In the Air

For as long as I can remember, I've loved to stare at airplanes, I've loved to stare at the sky. As a child, before I had ever been on a plane, I dreamed of the places they were going. I would stare up from the swingset and watch them glide across the sky until they were obscured by trees. Watch the contrails soften and fade away.

Aren't they beautiful? Isn't it amazing that people are able to hurl several tons of metal into the sky and have it float? I've always thought they look like whales swimming in the sky...

In Memphis, there are always FedEx planes coming and going. I still find it difficult not to stare, whether I am walking or driving. People must think I am crazy. An adult shouldn't be so easily distracted by something so commonplace. These days, watching an airplane often reminds me of San Francisco, and the first time I ever flew.

I want to go back terribly. Today the sky and clouds remind me of San Francisco, Chinatown, mochi, lychee bubble tea, imported Japanese CDs. And also of the crushing depression when I returned home. Of how much I hate Murfreesboro.

And then I am reminded of where I thought I would be now, and what I would be doing. After coming back from San Francisco, I started taking fashion design classes. I thought about transferring schools (I should have), but decided it would be more practical to stay in Murfreesboro for a little longer. I was miserable during that time, with only music and trinkets to remind me of a better place. And years later, when I came home from Japan, it was exactly the same. Except I decided to do nursing school and move to Memphis. I hope it pays off.

Maybe that is why I can't stand to sit at home alone at night sometimes. During the day, you can try to work toward the life you want. Night is just wasted time. At night it's easier to think about dying before you have a chance to do everything you wanted. On a clear day, I can look up and think of the places I will go.

And now I bummed myself out. At dusk.

VAMPS

So, it's the holiday break, and I'm dying of boredom. My friends don't go out as much as they used to, and I'm done with xmas shopping, and school doesn't start until January 10th, so I'm gonna kill some time showing off the things/people I love most (cheesy, no?), as My pretty baby cried she was a bird suggested.

Anyway, today's topic is my favorite band, Vamps. Like most of their fans (I would assume), I started following Hyde's solo career, which became Vamps, because I am a huge L'arc~en~Ciel fan. And thanks to my magnanimous brother, I have been able to see them live several times. We've flown across the country to see them in San Francisco in 2006 (2 shows), Seattle and Portland in 2009, and New York in 2010. Their shows are amazing! I have never been to any other concert where the fans are so involved. The fans pack so tight that it's hot & sweaty, it's hard to breathe, no one can move & everyone is pushing back and forth, and cheering until they lose their voices. It's quite cathartic. And K.a.z. is quite impressive with his guitar. 

First, let's look at some posters :)

 From Hyde's Faith 2006 tour.

 From VAMPS first album.

From VAMPS' 2010 concert for their album Beast. 

Last year, I was actually lucky enough to be able to meet them shortly before the concert in Seattle :D I was so nervous, I was afraid I'd throw up on Hyde! lol. I shook hands with both Hyde and K.a.z., got their autographs, and gave them a painting I made (I just wish it had been better...)

Now I think it's kinda crummy :( but I wanted to give them something. And I wrote a nice little note on the back :)

Here are their 2 albums, self-titled on the left, Beast on the right, and on the bottom is the single "Love Addict" lying open-faced showing their autographs.

This is an omamori from the New York concert. Supposedly it contains a small piece of guitar string, but it is bad luck to look in an omamori to check (or is that only true if it's from a temple?). There were a few other designs of omamori; I wish I could've bought all of them, but I didn't bring enough money with me to the concert :( But I'm being greedy; it was enough that all the merch wasn't sold out like the previous lives.

 This was an xmas present from my brother last year! It's a music box that plays the song "Sweet Dreams" from Vamps' first album. Inside the lid is a sort of 3D house interior that looks a bit like Hyde's website. Inside I keep the tickets from the San Francisco & Seattle lives. Several of the shows only had will-call, so no tickets.

 My brother also gave me this little Hyde kewpie. I want the K.a.z. kewpie, too; it really looks like him, lol. Kewpies seem to be quite popular in Japan.

Here's the wristband for the Faith tour on the left, the wristband from the Vamps' 2009 tour, and a Vamps bottle opener, lol. I loooove the Faith wristband, but I need to get another one to wear b/c I'm a bit protective of it.

I also have a Faith tour shirt, but it's not on hand right now.

 

Outside of The Showbox in Seattle after meeting Hyde & K.a.z.!

Outside of the Roseland Ballroom in New York City.

More pics from the NYC 2010 live and the Q&A beforehand at Comic Con. The band always asks that no one use flash photography, and I always respect that request. So I stole these pics from someone else! I haz manners ;)

Zo. Vamps are now taking a break while Hyde works with L'arc & K.a.z. reunites with Oblivion Dust, so no more concerts for a while :( Unless L'arc decides to come to the U.S., which seems very unlikely after their Otakon debacle several years ago. I guess maybe Hyde doesn't hate otaku as much as Tetsu (or myself, for that matter). Or he just really wants to be famous in America.