Day 18 - Shibuya, Concert in Shinjuku
Rain day on a Sunday. Finally some more chilled temperatures.
I wake up a bit dizzy from yesterday night but still managed to get out of bed.
Grab breakfast and think about what to do later. I only have one friend of a friend to meet but then I realised the concert is also today so I actually have my day full
Quick breakfast at a supermarket, a few study sessions and I had on my way to Shibuya.
I arrive at the earlier so I have time to explore and as always I enjoy exploring some more niche record stores which sell interesting in Japanese records. Cassettes and other merchandise which I take some photo notes for later
As I meet with a friend of a friend and we decide to go to a restaurant I've been before and over the order some teppanyaki burgers
The conversation flows maybe a bit too much from my side as I always tend to overshare but if he needs anything maybe he can find me helpful around this country.
Easy meal, I go back to my hotel to grab the camera and prepare for the concert.
As 5:00 p.m. approaches I miss a few stations, because one train is rapid, the other isn't, one station is Shinjuku the other one is Shinjuku-sanchome and by the time you realize you're in the right train, you are 4 stations away from the destination. Even though there's an exit next to the venue, it's hard to get to because there's 20 other exits and I just walk a little bit in the rain towards the venue
At the concert place, I realised that I might be on some kind of guest list so I ask and I say it. Alex/Areksu and they check next to the band name. Nothing . I don't mind paying for a ticket. It's roughly 12gbp.
But, I decide it's better to ask because they expect me to do photos anyway. Therefore, I might be at least on some list somewhere... or they will just put me on it.
One of the singers confirms that how this is the cameraman. His name is on the staff. And there we go, my name is on the staff.
I get a special stamp for it and I get some discount for drinks, useful!
As the concert starts, one of the first bands has a very interesting traditional Japanese singing style and even a Taiko drummer ready to blast beat!
After an incredible, pure sounding introduction by their lead singer, the band is a grind core band and it becomes quite fun the type of music they play with the addition of traditional Taiko drums. KANDARIVAS is the name of this one.
I enjoy it. The quality is incredible. Every single band outputs more than you expect from these type of bands. Usually in places like these because the place is incredibly tiny... I need to check out more bands from here in my own time: https://www.antiknock.net/schedule/20230507/
Is the time arrives for me to go get my camera? I do so and prepare myself for at least if you lens changes and start with clear photos of people's faces and go wider and wider as the concert progresses...
My teacher playing lead guitar makes it look easy as the band pushes through more styles than plain metal, as there's 2 lead singers, there's a mixture of softer and hardcore styles almost in every song.
The band name is Undead Corporation. Unfortunately it's their last few concerts, as the singers are moving away from Japan. So the corporation is filing final accounts this year.
The band finishes before I even realise but I still manage to take about 400 pictures and a few clips of videos.
The next band is the main event. Looks very stylish with the hairdo and everything, but I decide to just ask if my teacher and his partner to go have a bite somewhere nearby.
Unfortunately options on a Sunday afternoon in Tokyo art extremely limited and everyone has to catch the last train and the last bus, which usually means they have to go away from any type of station towards their station after 10:00 p.m.
We decide to snack another day. I say thank you to a few more people from the band and we go towards our separate stations
I arrived. Upload all the pictures and send a link without much editing...
I guess I was paid in a concert ticket and a few beers but that makes me officially employed as a photographer in Tokyo.
Take that
