Source: Manilla Bulletin Online
Repost at: Muse:: Gackt US Fanbase
The entrance of the Rock 2 Metal bar in Shaw Blvd. seemed to open to a dimension that was thick with something sweet and forbidden. Kids wore gothic gear and black make-up, and banged their heads to the riffs and beats of weird music. "Weird" to an outsider's point of view. Everyone inside understood it. The fact is, long before the so-called Canto-pop invasion, a small but passionate group of fans were already moving to a different tune: J-rock.
Last Feb. 21, during exam season, devoted fans gathered in full force for Ongaku Rave 2004, a night of J-rock and visual kei organized by the Ongaku Society, an e-group of J-rock fans led by mastermind Jefferson "Sonnaqs" Aquino, in cooperation with YAOI Dudes, an events organizing company.
For the uninitiated: J-rock is simply short for Japanese rock, a sub-genre of rock music that differs from Western rock in ways that go deeper than language. J-rock boasts of a distinct sound and, for a lot of bands, a visual component or visual kei which attracts fans. Hence, the screaming hair colors, elaborate stage outfits, and pretty men in drag.
Coming in at 3rd place was Carlo (in true J-rock fashion, they give only their first names), whose cosplayed the controversial, phenomenal Gackt.
Its Pinoy fan base is made up mostly of anime fans whose interest in anim頴heme songs evolves into adulation for the artists who made the music. They can belt out Japanese lyrics and rave endlessly about bands like L'Arc-enCiel, Glay, and the now-disbanded Luna Sea. Their collections include CDs (original and pirated), MP3s, concert DVDs, posters, calendars, and other paraphernalia that are not available at local record stores.
ONGAKU RAVE
Compared to anim魯nly fans, J-rock fans are fewer, certainly not a mass market. Throughout a given year, anim頣onventions are held in large venues and enjoy big crowds and the support of sponsors. There are no such events for Jrock fans. Until now.
"I realized Ongaku Rave can be successful because it's something fans want. We're all hungry for J-rock! There are also a lot of underground bands that cover J-rock, and this gives them a venue to play their music," Sonnaqs states.
The first of its kind in Manila, Ongaku Rave featured live performances by various bands, as well as a visual kei fashion show/cosplay competition.
For a small, underpromoted underground event, Ongaku Rave was well attended, a fact that surprised even the organizers.
Sonnaqs shares, "My friends put up posters in schools, and I posted an announcement on the Ongaku mailing list. Only a handful of people responded. So I was expecting maybe 150 people to show up. I was even worried that the venue was too big. But when I tallied the ticket sales, I found over 300 people had attended."
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Of the 300, a fair number cosplayed their favorite artists or donned full visual kei regalia. Boys wore dresses and girly makeup. Girls got dolled up in leather, lace and fur, black lipstick, wild hair color, spikes, chains, and facial piercings.
To make Ongaku Rave a truly J-rock event, Sonnaqs enlisted the help of underground bands doing covers of Japanese music. The audience rocked to the music of the Kendi Darlings, Eternal Blue, Zero % Off, Rotschreck, Yaoi Dudes (Bohemian Beast Fighters), Kojin Koe, Sakura Beat, and Sonnaqs' own band NEOtaku, where he writes music and plays drums.
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The bands performed the hits of popular J-rock bands, from L'Arc-en-Ciel's "Driver's High" to Luna Sea's "Storm," as well as theme songs of various anime series. Cosplaying performers Riasa and Hazel, with Sonnaqs, Neil from Rotshreck and Ian from NewFallenSnow did a rousing rendition of Dir en Grey's "Yokan" ("Premonition"). NEOtaku performed a string of original songs that are a fusion of Japanese and Pinoy rock.
The cosplay competition, something to look forward to in any Japanese pop culture event, featured fans in J-rock-inspired costumes ranging from the simple (a white shirt, black tie, and black pants) to the dramatic (a furlined halter top-and-skirt ensemble with lace stockings).
Coming in at 3rd place was Carlo (in true J-rock fashion, they give only their first names), whose cosplayed the controversial, phenomenal Gackt. He even kissed another guy, for effect. Second placer Mimie went for the gothic bondage of Hakuei, vocalist of Penicillin and Machine. The first prize was awarded to Leng, who wowed the judges with an almost exact copy of the stage outfit of Dir en Grey bassist Toshiya.
Throughout the event, premium collector's items were auctioned off, including limited edition CDs, hard-to-find magazines, and calendars.
All in all, the little J-rock party was a success, prompting fans to scream themselves hoarse for more.
"After Ongaku Rave, I see the makings of a solid J-rock community, which is what I want. I'm tired and sleep-deprived, but it's okay because everyone's happy. Eventually, I'd like to do a major J-rock festival," Sonnaqs concludes.
Ongaku Rave 2004 was sponsored by Lights Out, organizers of the upcoming Yaoi Convention, and Artcore, a collective of comic book artists.
Saturday, 25 June 2005
Tuesday, 28 June 2005mauulit pa yan.. that’s for sure! m/ at sana bumalik ka ulit sa pinas. ^_^
Posted by h_matsumoto at 06:40 AM
sanay maulit muli *toinks*
-pedz-
Posted by tazky at 08:21 PM