my guest list ticket from will call (thank the Fox God it was
there - thanks Aaron!!!), and in I went.
The VIP's were lined up at the merch tables while I made a line straight
for the stage. I was one person away
from the barricade on the right hand side (Moametal's side). Cool I thought to myself - now I just have to
wait an hour until the event begins!
I briefly saw that there were three t-shirts, a hoodie, a
hat, a wristband, and I believe vinyl of "Metal Resistance" available
at the merch table. I would take my
chances and see what was still left after the show.
As 9pm approached, the club was packed but apparently there
was still a line outside. I had friends
that were stuck in that line and they were wondering if the band had started
yet since they were still outside. They
hadn't. I'm guessing this may be why the
band started late - to let the fans outside get into the club.
Where I was waiting people were looking at their
phones. 9:15pm came and went. 9:30pm came and went. Then the lights went out and the roar from
the crowd set the tone perfectly.
The "Episode IV" narrative was blasted over the PA
as the crowd pushed forward to get as close to the stage as possible. The Kami Band came out first, gesturing to
the crowd, before taking their places on the back part of the stage.
Launching into the opening strains of, "BABYMETAL
DEATH", Sumetal, Yuimetal, and Moametal came out from the left side of the
stage to take their places during the opening track. As they went into their trademarked
choreography, the enthusiastic crowd mirrored their hand and vocal gestures
which are customary at every Babymetal show.
The pit started up behind me, in varying degrees during the
course of the show, shoving some people into my back. Crowd surfing was allowed so the venue staff
was busy all night long helping people over the barricade. They also handed out cold water bottles to
fans in the front - a nice touch Showbox Sodo.
It was appreciated!
Being one person away from the stage, it was just amazing
watching the girls sing and dance during the first few tunes. Speaking of which, instead of putting it at
the end of the set, the second song of the night was, "Gimme
Chocolate!!" - arguably the most known song of the band - by the casual
fan, that is. The signature choreography
from the video was replicated with such precision on stage, along with that
heavy ass guitar riff; the crowd was just eating it up!
The set contained a mix of songs from their debut album,
"Babymetal" and the second album, "Metal Resistance". "Awadama Fever" and "Catch Me
If You Can" were next with the Kami Band playing intros/solos before the
tune. Let me tell you - any metal fan
would of enjoyed the Kami Band. Some of
Japan's top metal musicians, the band was tight, heavy, and enjoyable as heck
to watch and listen to. Guitarists Mikio
and Takyoshi were shredding with the best of them. Drummer Hideki pummeled the drums with plenty
of double bass. Six string bassist BOH
sported the letters USA on the back of his corpse painted style head by the
way.
"Amore" and "Sis. Anger" came next from
the new album. Sumetal sounded strong
throughout the night. Yes, she was
singing. Yuimetal and Moametal were also
singing or "screaming" as they're credited. As a whole there was a backing track at times
(for keyboards, growl vocals, background harmonies, and other effects) but this
is commonplace these days. Either the
soundman at the board triggers the backing sounds or the drummer does from a
laptop or something similar. The fact
that they were singing alone sets the girls apart from the usual guide vocal
pop artists.
I'd also add in that with all the singing and dancing,
especially in those outfits, under hot lights, the girls were visibly sweaty
during their performance. They rocked
out, in their own way, just like you'd see at any metal gig.
"Meta Taro", "Megitsune", and
"KARATE" were given the live treatment next. "KARATE" being the first official
video from the new album, the tune sounded great live! Again, the choreography from the music video
was displayed on stage. You know what
I'd love to see? I'd love to see
Babymetal fans doing parts of the choreography en masse at the shows from the
videos. Imagine an entire floor leaning
back from the opening parts of "Gimme Chocolate!!" or the air fists
from the beginning of "KARATE" - food for thought folks. I know my uncoordinated self couldn't do a
whole song worth of choreography but parts I could - well, maybe. But I digress.
The main set ended with the one two punch of "Road of
Resistance" and "THE ONE (English Version)". The girls exited the stage along with the
Kami Band. After much cheering and chanting,
the Kami Band returned.
Launching into "Ijime, Dame, Zettai", the heavy
tune rocked the Showbox SoDo as the encore for the night with Babymetal giving
it everything they had. After their
customary "See You!" from the stage, Sumetal, Yuimetal, and Moametal
left the stage with the Kami Band shortly thereafter.
The lights came up and many a fan in the front just stood
there, exhausted in the best possible way from the show, letting it all sink
in. I was sweaty just like everyone else
at the show. My clothes sticking to me
in all the wrong places, par for the course for a great show!
As a magazine reporter, I could of arrived later in the
evening, stood in the back or way off to the side of the venue, but that's no
way to take in this kind of show. You
need to be IN it if you know what I mean.
Granted I'm a fan as well but I'm an old fan with a questionable
back. My days of being in the pit or
squished up in the front at these shows on a regular basis is becoming a thing
of the past for sure. But for certain
shows, again, I feel I need to be in amongst the fans, experiencing what
they're experiencing in the front as a collective force of energy.
All in all we got twelve songs in Seattle, WA. Everyone always wants more songs but I don't
think anyone left the venue disappointed.
The hardcore fans were happy. The
fence sitters were no longer on the fence - convinced that they belong as a part
of THE ONE as The Fox God dictates the force that is Babymetal throughout the
universe!
This show was one for the books, folks. The band only has a few US shows left before
they play some spectacular gigs in Japan to close Episode IV. What Episode V has in store, only the Fox God
knows. But here's hoping the Fox God
brings Babymetal back to the US, and more importantly, back to Seattle,
WA!
Cheers!
Mark D. Sugiyama
Eclectic Arts
All Photo Usage Courtesy Of and Approved by: Babymetal, Amuse Inc, and Justin Borucki
Miscellaneous Notes:
*I've been speculating where would Babymetal play should
they return to Seattle? They need a
venue that has a general admission floor which eliminates venues like The Moore
(which is the most logical next step up).
I suppose The Paramount would be the next stop as they can make the
floor general admission. More than twice
the capacity of the Showbox SoDo, this would be an interesting venue
choice. I'll see them anywhere they
play. Here's hoping they come back,
period.
*I said more than once but kudos to the Showbox SoDo
staff. I'm sure they get criticized all
the time but in my opinion they were on point Tuesday night.
*The merchandise was standard concert prices which was nice
to see. They could of charged double and
the rabid fans would of paid it. $30 US
for a t-shirt. $50 for the hoodie. I did manage to get a shirt after the show so
the limit of 2 per design seems to be helping spread the merchandise around.
*Social media follows this band around like nothing I've
ever seen. It was like a freaking
journal of posts before, during, and after the show from all over the world.
*Thank you to Aaron for getting me on the guest list. The man put up with my incessant messages
about this show since February. Again,
thank you Aaron!
*Thank you to all the fans I met at the show from around the
country and world. Such a nice, informed
group of people. With all that's been
going on in the world, it was so nice to see how a large group of diverse
strangers could come together for a common purpose - to enjoy Babymetal!
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