Category Archive for Nightcrawling
X JAPAN TOUR HITS VANCOUVER, 2010 NORTH AMERICA VISUAL KEI CONCERTS. CYBER GOTH DREADS FALLS, BUY CYBERLOX.
X Japan! X Japan! The Visual Kei megastars are in the midst of their very first US and Canadian tour. I had the good fortune to attend the Vancouver concert… prepare thyselves for a report and exclusive live photos.
This epic occasion warranted an epic headpiece. Vickilyn’s Closet kindly sent me these dazzling cyberlox. If you’re not familiar with cybergoth hair “falls,” they’re two bunches of sparkly tubing, tassels and other synthetic material. The designer sent me black/rainbow and red/black ones (I wore both). The lox are long, lightweight and got so many compliments! Vickilyn’s Closet also sells Goth Lolita Cyber Punk clothing and accessories; anything on her site can be made to order, so come take a look.
The jagged decal under my right eye is handmade by Takuya Angel. Excellent news — his store is not closing after all, but will reopen on October 10th in the very same Harajuku location (only now, you use the back door to enter).
Eye shadows: purple and magenta shades, gifted from Annabelle Cosmetics. They’re handy circle compacts that fit into a square case.
Fake eyelashes: Marrlliss brand, from a Tokyo 100 yen ($1) store
Lips: Outlined with dark purple eyeliner, then blended with red lipstick.
Who says you can’t mix Cyber Goth and Lolita? I arranged the dreads so that the red ones peek out on one side.
Dress: Alice and the Pirates, from Closet Child
Black Goth jacket: gifted from Gloomth (better photos here)
Spiky red bracelet: bought it years ago in Camden Market
Fishnets, socks and shoes: Old things
There was a large turnout of Japanese fans at the Vancouver show (held at the Queen Elizabeth Theatre). Guess which of these hardcore gals is also flying to Chicago and Toronto to see the Jrock band perform?
Many brought along cute Hide and Yoshikitty (Yoshiki x Hello Kitty) plush toys.
Thumbs up to the pink-haired Hide cosplayer and Doraemon kigirumi with… a fetish top and rocking horse shoes?
When the doors opened, everyone ran inside and swarmed the merchandise both. Instead of paying for a $30 official t-shirt, one economically-minded fan taped red duct tape on her top (in the shape of a giant X).
The two girls in the center brought roses and made this flag.
Avery and I were interviewed by X Japan’s videographers. We talked about how the rockers inspired us and how excited we were about their North American invasion. The band will later decide what to do with the footage (perhaps it will appear in a tour video).
The League of the Extraordinary Hair.
No matter what language you speak, X is the universal hand symbol among the group’s fans.
Inside, the energy was electric… we are X! Bookmark this blog — tomorrow, I’ll be posting live photos of Yoshiki, Toshi, Pata, Heath, Sugizo (and the ghost of Hide)!
Have you seen X Japan in concert yet? What were your impressions? Did they meet your expectations?
Japanese Word of the Day: Shinkou = Faith, belief
Song of the Day: X JAPAN – Forever Love (Last Live)
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SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA GOTH STEAMPUNK CLOTHING SHOPS & INDUSTRIAL NIGHTCLUBS. TOKYO, JAPAN HALLOWEEN PARTIES.
Time for a “moriawase” or “meli-melo” post of odds and ends! My new Global Gothic column for Lip Service Webzine is up. This month, we go down under to Sydney, Australia — and explore its darkest and most fashionable spots. You can read it here.
Not long ago, Team Spooky took over an Ikebukuro izakaya. From left to right: Tatsu (of legendary hardcore punk band Gastunk, who plays in The Killing Red Addiction with ex-X Japan’s Taiji). Mistress Maya (of Goth/Industrial party Midnight Mess and Alanis Morissette karaoke fame). Cotton Bale (in gorgeous gold Dr. Martens). And Kana (the absinthe jelly genius). She’s dressed for a “Roman Funeral” Japanese TV show event!
We went to see our friends 101A perform at Ikebukuro Black Hole. The serial killer / cute bunny mascot is brilliant, don’t you think?
Japanese steampunk style icon, Kenny Creation, showed us his new cage necklace. On the left: my skull and gem rings from Closet Child. (I’m trying desperately to organize my jewelry… do you have any suggestions? Maybe I can arrange them in elegant teak boxes, like the ones at jewelryboxes123.com?)
“Voice is sheer and whimsical. Sound waves are like sucking in air. Various pieces remind you of shoegazer, grunge, industrial, Bristol sound.” An excellent performance by the rising band 101A.
Who’s excited for Halloween? Undead fashion model Yukiro Dravarious rises from the grave to inform you about Tokyo’s best Halloween parties this year. If you are in Japan, you should definitely check them out. Watch the video above, and check out my Tokyo Goth Nightlife guide for URLs, maps, photos and directions.
Drumroll please… announcing the winners of the Gloomth contest! Via random selection, the lucky pirates are HagumiW ($250), RoseBud ($100), and Pamela Quevedo ($50). Congratulations! I’m announcing another huge new giveaway next week, so please don’t despair… there are plenty more opportunities ahead.
Finally, shout-outs to RaSh Ro for the fan art above (I love seeing your artwork; email me and I’ll post it). Thank you also to Dominion Magazine for interviewing me about Harajuku Goth fashion and nightlife.
Anyone have exciting weekend plans? My list: X Japan concert, Takashi Miike film screening, photoshoot for a magazine cover, nightcrawling at a Goth EBM club, lavender lattes. And most importantly, squishing my cat.
Japanese Word of the Day: Gura gura = Wobbly
Song of the Day: Diamanda Galas – Gloomy Sunday (the Hungarian suicide song)
LA CARMINA
