weirdest experience of my life.

once upon a time, there was a small gathering of people in front of a stage in a city known as Tokyo. the floor was sinking and the air was stale from excited beer drinkers ready in anticipation for the lights to change and the amps to blare us into euphoria. first show. lights. costumes. 9 people. spotlight on screamo japanese guy in a long tailed tux playing a knife on a drumstick. lights. a guy on a synthesizer in a skeleton costume. lights. a very tall woman dressed in a french maids costume approaches the microphone with a bass guitar. start the violins. 2 people--a man and a woman--dressed up and playing beautifully. lights. flicker. loud screaming. flinging sweat. obnoxious drummer. keyboards and a mixing machine. costumes that are nondescript... then, lights. a man, in spandex pants and a broccoli pasted head rushes out and starts singing Latin. harmony. tall girl in french maid clad is a man. more screaming. moshing that goes bad. the crowd is bewildered. only 5 people seem to enjoy this show. this freak show. broccoli man has gnarled teeth. he begins to chant and pulls out the tambourine. violins pick up and its beautiful. then polka. then more screaming. then jazz. then funk. then ridiculous falsetto from the man in the black and white miniskirt. disco ball. fear in my heart. orchestral leading from the shirtless broccoli headed man. his nipples shook. there was a chill in the room. i was laughing unable to contain the emotions inside of me. Thank you Vampirella for such a portrait of Tokyo underground. it will NOT be easily shaken.

second act. 3 band members. drums. bass. guitar. normal clothes. drummer is a premadonna. set up took 40 minutes. for this? oh no. beautiful girl in black glitter costume approaches the mic. she sings without expression. nothing in her eyes. gloss drenching her lips. a mole on her cheek. doofy guitar licks. her "sex appeal" backfiring. boring. cute. monotonous. over it. but its the first song. feet hurt. third song ends, i pray she's finished, but all she's doing is getting a drink of water. she bends like a doll. doesn't blink. all the world's a stage. she seems to be dead inside. a doll for men to play with. and the concert continues. i fall asleep standing for the first time at a live show. it ends, and i couldn't be happier.

third act. the act i paid money for. the most lively show i have ever seen live... Anathallo. they were wonderful. they always deliver. they've got mad talent. but why, i must ask, did they play with these other RIDIC-U-LOUS bands?! its a mystery. but it gave me an odd sensation in my gut of what the real face of Tokyo night life is like...

and the fun, it just never ends...