254. november rain

Yes, I stole the title of this post from a Guns N' Roses song and no, this post has nothing to do with them. Yesterday was the perfect day to go see THE NOVEMBERS, it is November and it was raining. I especially love to listen to them when it's raining, it adds a certain dreaminess that I'm always intoxicated by.

After class, I had dinner with Junmin and Jihyon before heading to Shinkiba Studio Coast. It was also the perfect day to have ramen. I'm not a big fan of ramen but the gigantic bowl of ramen I ordered made me really happy.

They were playing Erik Satie as their background music when I got into the venue and it made me so sleepy because Erik Satie is my lullaby. They started playing at about 7:15pm. They opened to their a new song, I can't ever for the life of me remember any of their song titles. I know which song it is when I listen to it but just not the titles.

They played their entire new ep, and I was really happy to hear 裸のミンク live. It has been on loop for a while now. That song has a nostalgia to it, it reminds of me of the 1980s. There's a line in the song I really love because it's so cute, I scream, you scream, we all scream for ice-cream.

They didn't play much of my favourite songs, there was a couple of old songs here and there but when they played old songs, it really did bring back a lot of feelings for me. It's been a long time since I've started listening to them, actually around the same time when I discovered lynch. It is kind of amazing to see how the bands I love grow.

About 2 years ago, when I went to see THE NOVEMBERS, they were always playing in small venues though it was always sold out, I was so used to seeing them play to a smaller crowd. I won't deny that them getting more famous puts me off a bit. I'm one of those people that lose interest in something if they get more popular. The venue was about 3/4 full.

I really enjoyed them when they played fast songs, the visual effects were really pretty and their fast songs always put me in this trance state and I always lose myself in their music. It was definitely different seeing them play a big venue. I prefer their usual small shows actually.

They played for close to two hours and closed to a song which is my least favourite from them, 今日も生きたね. I know everybody claims this song is a masterpiece but I really don't care for it. While exiting the venue, we were given reprints of their very first demo. I was really happy to get it because that means my collection for their CDs is complete, until they release something new.

I didn't have the time to listen to their new mini-album until about a week ago because all my favourite bands decided to be assholes and release their albums on the same day, 7 October. lynch., Crystal Lake and THE NOVEMBERS and since I was going to see lynch. and CL first, I gave their music more attention. Also, as you already know, lynch. is always my number 1 priority.

Going to the show last night really was a nice break from all the noisy music though. As much as I love metalcore  and as I call it myうるさいmusic, I always need a break.

Also because lately, I have been losing interest in them quite a bit, their fans are really the worst. Not in a horrible bitchy way but their fans are so so so dead during their shows, it makes you feel bored which is such a shame because this band is amazing live. I decide to not care and just sway and dance to their music. Honestly, the fans do play such a big part of going to the band's shows. That's why I enjoy going to see my other bands more.

I don't know when will be the next time I will see THE NOVEMBERS but for now, I'll just listen to their music until I fall asleep.

211. decade of beauty, the novembers

On Friday, I was eagerly waiting for my class to end because I was so excited to see THE NOVEMBERS again. I haven't seen them in a long time (last time was September), let alone a one-man show. The last time I saw them at just a one-man show was way back in 2013 when they were doing their album tour at Shindaita FEVER, and I went to see them play To(melt into) and (Two) into holy. I lost interest in them for several reasons but since they posted a special web live video, it made me really miss their music and want to see them again.

Coincidentally, they are also celebrating their 10th anniversary (like lynch.) so I thought it would be good to see them again. After having dinner with my classmates, I went off to Club Quattro for their show. They didn't disappoint and were as good as I remembered. They opened to Romance and everything suddenly fell into a dream like atmosphere, like their music. I was so happy they played many old songs because fans requested and they posted on their social networking accounts (as pictured above) which songs they were going to play. This show actually had most of my favorites. 

I really really enjoyed their faster songs starting from Primal because you could feel the music and just sway or dance to it. Blood music 1985 and Xeno were really good live. I always fall into a trance like state when they play faster songs, it is totally different feeling I get when I see lynch. or any other heavy band. It's weird because I hardly listened to their latest album but really enjoyed those two. I totally forgot how they would actually headbang to their faster songs and Yusuke could hit some really high notes, though some people might not like it (people have told me he looks weird or it's annoying when he sings the high notes), but I think it actually adds to how good the band or he actually is? 

Also, rare songs were played like chernobyl, a friend of mine who have seen the band so many times have only seen them play it twice. So it was good, this show really reminded me why I used to love them so much. 

They played for almost 2 hours, and I was really surprised Yusuke Kobayashi (vocals) did a little bit of mc and laughed because I've never seen him talk during a show. So it was nice to see that side of him. At the end of the show, they were distributing the setlist! I wish more bands would do that. Also, their setlist is kinda cool looking, can't expect more from artsy people, haha. 

I got a badge at their merch table as well since I've always liked the little thing Yusuke draws. Hopefully, they have more one-man shows this year. I really want to see them play a long set again. 

PS. It was a nice change of crowd after going to some hxc and only lynch. shows.

117. 鉄の夢

I can't believe its already Christmas eve and soon, 2014 will arrive.

Earlier tonight, I went to see THE NOVEMBERS at Shibuya O-Nest. This time, they were opening for nhhmbase. Sometimes, my luck astounds me. The minute I walked into the venue to exchange my ticket for the drink coupon, Yusuke (vocalist) walked out, I just turned my head and was surprised to see him. So, it was good that I went to the venue late?

I was happy even before getting to see the band, so I was in a really good mood while they took the stage. I wanted to see them play other albums since the last time I saw them, they mostly played To (melt into) and (Two) into holy only. They played material mostly from their latest album, zeitgeist and Fourth wall. I was glad they did, since those were more upbeat songs and I was enjoying myself getting lost in the music. They are so good live, I wish their fans would be more enthusiastic about their music. :/

They played for an hour and I left once they ended. I felt nice to walk out in the cold alone after so long and I'm glad Shibuya wasn't that crowded today.

On Sunday, I met up with Elaine to get the ticket to their show. We decided to meet at Shimokitazawa since I always wanted to go and she said it's a good place for music. I really liked Shimokitazawa. It's not crowded, more chill and has cute shops. We had udon for dinner! I swear I will miss udon so much when I go back, I've been addicted to it lately. After dinner, we went to get dessert and just chilled there and talked for hours. Seriously, I enjoyed talking to her so much, even with our age difference.

Maybe the reason why we can get along so well is because her birthday is the same as Steph's and  I've known Steph for almost 10 years now. Also, it always helps that she likes the same international bands as me like Finch, Brand New, Taking Back Sunday, Thursday etc and obviously, the reason why we knew each other was because of THE NOVEMBERS. So we were just talking about how cute Takamatsu is in general, haha.

It's funny how I always meet great people away from home.

Later, I'll be meeting Yuri to countdown to Christmas together. I can't believe we're going to Nagoya again this weekend. It makes me so happy that we're going back there! I can't wait!

I'm definitely going to write another post before I leave for Nagoya. 2013 has been such a wonderful year, but before the year ends, there's Gray and his Christmas... ( I really miss Fairy Tail ): )

by Hiro Mashima, Fairy Tail. 

113. to melt into

After getting back from Nagoya last Thursday, I had to rush off to meet Elaine to get my tickets to see THE NOVEMBERS. In the end, I went alone because she actually lost one of the tickets and wanted to see Sir Paul Mccartney instead. I don't blame her, come on, it's one quarter of The freakin' Beatles.

So, I went to meet her near her office and went off to Shibuya to get a quick dinner and got to FEVER 30 minutes before the show started. Honestly, I didn't know what to expect because indie music and its' culture is so different from my usual rock/metal shows. I was actually curious to see what the fans were like. She was already telling me beforehand what to expect.

So, when I arrived, there were already so many people waiting outside FEVER. I was amazed by the number of guys that were at the show, I would say almost half of them were guys. Some of them, you could totally tell were trying to be Takamatsu or Kobayashi wannabes. But to be honest, I like the vibe more at indie shows because everyone is so chill and I love the way most of them dressed. I'm such a simple person when it comes to dressing, I just like it all black, plain and layering - which most of them were decked out like this. The only thing that made me stood out was because I was wearing my DEATHGAZE shirt, I had no choice though, I didn't have time to go back and change.

The girls were also not bitchy at all. These girls next to me were so cute, they were talking among themselves but I could hear them, they were saying how I was a "bijin" and how the guys probably would talk to me. But really, they didn't. Some guys just kept staring which I found annoying to be honest. I always get this in Japan.

The ticket number Elaine gave me was like a priority number kinda thing, so I got in really fast and managed to stand in the third row infront of Kobayashi. I was happy because I like him the most out of the band.

It didn't take long to start, I thought I was over them because I really am not into their recent stuff, but when they took the stage I was sooooooo happy. It's a different kind of happy compared to lynch., but THE NOVEMBERS are also my favorite band. I always had a habit of loving two bands at a time, one heavy and one softer.

They opened to melt, and it was so dreamy and everything I felt all the time listening to them was just right in front of me. They sounded so good live too, even if the sound system sucked. Kobayashi's voice is so much more dreamier live than on the cds. I thought I would be bored at their live but when they got to the faster songs, like 永遠の複製, 彼岸で散る青, was fun to sway to them.

Elaine was telling me earlier how all the girls like Takamatsu and I just couldn't see why, because she's also one of those girls. But when I saw him coming on to the stage, I was surprised because he looks so much cuter in real life and like a typical indie prince. So you can tell why all the girls like him. Really, photos don't do him any justice.

I thought they were good for an indie band because all the indie bands I've seen are boring as hell. They don't move at all, but THE NOVEMBERS did move and you can tell how much Kobayashi and Kengo were into the music. They did a covers of dip and Nirvana. During some of their songs, especially 再生の朝, I actually closed my eyes and just listened to them. I felt like I was floating on a cloud, in my dreams. They played for exactly 2 hours, since they were only playing songs from (Two) into holy and To (melt into), I was happy they played my favorites and am even happier they played these albums because it was around this era that I fell in love with them.

-setlist-
1.melt
2.瓦礫の上で
3.37.2°
4.はじまりの教会
5.小声は此岸に響いて
6.夢のあと
7.human flow(dip cover)
8.天井と管
9.日々の剥製
10.STAY AWAY(NIRVANA cover)
11.Louder Than War (2019)
12.永遠の複製
13.ニールの灰に
14.彼岸で散る青
15.終わらない境界
16.holy
17再生の朝

Photo by Daisuke Miyashita

And actually I can see myself in the photo! Haha. After the show, I kind of rushed out of the venue because my back was killing me. I had been carrying all my clothes and stuff I got from Nagoya for the whole day and felt like I was about to drop at any second. I hurried to buy some merch and I'm so happy with them because I've always wanted NOVEMBERS pins/badges for the longest time. Luckily, Shindaita Station is not that far from Shibuya, so I got home quite quickly. Took a hot bath and dropped dead on my bed till the next morning.

I really want to see THE NOVEMBERS again but it's always so hard for me to.

083. paraphilia

If there was an award for best personal band photos, this band takes the cake. I haven't been updating much of THE NOVEMBERS stuff on my tumblr  for quite some time because of the lack of their updates as well and me being very picky with the photos I want on my blog. 

But lately, they've been updating a lot because of the release of their new EP, Fourth Wall, out 15th May. Personally, I'm not really excited for it because I really don't like the first single off it, I was really disappointed when I heard dogma. I've never hated anything from them, it's like my paradise has been soiled a little bit. Anyways back to the topic, I love a lot of photos that the band personally take, I always have them as my wallpaper on my phone. 

Most of them are so well taken maybe because 3/4 of them are from art school (not the band but an actual art school), and 2 of them studied photography. Explains a lot, no? But these two are my recent favorites. 

I just hope the rest of their EP won't be a letdown. *fingers crossed*

I've been concentrating on my art work and getting better. Hopefully things will slowly fall into place...

036. ♥

philia

029. keep me keep me keep me

Yusuke Kobayashi ; THE NOVEMBERS

by

hanayo

003. 9goats ; the novembers

9 Goats Black Out and THE NOVEMBERS have been on repeat for weeks and I'm still not sick of them, yet. I'm really in love with their albums, Tanatos and To (melt into). I love falling asleep to them, they provide the same warmth and comfort my other lullaby bands do.

Plus their album art work is really pretty.

My other lullaby bands include carefully picked tracks from Plastic Tree and Copeland, As Tall As Lions's Self Titled album and Death Cab For Cutie's Transatlanticism.


My favorite tracks on Tanatos is Heaven and 宛名のない手紙, and on To (melt into) is 瓦礫の上で. 
I realize I fall asleep to those songs most of the time, I guess those tracks have this weird ability to calm me down right before I drift into my dreams.

I'm also in love with the way some photographs capture them. They are really stunning and it gives you this dreamy feeling. Especially for 9Goats. I'm more obsessed over THE NOVEMBERS's hairstyles.

I know it is kind of strange but whenever I start to draw, I always pick out people with interesting hairstyles and will spend hours and hours drawing all the little details and fine lines, the messier, weirder and longer their hair is, the better for me because I like to draw out all the lines, curves and shades. As much as I find it challenging, that's actually when I'm having the most fun.