Dead Stock Plays Hirosaki MAG-NET
I just got back from a rock show with Takako, whom I believe I mentioned earlier on my post about hanami. After seeing Yasu’s band last week, I just knew I had to go out and see them again. Takako had a great time as well. It was actually her first time seeing a concert like that!
MAG-NET is a local club, about 15 minutes or so from school by bike. Takako and I had been playing email tag during the week – at first she couldn’t go, but then later she could. We had lunch together on Tuesday and nailed down our plans for the evening. So this afternoon, we met up outside the cafeteria and hopped on our bikes. She’s fun to hang out with – a very nice person and very accommodating to my poor Japanese. We talked 99% in Japanese the whole time, which was good for me because I got plenty of practice. I’d say if you are planning to go abroad this is an important thing. If you spend all your time with the foreign exchange students, more than likely you won’t be practicing the native language of the country you are visiting.
We pedaled in the direction of the park, since MAG-NET is close by there. Before we left, I had asked Takako if she wanted anything for dinner, but she declined. As soon as we got off our bikes, however, she said she wanted to go to the Sunkus across the street because she was hungry. XD I wasn’t one to complain, because I needed some food myself. We bought some little sandwiches and such and found a spot to sit down across the street. We talked about favorite foods and the differences between convenience stores in the US and in Japan. We nearly lost track of time as it was nearing 6:30, when the show would be getting started.
There were five bands on the bill: three bands from Hirosaki University and two professional bands, one of which was the headliner, “Forget Me a Nots.” As for the university bands, I’d seen Needle Bath before, but there was another on the bill called Snooke whom I’d yet to see. The show would be taking place on the second story of the building that MAG-NET was in. When I got to the guy selling tickets for the show, I got two tokens good for two free drinks from the bar, after which Takako and I headed in.
Takako seemed a bit timid about being there, since she hadn’t been to a club like that before, but she soon became more relaxed. Almost immdiately going through the doors to the club, I ran into Yasu working the merchandise table. He was happy to see me, as I had forgot to tell him I’d be going. Takako and I gave him our “good luck”s (or in Japanese, ganbatte) and went down to the back of the room, where the stage was and all the standing room.
It didn’t take long for the bands to start up, with Needle Bath going first. As soon as the first chord was struck, my ears started to pound. The speakers were really loud, even more loud than I would find normal for a concert. I asked Takako if she wanted any earplugs, but she said she was alright. Needle Bath soon finished a short set, after which Dead Stock would be playing.
I’m not exaggerating when I say that Yasu and his band have some real talent. They played a great set of seven songs, all the while enthusiastically jumping and running up and down the stage, the upbeat punk rock keeping everyone clapping and/or moshing. The hooks in their songs are worthy of radio play, in my opinion. I know I probably am biased since I know Yasu, but I think it’s only a matter of time before they make their breakthrough if they keep playing the way that they are. I asked Takako what she though and she agreed that they were really fun to listen to.
Between the sets, Takako and I would use the quieter time to have some more discussions. At one point, she told me about how she likes American television dramas and how the Japanese variety are boring. She’s a fan of 24, LOST, ER and Full House. Since I’ve been on a The Office kick lately, I told her about the show and she seemed pretty interested. We also talked a bit about anime/manga, especially ”Death Note,” which I am currently watching. I just finished “Berserk,” by the way, which I would recommend to the bloodthirsty types out there. However, I felt the show just fell apart in the last couple episodes. Why oh why do shows always have to have perfectly realistic and interesting settings and then blow all that on some stupid magical situation that creates a cheap, arbitrary ending? Really, if your anime takes place in medieval Europe, keep it there, don’t suddenly (POSSIBLE SPOILER ALERT) put everyone down in Hell with enormous demons eating everyone. I really enjoyed the show before that happened.
Afterwards, the two professional bands came on, both of which were pretty good. Obviously, they can’t be that famous if they are playing half-filled clubs, but the crowd gave them both an enthusiastic response nonetheless. Like the bands that had gone before the music was mostly upbeat, alternative/punk-type rock. They all kept me headbanging right until the end.
Once the lights came up, Takako and I said our goodbyes to the Hirosaki University bands members and started pedaling home. We both talked about how much we enjoyed the show. I was happy that she enjoyed it, because it being her first time to a show like that she could have just as easily not enjoyed it. But she was telling me how she liked rock music, so afterwards I heard tanoshikatta many times, meaning “that was fun.”
So now I’m back here in my room and another week in Japan is almost over. It really seems to me that time is just flying by – I’ve been here nearly two months already! I guess that must mean I’m having fun, since we all know how that affects your perception of time. Well, I’ve got class tomorrow morning staring at 8:40, so I better get going here. Until next time!
Hirosaki 08-09
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anime, Dead Stock, Hirosaki, Hirosaki University, Japanese, LMC, MAG-NET, manga, music, study abroad, Takako, TV, Yasu
I didn’t know you were watching Death Note! How do you like it? I still haven’t finished reading the manga…
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