So despite my girlfriend's back being hurt something fierce from pulling something during tennis, after getting some painkillers at the doctor's, she was doing absolutely fine, and insisted we go to the concert (not that I minded that one bit). We got on the train and headed out; ended up getting in SF at like 7 PM, and at Slim's near 7:20 or so I think. We walked up and then back down the line trying to find Zenkalia, but had no success in that.

However, ThankYouMyTwilight noticed me when we passed him the second time coming back and called out to me, so we went over and talked with them. They took a few pictures with us (there were a few other forum lurkers/new members there as well), and then gave us cuts in line with them. AWESOME.

Chatting about the pillows, about the new music, about what they would play, what they probably wouldn't play, what people wanted to hear. Everybody was all impressed at my awesome in-depth knowledge of the pillows (and for some reason by me being one of the mods here <--lmbo diss). Basically everybody was excited for the show; the line stretched down around the corner of the block.

We snuck in sharpies by hiding them in my girl's purse, the guy thoroughly checked my backpack to make sure I wasn't a disgruntled fan ready to kill Sawao for making shit music, and then let us in the door.

HOLY SHIT. We get in, there's only ONE ROW OF PEOPLE AT THE STAGE. So we go up there and get a spot, then I leave my girlfriend to hold our spot while I got get merch. Bought her the drumming buster, her friend (who asked us to get her a shirt) the Ride on shooting star shirt, and myself both the tour shirt and the ROSS shirt. Also, a wristband for me and my girl.

Got back over and it was just time to wait. People started coming in, but we had our spot secured - DIRECTLY IN FRONT OF WHERE MANABE WOULD BE LATER. Since Manabe is my favorite member, this was a rather calculated move.

There were some other cool people up at the front with us, including a really cool guy who sang along to all the songs (mad props bro) and brought Happy Bivouac to get signed. (Apparently he doesn't post; just lurks for Overburn's awesome tabs)

Anyway, so All Ages came on. Decent show, the highlight of which being them playing a REALLY tight cover of Michael Jackson's "Thriller." The bassist ended up in just his underwear by the end of their set.

In the middle of them playing, we saw SHINCHAN and JUN come out and just start watching on the side of the audience. I ran over and got signatures, explaining to them that I brought White Incarnation because of Sawao playing "Tonight" for me at Kyoto. When I mentioned this, they did a double take and then were like "Oh yeah!" They seemed pretty happy about it.

Shin-chan was really impressed with me bringing White Incarnation in and of itself, I think they're always happy to see American fans appreciating more than just some of their work. Jun seemed pleased about the Kyoto thing, but obviously nonchalant about White Incarnation since he didn't play on it. He still signed it though, and I figure since he participated in playing that godly song in Kyoto, he totally more than deserved it.

At this time, I got some AWESOME news from Jun. So I asked him about "This is the Night," saying I've been looking for it for ages, but Delicios Label's site says it's sold out, and I haven't been able to find it anywhere at all, and he said "Yeah, it's sold out." He then started trying to speak some broken English at me, despite me having been speaking Japanese to him the whole time I was asking for the signature and everything.

Apparently, Fragments is currently working on a new release. I have no clue when it's going to be out, and am not sure what it's going to be, but I have a strong feeling he's working on an album. I told him that I would look forward to it. EDIT: MY MISTAKE. He was referring to working on the new PILLOWS album.

I helped Taffy, one of the kids with ThankYouMyTwilight, to get his guitar signed by Shin-chan and Jun, and then after a few songs, Sawao was hanging out next to the stage on a staircase behind the restricted area, and we called to him at the end of a song, and I asked him if he'd come sign this kid's guitar. He told us to wait until afterwards, and as soon as All Age's set was finished, he came right on out and signed it, as well as my White Incarnation. He too did a double-take when I told him that I brought it to get it signed because he played "Tonight" for me in Kyoto. "Oh yeah! You were at Kyoto, weren't you!" and he signed it a bit more excitedly than he was starting to just a moment before. I told him that I actually like Lostman better overall, because songs like Swanky Street have such a great message and really touch me, but that I brought White Incarnation because of that Kyoto concert. He grinned at that, and then I moved on so that all the other clamoring fans could get signatures before he went back on in.

Eventually, MANABE. When he came out, I of course ran excitedly over and waited for my turn.

[img]http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y226/Marekenshin/delicious%20bump%2008%20SF/pillowssf001.jpg[/img]

When I got there, I thanked him for playing "Tonight" at Kyoto, and he grinned at me and signed my CD. I then took a picture with him.

[img]http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y226/Marekenshin/delicious%20bump%2008%20SF/pillowssf002.jpg[/img]

I told him that I really love their music and was looking forward to their show tonight. Then, moving out of the way, I went back and got all fangirly, excitedly telling my girlfriend I GOT ALL THE SIGNATURES GAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH!!!!!

Noodles came on; they played a pretty good set:

Grease
bound lily
45
Cover me shakespeare
I recall
glasgow girl
Kitty south
Lemon grass foo foo
She, her
Ingrid said

[img]http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y226/Marekenshin/delicious%20bump%2008%20SF/pillowssf007.jpg[/img]

I especially enjoyed She, her, as it's probably my favorite song by Noodles.

After they finished, everybody was excited as hell waiting for the pillows to come on and play. By this time, the cool dude with the Happy Bivuoac CD let us move up to be right up against the stage so I could help hold the crowd from crushing my girlfriend lol.

They came out and started setting up. Everybody started taking pictures (though they kept putting this stupid screen down between acts; like what you use for projectors). Manabe was DIRECTLY IN FRONT OF ME. As they were setting up and tuning and whatnot, I yelled up to him in Japanese, "MANABE, THE WORLD'S GREATEST GUITARIST!" to which he grinned at me and gave me a thumbs-up. He repeatedly made eye contact with us and the people right up in the front with us throughout the show, grinning at our excited faces and the way we sang along to every song.

[img]http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y226/Marekenshin/delicious%20bump%2008%20SF/pillowssf014.jpg[/img]

[img]http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y226/Marekenshin/delicious%20bump%2008%20SF/pillowssf015.jpg[/img]

[img]http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y226/Marekenshin/delicious%20bump%2008%20SF/pillowssf018.jpg[/img]

[img]http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y226/Marekenshin/delicious%20bump%2008%20SF/pillowssf017.jpg[/img]

The pillows's setlist:

[img]http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y226/Marekenshin/delicious%20bump%2008%20SF/pillowssf011.jpg[/img]

I think I can
ROCK'N'ROLL SINNERS
CARNIVAL
Wake up! dodo
Blues Drive Monster
MY FOOT
NEW ANIMAL
Funny Bunny
Ride on shooting star
LITTLE BUSTERS
Last Dinosaur
HYBRID RAINBOW

Encore:
Crazy Sunshine
Sleepy Head

Knowing the setlist was awesome, I was really psyched about it, as the only songs I had heard live in Kyoto were ROCK'N'ROLL SINNERS, Wake up! dodo, MY FOOT, Ride on shooting star, and LITTLE BUSTERS.

The whole set was AMAZING. Every song was impeccable, I was moved to tears a little at Carnival, because it's one of my favorites from when I very first got into the pillows.

Blues Drive Monster was one of the things I had been waiting for more than any other song. This was the first song I had heard by them, this was the song that got me into the pillows. It was ABSOLUTELY AMAZING.

My Foot was also a bit of an emotional song, due to the brilliantly moving lyrics, and the fact that I was RIGHT THERE at the very front, experiencing the pillows like I had never thought I would be able to.

After that, we were all pumped because we knew the new song, New Animal, which is coming out in May, was next. I handed my camera to my girlfriend and had her record a video while I kept the crowd at bay.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P0ie1hFnUSw

Sorry for the crappy quality, my camera is very, very cheap. You can hear a bit of it though. I really dug the song, it's upbeat, catchy, and has a very nice "rock" feel to it. I think this is what Yamanaka was referring to when he said that the next album was going to be more rock in feel, and if it is, I know I'm going to LOVE the next album. I feel like they're taking things in the right direction; combining this catchy pop sound they've had recently with the more grungy rock feel from the late 90s.

Funny Bunny; another beautiful song, everybody went CRAZY. Not as crazy, of course, as for Ride on shooting star (lol FLCL fans ). There were a few people there with like FLCL shirts and crap, but it seemed like half the crowd had pillows t-shirts, pretty much only from the previous American tours if I recall correctly. I was the only badass there rocking an older pillows shirt.

Before Ride on shooting star, Yamanaka did his bit about "music is good music whether it is new or old. Do you like...RIDE ON SHOOTING STAR!" and they launched into the song. The press from behind was really bad during this song, the second worst of the whole show. It was still really cool, though I could barely enjoy rocking out to the song because I was working so hard to keep from getting myself and my girlfriend crushed against the stage. There was a couple a little to our left that had to give up their spot at the front about halfway through the pillows becuase they were close to the center and Yamanaka, and the press was much worse there.

[img]http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y226/Marekenshin/delicious%20bump%2008%20SF/pillowssf019.jpg[/img]

LITTLE BUSTERS and Last Dinosaur were amazing. The energy was ridiculous. And HYBRID RAINBOW...I cried unashamedly as I sang along. I had wanted to hear that song live for so long, but never got to in Kyoto. It was an amazigly moving experience.

At the end of the song, as they were all getting ready to go off, Manabe got right in front of us and tossed his pick up. Instead of his usual tosses out into the audience a bit, he tossed it RIGHT FREAKING TO ME. I simply held my hand up and snatched it cleanly out of the air. I don't know, maybe I'm just imagining it, but I think he was throwing it to me in specific (probably because of all that sucking up I did shouting compliments to him in Japanese ).

[img]http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y226/Marekenshin/delicious%20bump%2008%20SF/DSCN0978.jpg[/img]

They went off, and everybody was just screaming for the encore. We knew it was coming, and we knew we just had to wait for it. Surprisingly, the wait was VERY short, probably because their setlist had been pretty short, so they weren't all exhausted and didn't really need a break. I don't know. Either way, they came right on back out, and played Crazy Sunshine and Sleepy Head. Manabe tossed a pick out after each of these, but I feel like I got the good one since he was using it for the whole main set (lol).

The press during Sleepy Head was RIDICULOUS. The display on my camera ended up getting broken from me getting crushed into the stage a few times. It really kinda sucked. But! I had already gotten the pictures and video that I wanted so badly, so I guess it's okay. (lol pictures and videos of the pillows >> 100 dollar camera).

Afterwards, we got some water, hung around, talked to some of the people, I chatted with Ayumi a little bit (lol sup jedi), got a picture with Shin-chan (who was on his way to getting smashed), and were going to get pictures with Jun and Sawao, except that the Venue people forced us out, saying "wait for them outside." Except of course, as soon as we GOT outside, they told us "EVERYBODY GO AWAY, YOU CAN'T HANG AROUND OUT HERE, WE'RE CLOSED NOW, GET OFF THE BLOCK, MOVE IT, MOVE ALONG" and made everyone leave.

Since it was getting late and there were only two trains left to come back, we decided to go on ahead and call it a night. I had already gotten a picture with my favorite member (MANABE ), and have the whole round of signatures on my White Incarnation, so I was prety good for the night.

[img]http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y226/Marekenshin/delicious%20bump%2008%20SF/DSCN0979.jpg[/img]

In summary, the best concert I've ever been to. It was even better than the Kyoto concert in a lot of ways, though that one too was absolutely great. It was awesome having the members remember me, and really great getting to talk to Jun a little. Sawao was of course being a total attention hog the whole time, revelling in the way everybody was fawning over him, while the other three were just being total badasses.

Great show, I can't wait for the next time I get to see them in concert.

More pictures (and a video I accidentally got taken of me and Shin-chan when my camera was broken) here:
http://s6.photobucket.com/albums/y226/M ... 2008%20SF/

edit: Oh yeah, Sawao opened their set playing a bit of "If you are going to San Francisco," and when he introduced the membes, Shin-chan was like "Helloooo, San Francisco! San Francisco's favorite color is cool."

That sounds awesome, dude.

New Fragments stuff?!? Awesome New Animal sounds badass, too

That sounds awesome, getting to hear the new song.
I'm not surprised Jun was less than happy about signing White Incarnation though, it's kind of like a slap in the face.

He wasn't "less than happy." He just wasn't as excited about it as the rest of the members.

my report: pillows played the same setlist they have for hte last three years... new animals was the worst song of the set by far. ran into too many 4channers there yelling "za worldo" and "over 9000"

the noodles were great, as usual. they were who i was really there to see.

i hate that all ages snuck on the bill too.. fucking cocks.

whatevers... hung around and the loli gf gave ayumi the photos that she took of the october show and she remembered me, eric and her. that was nice. she was shy in october but this time she was more comfortable chatting with us.

i hung around after the show with a big sign that said "MARE" but you didn't seem to see me dooder.

i have to agree that manabe played great (even though his guitar sounded like ASS). he has quickly become my favorite pillow too.

Ah shit, I think I saw your girlfriend giving Ayumi the pictures. We hung around outside for a few minutes and just decided to head on out. You must have been outside to the left of the venue because we headed up to the right.

Bummer man. Yeah, the pillows need to start varying up their sets for America a bit more, but since I hadn't seen most of those songs live yet, it was quite a treat for me.

I chatted with Ayumi for a bit at the end over by the goods stand, and told her that I'd definitely try to catch a Noodles show this summer.

It won't let me onto your PhotoBucket, Mare. Anyway, sounds awesome! Sounds like fun. I can't wait until Friday!

[quote="Marekenshin"] However, ThankYouMyTwilight noticed me when we passed him the second time coming back and called out to me, so we went over and talked with them. They took a few pictures with us (there were a few other forum lurkers/new members there as well), and then gave us cuts in line with them. AWESOME.[/quote]

Dude That's not true. He gave you cuts in front of 10 people from the end of the line. Then, I came and was like, "Hey, we got a spot up front " So you were like, "Wow, thanks." I then led you to my spot which was over 100 people ahead of ThankYouMyTwilight's spot. And I get no credit?

Just kidding. I don't really mind. Anyway, I came to rub in some photos of my guitar which was signed by all the members of The Pillows thanks to you and your diligence. Check this out!

The back of my guitar:
[img]http://i248.photobucket.com/albums/gg177/itaffy13/IMG_0398.jpg[/img]

Manabe's Signature:
[img]http://i248.photobucket.com/albums/gg177/itaffy13/IMG_0402.jpg[/img]

Shin's Signature:
[img]http://i248.photobucket.com/albums/gg177/itaffy13/IMG_0400.jpg[/img]

Jun's Signature:
[img]http://i248.photobucket.com/albums/gg177/itaffy13/IMG_0401.jpg[/img]

The Front of My Guitar:
[img]http://i248.photobucket.com/albums/gg177/itaffy13/IMG_0406.jpg[/img]

Sawao's Signature :
[img]http://i248.photobucket.com/albums/gg177/itaffy13/IMG_0403.jpg[/img]

[quote="[Mr. Lostman]"]It won't let me onto your PhotoBucket, Mare. Anyway, sounds awesome! Sounds like fun. I can't wait until Friday! [/quote]

Fixed.

And yeah, sorry about that Taffy. I was just trying to get it all written. Your spot up in line was badass; put us only about thirty people back from the door. Hooray, teamwork lol.

Wow! Thanks a bunch man, I really needed a REAL IN DEPTH report of one of the shows before I went.

Thanks again, but your story deos bring up a few questions...

You mention you speak a lot in Japanese...should I brush up on some key phrases to initiate conversation...would you say they were more enthralled talking to you like that than random people speaking English? Should I at least learn a compliment or something?

Would it be a bad idea to have the noodles sign Synchornized Rockers?? I don't own anything noodles...would it be best to just get them to sign the tour shirt?

What was the throwing radius of pickage.
I don't want to be too close as to not catch one, ya know. I know he threw it right atr you, but the others...?

thakns again!

MyFoot, wear a name tag to the show, so I can recognize you. I'll five you Cover Me Shakespeare for you to have them sign, if you want.

(I'll wear a name tag too)

Word...are we still meeting up or you just wanna meet up inline/at the venue?

I think they're selling Noodles CD's so I'll pick one up and get that signed or the shirt. Totally forgot. THanks though.Wouldn't feel right taking your CD anywayz

In the line. I won't have any chance to meet up with you anywhere else because I'll be coming into NYC at about 3:00. That's when we'd check into our hotel (which is thankfully around the venue). Then, right after checking into our hotel, we'd go to the venue and wait in line.

BTW, I don't mind bringing my album for you to get signed!

New Animal sounds good. Thanks for the report, Mare. :]

MyFoot: I don't think it'd make a huge difference; unless you manage to catch them with nobody around or something, you won't get much time to talk to them. I barely managed to rattle off a little bit, with minimal responses back (more from Jun and Sato than from the other two, because Sawao and Manabe got freaking SWARMED), so English should work just fine lol.

I think they brightened up a bit because of the Kyoto thing, but speaking Japanese to them will only work if it's correct and they can hear you, lol. They'd probably be more comfortable responding to a question or something if you show that you have a good grasp of Japanese, because they wouldn't have to struggle so much to answer, but odds are there won't be much time for one on one interaction unless you catch them when they finally come out like an hour after the end of the show or whenever.