I went to Miku Expo 2018 with my friends. None of us felt we really knew much about Vocaloids (I realized I knew a lot more than I thought I did as the concert progressed) but we had fun! Apparently this year marks the 10th year anniversary of Miku.

As I did the research for the song list from what I could remember, I see that Miku Expo seems to be the worldwide version of what's known as Magical Mirai 2018 in Japan. The set list that played at my event also seems to have differed from the one that played before my location. I have composed my song list using information from that page.

There are SPOILERS so check back later for my impressions if you don't want to know what songs played! Just in case, I'll even LJ cut it to prevent you!! Regardless, there is a possibility the songs might change at different locations.


We left the show at around 10:30 P.M. Tired and parched from all that dancing, we went to get Korean food for dinner before heading home. Shoutout to my friends for coming with me to this event. I'm glad we could all have fun even while knowing nothing about Vocaloids. Tickets and goods are still available here so check it out if you want!

As the lights dimmed down for the concert to begin, a VTR began to play. Kyary wakes up in her standby room to find herself face to face with three Obakeyashiki: Kasa-obake (umbrella monster), an elderly long neck monster (I think Rokurokubi??) and an Okami. The three tell Kyary that she MUST show the world how scary Japanese obake are because people only find American monsters scary, to which Kyary says it's because obake are cute! The three are enraged at being called cute and demand Kyary to put on a scary show immediately or they will put a curse on her AND her audience. Kyary protests and says they can't do that, but they send her off to perform before she can get a word in-- but not before changing her costume with magic! The VTR cuts off here and the stage curtains rise, revealing a beautiful set from which Kyary enters, wearing her altered costume with the help of the obake. It's pretty much this costume pictured here on the clearfile they handed out to all of us as we entered the venue. (EDIT: It seems to be this VTR!)


The venue was much smaller than where she performed in Japan, but they used the stage to its full potential. I noticed in the ZIP news clip I posted earlier there was a dance battle she did. There was no dance battle in the American performance but she did show off her moves so it was pretty much all on her! Also featured in the clip was the Kasa-obake dancing on stage, but for this performance it was only the Rokurokubi and Okami who came out to play. There was a performance she did with the dancing Okami too, but I don't know what song it is.

Kyary performed a lot of her songs. I was surprised she could keep going. She did PON PON PON as her final song during the encore and recorded an Instagram live of the audience. She had three costume changes, the last one being for the duration of the encore. We clapped for a long time for an encore and I was wondering what was taking so long (I thought she would just clean up but NO, it was a FULL COSTUME CHANGE to one she called "Happy Exorcist"). I quickly doodled the costumes she had during the performance. The black one, she said, was inspired by a crow.


Her MCs were short. I remember for the first one she read the person standing next to me's sign "Love Kyary Pamyu Pamyu." She thanked San Francisco and asked if everyone was having fun. She said she ate crab at some point (I saw a shot on Instagram!). After the dance battle she asked if we liked her dance moves and talked about how she had a stiff body (NY fancam, but probably the same thing she said here).
Furisodation
Kimino Mikata
PON PON PON

All in all, it was a super fun concert. We all danced along with her and she was so, so cute! Kyary is a really great performer. She puts on a show when she sings. It's really fun for all ages and I highly recommend her whether it's a first for you or your friends.

It's been a year and Miyavi's back in San Francisco! I wasn't sure about going this time as I had just seen him last year, but I got a ticket from @zooyorkshibby and heck, decided to go. I went with one buddy who went last year and he brought another buddy who didn't know about Miyavi but wanted to come alone for the rock. (He enjoyed it and is now a fan. I told him I was just like him last year) The first thing I did was immediately buy a tour shirt because I've been regretting not doing so last year! There were only two left when I got to the counter so it was fate. My buddy tells me I'm lucky I'm small, as M, L, XL always get sold out first.

In any case, it was a great show! From the moment Miyavi came on stage we all got hyped. I couldn't believe he's still as beautiful this year, as is his soul. The venue was small so the crowd could be really close! I'm still tired right now as I write this. There was a lot of jumping and yelling.

I don't know all the songs he played but I definitely knew these. I think he did two cover songs but I don't know of what.

-Pink Spider (cover, maybe X Japan?)
-Real
-What a Wonderful World

I'm not someone who takes videos while watching a show and I wasn't as close anyway. There's always someone with a better phone who is closer and blocking my view anyway.

The photo he always takes at the end with everyone. I'm one of the peace signs in the back, probably!

I went to Asia On Tour feat. Miyavi at the Fillmore in San Francisco last night with some old friends from high school! I wasn't thinking about going at first, but after yararanger said I totally should, I went ahead and bought a ticket two days before the event, since I was going to be able to carpool. 

The four of us were talking about how we were curious about the other two groups headlining the show, Slot Machine and Kiha & The Faces. We wondered what they would be like, and we are pleased to say we really enjoyed them! Kiha & The Faces had a really soul/rock Korean music kind of feel to their songs. It was very different and I liked it a lot. Kiha wore a shirt that parodied the KIA car logo and the back of his shirt said Self 0. He was very funny. He doesn't dance much, but he takes the stage in a very unique way. Before he started "The Smell's Gone", he told us all to sing "papapapa" .. (the chorus line as I later found out in the music video), saying it didn't matter if we got it right or not because it was just a sound, not words. But then later he said he lied to us and that it was Korean. For "내 사람", he then told us he wanted to say a Korean phrase, "nae salam" which meant someone important to you?? So we sang it on cue. All the songs were very fun.

I wasn't familiar with Kiha & The Faces and Slot Machine or many of Miyavi's songs, but after checking them out on Youtube I know some of the set list for the artists went, in no particular order,All in all, I'm glad I went. I can't believe Miyavi is real even now! I don't really know what to say about him, except I couldn't believe anyone could ever perform like he did on stage. I mostly watched his hands but his hairstyle made all the head banging look really cool (he really is nice to look at, I couldn't believe that either). He was absolutely amazing and wild. I got really excited when he started playing "The Others" since that was the only song I recognized in the Miyavi crash course I gave myself before going. I got to stand close enough to see him, but not close enough to high five him. I couldn't help it and snapped a few shots, even though none of them were good. XD

I'm grateful to my friends who let me come with them so I could see this fantastic show!! It was really worth it and I'm so glad we all had a great time. Thanks guys!