Okay just found tons of new info on a myspace blog, someone who actually watched it on DMM, first I'll say it turns out that Toshi only wore that white coat for Forever Love and Endles Rain, however I do not want to see that coat at all even for a second at a U.S concert. Also, I havn't heard much of Heath & Pata's recent or old songs, but this report says only Acoustic versions of their solo songs were played, so if Eagle Sniper and Pata's song were actually rock songs then well, sorry guys.
Anyway here's the new info from the blog, be aware that usually when people report things they get a lot of it wrong:
http://blogs.myspace.com/mxyo"highlights:
- the live pretty much was on time, maybe 10mins late
- Toshi for most of the show was in his X Japan character, at the end he was more formal in thanking everyone for their support
- Unnamed Song with Sugizo on violin was a surprise, Toshi made a few lyrical mistakes but his voice was great
- Heath's new song Eagle Sniper sounded really good with Toshi vocals
- YOSHIKI'S new nickname is 'messenger dove', because he is organising all the other members parts while they are in Russia, Brazil and Japan
and LA.. so he has to contact all of them.
- YOSHIKI Mced in parts and said that TOSHI wasn't the original vocalist of X, and that they all auditioned even YOSHIKI (he said his voice was too high pitched) and they decided TOSHI was the best out of them
- Forever Love with Sugizo on violin was a nice arrangement
- During Endless Rain Sugizo changed from acoustic guitar to violin for
the solo (hide's solo was on violin!)
- Surprise: hide wasn't featured at all musically, although during the MCing between the members they brought up memories of the past and hide was mentioned
- Overall it was a very powerful and touching performance by Toshi. Vocally he was at his best. especially in his new album song and Forever love
- YOSHIKI was asked by TOSHI 'What's next with X Japan?'..he hinted that they should do a warm up concert in LA! (all the fans screamed for them to play in japan..and they joked about Sendai having beef tongue and Saitama having..nothing!;))
- YOSHIKI said that they will do things gradually and that this concert wasn't to be mistaken as an X concert as its Toshi's live... he also said he isn't in shape to play the drums
- For the X Japan songs (Forever love/Endless Rain) Toshi changed clothes and wore the white top and black pants that he wore for the Hollywood PV filming
- Although the set list was short there were lots of crowd participation and LOTS of talk between the members.. almost 30mins of talk after the whole band came out to play Forever love.
...thats about all I remember. Toshi's new album songs sound good! check it out if you can!
D
yeh very interesting that the stage and set were VERY minimalistic.
No screens no backing. Just the acoustic setup, lighting and the piano.
Also the mirror ball for Endless Rain (which Toshi made a joke about earlier in the live..he was making fun of YOSHIKI and Pata alot !! hehe..)
Toshi kept saying things as though he was Yoshiki in a very high pitched voice..
it was very light hearted and fun for the audience. Yoshiki made lots of jokes too.
Toshi said that YOSHIKI only decided to do Unnamed Song 2 days or so before the live.
And Yoshiki said Toshi only asked him to play (one of toshi's songs.. i forgot) a few days before..and Toshi said 'No I sent it to LA months ago!! but you only just started to practice!'.
Yoshiki was very moved by Toshi's song, and he felt pressure to play it.
For those who watched you might notice that Yoshiki's performance of Toshi's song on the piano was a very safe un-Yoshiki like play style.. he didnt do soloing or improvising.
Of course the piano sound is Yoshiki's.. but not like his playing in X or his solo work.
Was a nice change.
All round it was one of those RARE performances where you have so many un-conventional collaborations and acoustic/piano versions of songs that probably will only ever be released as rock songs (i.e. HEATH's Eagle Sniper.. which IMO was one of the better songs out of all the non-X songs composition wise)".
I'm suspicious of that claim that Toshi's voice was completely perfect and that they talked on stage for half an hour before playing Forever Love.