This is going to have to be quick, as I’m falling asleep and my connection is less than optimal. Be sure to click the pictures for full size.

This live event was to celebrate Granrodeo’s new radio show on Tokyo FM:  もっともハートに火をつけて　史上最大の公開録音」,
and was a mix of radio show, live performance and fan contest. This was their first performance in Zepp Diver City (which is a 10 minute walk, max, from the Zepp Tokyo). First up on stage were the radio show’s director and the mobile/smartphone site Web master. When asked to relate a funny story, the Web master pointed out that his job is primarily a desk job, and thus his, ah, rear got kind of flat. For reasons that weren’t entirely clear, someone associated his flat rear with Rose-Hip Bullet, which came out about that time. Amusingly, someone started playing Rose-Hip Bullet as they left the stage.

Kiiyan and e-zuka came out shortly thereafter, to thunderous applause, which seemed to take Kiiyan aback. e-zuka was in a black shirt, white jacket and black and white patterned pants (and apparently cool boots that most of us didn’t get to see!). Kiiyan was in loose black pants, hot pint and black t-shirt and a wild, sparkly jacket that looked like a water colour painting, with a black ferris wheel on the back. They talked briefly about the radio show, last night’s seiyuu idol event — er, the Bakumatsu Rock live show and a few other things before someone brought a chair out  for e-zuka and seated him in the middle of the stage.

Kiiyan hovered near a table set up on the left side of the stage which had an ON AIR sign and banners for the radio show (and the director, who helped Kiiyan sort out papers). This corner involved a series of questions that had been asked of Rodeo Boys and Girls, and e-zuka was tasked to come up with the most popular answer for each. The first question asked which fruit that e-zuka’s image most brings to mind. He guessed watermelon, but the answer was avocado. (He was curious and asked if anyone had picked that answer and why — but we didn’t catch the girl’s response). He was asked to select the most popular song after Koi Oto, Infinite Love and a couple of others. I don’t recall what e-zuka answered, but the right answer was Hengen Jizai no Magical Star. Another question asked him if he woke up tomorrow as Kiiyan, what song would he play. He responded with We Wanna Rock & Roll, but the most popular response was Haitoku no Kodou.

Another question asked what RG and RB usually do after a show. The options were: karaoke, go out for a meal, or go straight home. He guessed go out for a meal, but the third answer was the right one.  And then … then Kiiyan asked him what the most popular color of underpants was worn (by RG and RB) at the Osaka-jo Hall show. e-zuka’s response was priceless, if wrong:  no pan. But before he answered, Kiiyan quizzed us about what color we were wearing right then:  black, white, yellow, blue, purple, pink. And then … bless him, e-zuka asked what color Kiiyan was wearing. His response was “black,” and he  lifted up his t-shirt and pulled out the waist band to show that yep, his pantsu were black. That done, he was all set to move on to the next bit, but cries of “We can’t seeeee!” came from the left of me. So, Kiiyan … being Kiiyan, moved to the middle of the stage, faced the back of the stage, and pulled his shirt up and his pants down past his rear, showing off a nice, silky pair of what looked to be well-fitted black briefs. Lord have mercy…. At least he wasn’t no pan, or there would’ve been riots.

The last question involved Val, who they ended up calling and talking to for a few minutes. At which point there was a 10 minute break before the live.

And oh, the live… it was special indeed. The first few minutes involved e-zuka counting down a list of artists fans would like to hear Granrodeo cover, like Old Codex and Uverworld. Most artists, they just commented on, but a precious few they actually sang and played snippets from, such as Porno Graffiti and B’z. And now we know that Kiiyan does an amazing version of Hyde. Damn.

Artist #3 on the list prompted e-zuka to go “Who?” as it was “Taniyama Kishou.” And this led to a discussion of Kiiyan’s brief solo artist career before Granrodeo, and when they first worked together, on Fly Away, the coupling song for Daydreamin’. Which led to Kiiyan singing a little bit of Daydreamin’, which caused at least me to spazz out completely. Cutely, he’d forgotten the second line, but picked back up with the third. A capella, no less. He then sang just a tiny bit of Fly Away and Warrior. Eee!

Artist #2 was Miyano Mamoru, and the two of them launched into Orphe, which was amazing too. After the countdown, they played acoustic versions of Shanimuni, Mistake and Can Do before leaving the stage for a few minutes. When they came back out, they welcomed their surprise guests, Val and Takita! And then pointed out the mini-stage on the right-hand side of the stage. This turned out to be for fans who were participating in an “Air Granrodeo” contest! 5 entries dressed up and played air guitar and/or “air vocals” to GR songs. On stage. In front of 2500 fans AND the band. Serious props to all of them for doing that.

I couldn’t see the mini-stage at all, but there was a duo who wore the FujiQ costumes and did Y.W.F. (they ended up winning a signed plaque), a solo performer doing Rimfire, a solo performer doing a song I forget, a girl dressed up as Zuka-ko from Lovely Stupid (their alter egos from the first Otoko Matsuri — e-zuka is clearly still traumatized by the experience, heh.) playing Mistake, I believe, and then one doing modern strange cowboy (who’d even found a tshirt similar to Kiiyan’s from the video). The four guys voted on the winners, then huddled to do the “What time is it? Show time, fuuuuu.” cheer to round things out.

As we left, staff handed us all little pink pouches with the radio show’s air date, and a tiny Roger and radio. Very cute! All in all, it was very amusing (it’s so good to hear Kiiyan laugh so much!) and to have heard even a tiny bit of Daydreamin’ would’ve been worth the price of admission alone. And I love how they included the fans, both with the questions and with the Let’s Air Granrodeo corner. We matter to them, and it shows. It’s a huge part of why Granrodeo is so important to me.

I know I’m forgetting quite a bit, but hopefully this conveys the highlights.

Next up — for me, at least — Studio Coast in just over a month!