Re: New DVD: Tour Blue Song With Blue Poppies
This DVD. IS. AMAZING.
I mean, it's a 10/10 in every category, and I am not lying. It's just perfect, and it just makes me appreciate the band so much. I mean, what other band out there does something like this? A heart felt performance, an awesome set list ranging from songs on their very first full length albums to brand new, unreleased songs, and everything in between! The band was just so into this performance. Shin was bobbing his head along to all the songs. Jun looked great on the upright bass, even played a few songs with the bow. Manabe's performance was as top-notch as ever, sounding jsut as good on acoustic. And Sawao just had so much emotion. He played excellently, and I can say on qute a few songs, his vocals were amazing.
The DVD opened up with this cool effect with the spotlight on Sawao all among the Blue Poppies and candles. everything was in color, but he was in black and white. Then they started playing Subhuman. I think for a second Sawao forgot this wasn't a regular rock show. You'll see what I mean when you hear him start singing.
But he would ease into it as the show went on. She is perfect, amazing. Plastic Flower was also great. The addition of the thermin on this and other songs was a nice touch. Not exactly necessary, but a nice touch nonetheless.
This was the first time I got to hear Chelsea Hotel as well. At first, it kind of reminded me of Skim Heaven, but I really got into it. Definitely a solid song. Lesser Hamster in Blue was just... wow. One of my favorites on here! Everyone was so upbeat, and Sawao sounded great. Manabe even did an alternate solo from what's on the studio recording, and was really awesome to get a new take on that! The two covers were pretty good as well, solid performances all around. Sayonara Universe sounded exquisite, and the theramin fit in nicely on this song I think. Me, You, and Mr. Moon was really great to hear, one song I never thought I'd hear live. Sawao did really well on this song, as did Manabe.
One Life though, man, how frigin awesome to have an acoustic version of this now. It just felt so... genuine. I can't really put it into words. But it was just so beautiful, like so many of these songs they played. Want To Sleep For was a real nice surprise, and was really interesting on acoustic. Everyone was real upbeat for this one and turned out excellent. The other new song, Ame... (can't remember the rest of the title right now) was just Sawao, by himself on his acoustic guitar. Great way to close out the set I think. And as the credits rolled, everything went black and white again except for the Blue Poppies. This show was just so great. I was just smiling so much watching this, I wish was there. This is going to be an instant classic for us fans, the show was just superb.
As for the bonus songs, great stuff on here. Apparently the Shinjuku Red Cloth is a realy small club, so the sound is a bit compromised as opposed to the other set, but it's still really good. I was so excited for Beehive, and the crowd apparently was too, but then Sawao forgot some of the lyrics towards the end of the first verse, but kept playing. Then, he forgot the words again during the second chorus, and started going "NO NO NO NO!" and made everyone stop playing. But Manabe being a classy guy was able to close it out kind of nice like he did during the ROSS incident.
At first I'm thinking, "Aw shit, I really wanted to get a good live version of Beehive!" So Sawao starts apologizing and laughing and then he starts playing his chords fast while singing quietly to himself, trying to remember the lyrics while Shin and Jun are poking fun at him. Then he, composes himself, introduces the song again, and starts from the beginning. This time, they got through the whole song, Manabe had an amazing solo, and I got my wish for an awesome, full live version of Beehive!
Nowhere was pretty damn good as well. Jun was really digging into his bass lines, and Sawao was singing really well. Paper Triangle was awesome as an open for the encore, in part because Manabe was doing that crazy effect by somehow strumming his guitar with a drum stick for the first part of the song; it was pretty sweet. And yes, Moon Marguerite sonds amazing live. The whole band really got into that one I think.
So yes, this DVD is absolutely, positively, one of the best live DVDs the pillows have ever put out. Everyone is going to love this.
Expect some MP3s of this tomorrow night, probably around the same time!
I will watch and hopefully get up MP3's tonight after I get off of work. The sticker inside is awesome too, it's got Buster-kun rocking out on a guitar saying, "OH, YEAH?!" 
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