It was the eighteenth concert of VAMPS' siege-like tour, VAMPS LIVE 2013. After completing seven days of concerts at ZEPP DIVERCITY TOKYO and five days of concerts at ZEPP NAGOYA, VAMPS unleashed their power on ZEPP OSAKA. In a prior interview, HYDE said about the tour, "As VAMPS does lots of concerts, I think we'll start to reach a point of perfection," and just as he predicted, their sense of precision only increased with each concert. On July 26, their sixth performance at ZEPP OSAKA, VAMPS rushed into a frenzied party.
The earnest anticipation of this concert resembled both a faint premonition and a prayer. The moment those expectations were brought to fruition was a catharsis that is impossible to describe. This catharsis happened over and over throughout the concert, but the highlight of the concert was when VAMPS reached their seventeenth song, "HUNTING," during the final portion of the concert.
Ju-ken said, "I've talked a lot, so now I'm hungry! Let's go hunting!"
The reverberations from the end of "MEMORIES" suddenly came to an end. The one who had spoken the promise-like words informing the audience that the next song would be "HUNTING" had not been HYDE but Ju-ken. HYDE was nowhere to be seen. The gaze of the audience turned toward the second floor as it suddenly erupted in excited noise, a mixture of exclamations of, "No way!" "What?" and "Really?" The sound of K.A.Z's guitar fanned the flames of excitement as the carefree, dynamic tune began. What was only one minute felt like an eternity before the door on the right side of the second floor suddenly opened.
And what was revealed from behind the door was HYDE.
The air, which had been filled with impatience, was in one moment bathed in excitement. More than a pleasant surprise, it felt closer to a moment of bliss when one's prayers have been answered. HYDE triumphantly played guitar while bending over the barrier to appeal to the first floor as well. Making no pretense of remaining in their seats, guests stood up in a flood and surrounded HYDE in an instant. It is perhaps the result of the feelings of friendship between VAMPS fans that there were no injuries nor any noticeable chaos. Whatever the reason, it was a good thing. This moment when HYDE moved past the barriers of a "stage" to stand so close to the audience was undoubtedly an indescribably happy time for fans.
With their six-concert siege of ZEPP NAMBA, VAMPS had reached the turning point of their tour VAMPS LIVE 2013. To call the eighteenth concert the "turning point" is in itself amazing, but VAMPS will be holding ten more of these magnificent concerts. Their extraordinary stamina and power are worthy once more of admiration. VAMPS began the concert with the song "KYUKETSU-SATSUGAI VAMPS Ver.-" It is perhaps a simplistic explanation, but perhaps this is because "Kyuketsu" means "sucking blood," a concept relating to their band name, "VAMPS."
In a flash, they played "MADE IN HEAVEN" and "VAMP ADDICTION," shifting more to an assault-based attitude, but they would not continue to be aggressive from beginning to end. They daringly stirred the crowd into wild excitement with "RUMBLE," a song with a prominent rockabilly taste, continuing with "GET UP," a total change of pace which brightened the atmosphere of the venue. The daring groove with an ever-changing tempo was like the pleasant feeling that accompanies opening a locked room, like surrendering oneself to a roller coaster with a course course you cannot predict.
"What are you all doing? There are so many people wearing swimsuits. Are you trying to tempt me? I'm angry!"
HYDE stirred up the audience by speaking in "gal language," a sociolect spoken by some Tokyo female teens. Following HYDE's words, there was an immediate return chorus of "gal language" from the audience. The speed of the response from the audience was surprising every time, and perhaps it is something about Osaka specifically, but the response from the audience in Osaka seemed especially quick.
"It's fine if you're in swimsuits, but I want to see your true character. People say that Osaka is great. But don't you want to be the best? We can do a good concert, but shouldn't it be the best? Whether it will be the best is dependent on you."
The audience roared with cheers, undaunted by HYDE's provocation. VAMPS drove forward with "AHEAD" and "ANGEL TRIP," and directly after the audience burst into dance during "TROUBLE," the rushed into "COUNTDOWN," the song selection feeling like a roller coaster ride. Their unwillingness to do things in an ordinary way was an indication of their veteran status.
(Credit to en.barks.jp for the note and the photo. Click on the photo to see them bigger!♥)
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