I have a question, has Manabe brought his Orange half stack to the U.S. before? Probably has, but a lot of the live vids I watch in the U.S. he has marshalls/vox/mesa boogie... Just curious... Also, I would probably go up to Shin/all the pillows and say hi (ask for picture/autograph) though I'm not much of a conversationalist anyway so I wouldn't be standing there trying to talk to them in English... Probably just a "Can't wait for the show, you're great, welcome back to the US etc..." Oh and nice one life video, I always get giddy watching live fan videos, cause I know I can go and be there in person now... Oh, and I definitely wont be doing this... The stalking part... XD

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=31huKhiCg_g

The El Rey show was a bit disappointing, not the pillows though they were incredible as always. The venues sound was not good! Sawao's vocals were mixed way to low, the overall sound was very loud and sounded a bit distorted. And the crowd was very loud so I could not make out much of what they said during MCs, and even when Sawao was singing. The fat guys were really annoying, I knocked some of them down to the ground though, I was getting quite pissed off, I'm still sore from holding all those morons back from crushing my girlfriend. I got headbutt by a crowd suffer and some one hit me with their elbow in the back of my head. I still enjoyed the pillows very much!

I was very happy to meet Sawao, Manabe and Satou went directly inside when they first came, but when Sawao saw me trying to get his attention he came over to me. He shook my hand and was very nice, and I got to give him a thank you letter I wrote for him. After the show I went back to the merchandise line to get the tour shirt, talked a bit with the pillows manager. Then I got Manabe to sign my copy of Pantomime, and then I talked with Sawao again and he was surprised to see Pantomime, I told him I love all the early material and he said "Really!?" in Japanese while signing it. I did not get Satou's autograph though, he went directly into the car, and by the time I reached him Manabe got in the car and they left.

Meet Raiden, Utsu, and Terra.

Hearing Rookie Jet and Instant Music was nice.

[quote="Raid"]This is my first time seeing them live, so fuck the noise. I'm fine with anything, man.[/quote]
Thank you, that's tjhe optimism I've been looking for on this thread. To me, the pillows' music is really happy, fun, and upbeat. It's all about having fun and enjoying the music. I'd like to see more of their fans get the message.

[quote="Bebop56210"]I have a question, has Manabe brought his Orange half stack to the U.S. before?[/quote]
I noticed that too! I've been to four shows now (El Rey 2008, Slims 2008, Glasshouse (Pomona) 2010, and El Rey 2011), and I've watched videos of their other US concerts, and unless I've missed something, I've never seen them bring those. I was really happy to see that.

[quote="Son Goshin"]Thanks for the write up Utsu. It's always cool hearing anecdotes from the shows. I am curious what the noodles played. Was it about the same set list as last year, except with songs from Explorer on it?[/quote]
Speaking of anecdotes, did anyone see Sawao run out to grab a beer between the All Ages and noodles set? It was really funny. He had a hoodie on, with the hood not all the way on, and was crouching/sneaking, but moving pretty quick. I barely recognized him (it was the hair that did it) because he was so crouched and so short, but I just remember thinking, "Hey, that guy looks familiar..." and he zooms past me, and then I immediately regretted not being able to snap a picture.

[quote="Utsuseru"]I can't say, the only Noodles stuff I even have is God Cable and their songs on Electric Rays.[/quote]
I've really only listened to Metropolis and the songs on Electric Rays, but their songs on Electric Rays are probably their best stuff. I haven't heard much else, so although I liked hearing them in concert, it was hard to really judge how much I would like the studio version. I just wish they're play Traditional Case live.

As for all ages, I saw then at Slims 2008 as well, and they were just as fun/crazy/etc. At El Rey this year, they were REALLY loud, to the point where even my earplugs were not helping as much. Once we stood in the back, it was a little better, but I think the lack of quality was because they were being too distorted from the sheer volume of their music. In any case, talk to them in person before you judge them; they're both really awesome guys and have a great message in their music.

[quote="Bebop56210"]I have a question, has Manabe brought his Orange half stack to the U.S. before?[/quote]

They never bring their own amps, Manabe does not even bring his current guitar, he brought the Sago standard not his current special. But he was using a Orange Rockerverb MkII half stack at the El Rey show. I also only saw that he was using a Line 6 M9, did not see him using anything else. Did anyone else see?

Me and my girlfriend were first in line, when we got their I asked the singer from All Ages about the parking. I did not know who he was, he was very helpful though and got an employee for me. I did not really care for their music, but they put on a good show.

The next people who got in line were a group of autistic, retarded otaku. That was horrible being in line with them, loud and obnoxious people! One of them said "the pillows are like the Japanese Nivana"

Also my girlfriend got one of Manabe's picks.

[quote="TJWX5"]Also my girlfriend got one of Manabe's picks.[/quote]
Lucky! I was so close to getting one after the Crazy Sunshine encore at Slims 2008, but some girl (had to be like 15 or 16) snatched it while it was in the air right in front of my hand. I offered her a good chunk of money, but she would not let me buy it from her. Oh well, I at least understand that. I wouldn't have sold it either.

Although my "prized" pillows possession is their 20th anniversary book signed by Sawao, Manabe, and Shin at The Glasshouse 2010. So amazing; I got to tell Sawao how much I liked his music in Japanese.

[quote="TJWX5"][quote="Bebop56210"]I have a question, has Manabe brought his Orange half stack to the U.S. before?[/quote]

They never bring their own amps, Manabe does not even bring his current guitar, he brought the Sago standard not his current special. But he was using a Orange Rockerverb MkII half stack at the El Rey show. I also only saw that he was using a Line 6 M9, did not see him using anything else. Did anyone else see?

Me and my girlfriend were first in line, when we got their I asked the singer from All Ages about the parking. I did not know who he was, he was very helpful though and got an employee for me. I did not really care for their music, but they put on a good show.

The next people who got in line were a group of autistic, retarded otaku. That was horrible being in line with them, loud and obnoxious people! One of them said "the pillows are like the Japanese Nivana"

Also my girlfriend got one of Manabe's picks. [/quote]

Does one of his Sago guitars have P-90s or some other kind of soapbar pickup? It looks like it [url=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FdxUuuitV8Y]here[/url] to me...

[quote="Bebop56210"]Does one of his Sago guitars have P-90s or some other kind of soapbar pickup? It looks like it [url=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FdxUuuitV8Y]here[/url] to me...[/quote]

No, that was a Gibson Les Paul Special Faded model, then after that Sago made him a copy of that guitar with Humbuckers, and then about a year later they changed the Sago with higher output PUs, block inlays, different tuners, and made it a 1-piece body.
[url]http://www.watanabe-mi.com/osaka/list/0/46/66/[/url]

Hmm, this is interesting...

[img]http://image.movapic.com/pic/m_201109080959364e68137896d16.jpeg[/img]

I got there kinda late, got into what I thought was the "back of the line", and a few minutes later, this lady makes everyone scoot back, making me the front of the line. Felt like a douchebag, but after being around the fat weaboos for more than 5 minutes, I felt like I was doing a favor to everyone else NOT standing there.

[quote="Bebop56210"]Hmm, this is interesting...

[img]http://image.movapic.com/pic/m_201109080959364e68137896d16.jpeg[/img][/quote]


inb4 swanky street, ice pick, energy, motherfucking spiky goose


also, i hope i'm not the only one that will be screaming like a rabid schoolgirl when noodles play

[url]http://www.pillows.jp/blog/?p=568[/url]
In the sixth photo you can see me at the left, Naniyate, Utsu, Raiden, and Terra.

[quote="Bebop56210"]Hmm, this is interesting...

[img]http://image.movapic.com/pic/m_201109080959364e68137896d16.jpeg[/img][/quote]

Well who ever went to the SF show post the setlist, lets see how different it is.

The setlist posted earlier for the LA show is abit out of order Advice was the last song, before the encore.

Unless I'm mistaken, isn't every member of noodles constantly strung out and disinterested at every show? I thought that was their gig.

Like, I'm excited to see it. I hope they're not energetic.

[size=200][color=#FF0000]ALSO SEATTLE PEOPLE[/color][/size]

You guys wanna do a number exchange thing? Just to be on top of things? PM me bros.

[quote="Raid"]
inb4 swanky street, ice pick, energy, motherfucking spiky goose
[/quote]

This.

[quote="Utsuseru"][quote="Raid"]
inb4 swanky street, ice pick, energy, motherfucking spiky goose
[/quote]

This.
[/quote]

I doubt that after all the chanting for Swanky Street at the LA show and they did not play it, they will most probably not play it this tour. I will be quite pissed off if they do though, as will everyone else who went to the LA show.

Ooh. Lesse what they play.

Noodles' set was better than last year. Real glad they played She Her. Yoko did a pretty good job on it.