We met Miyavi! The Visual Shock J-rocker electrified our eyes and melted our hearts at his June 17th concert (at Vancouver’s Commodore Ballroom). Let’s start from the start…

Miyavi’s North American tour is called “Neo Samurai,” and he’s beloved for his vivid makeup and ever-morphing style. So I thought it appropriate to dress as a Glam Rock Samurai.

My makeup is inspired by 1970s David Bowie as Ziggy Stardust. I contoured my eyes with green eyeshadows gifted by Aromaleigh (the latest Victoria’s Revenge collection is possibly the best yet). “The real gold” is gifted from Sugarpill, and the stickers are from Daiso. The photos don’t do the look justice; in real life, the effect is iridescent.

Gold sequins and feather headpiece: gifted by Cutie Dynamite. I love her handmade hair accessories, which go perfectly with Victorian, Steampunk and Lolita outfits. This one matches my hair and clips on easily with a large hair comb. You simply must visit Cutie Dynamite’s Etsy store for more gorgeous designs.
Samurai wrap top: by Dalegare. One of the most unusual pieces I own — it has long samurai sleeves and wraps around the chest and waist. I found it in London’s Camden Market years ago.
Pants: by Lululemon. Very comfortable.
Owl ring: Juicy Couture
DIY nail art: inspired by Miyavi.

I arrived about an hour before the doors opened, and encountered a snaking lineup of devoted J-rock fans. Some had even camped out overnight!

My friend Rose was sixth from the front, looking lovely in Sex Pot Revenge. She did her multi-colored leopard hair and all her piercings herself.

Rose: Part of why I like to get there early is to meet awesome new people, who share my interests. Even though I was teeth-chattering-freezing for eleven hours straight, it was still great fun!

Asta had newly-dyed aqua-colored hair as well. We were on the guest list, so we ducked into a nearby bar for red absinthe cut with egg whites. Yes, I’m obsessed with absinthe. (Remember these photos from absinthe bars in Ebisu and outside Tokyo…)

Thanks to everyone who entered the Miyavi ticket giveaway — it was lovely to meet you at the show! (I kind of look like a Hare Krishna, hence the psychedelic Photoshop…)

I was among the eight individuals who got to watch Miyavi’s soundcheck. He was dressed all in black and wore sunglasses — but that didn’t hold him back from tapping and coaxing his guitar as if he were performing for an audience of thousands. Miyavi ran through several songs that weren’t on the setlist, apologizing in advance for mistakes (“I haven’t played these in a while.”) A needless apology — it was wonderful to hear his voice ring out in a bare room, backed only by drums and keyboards.

At 7:30pm, the doors opened and the fans rushed to the stage. At 9pm, Miyavi walked on and gave a big wave. (Photo from Miyavi’s management.)

Rose: From that second, I was totally captivated by his cute, charming and energetic stage presence! He seemed to be enjoying himself so much — I couldnt help but have a stupid smile plastered on my face the whole time. I was right up front, pressed against the stage… I had to be so I could have a close up view of his cuteness the whole time!

Carmina: Now THIS is a rock star. Everyone went nuts when Miyavi lifted his guitar behind his neck and shredded it. His English is quite good, and it was fun to yell along to his call-and-responses, like “Funky Monkey” and “What’s my name, what’s my f***ing name.” When he spoke about becoming a new father — “Already, my daughter is this tall, running around. They grow up so fast don’t they? You have to savor it…” — oh, a few tears were shed.

Rose: He seemed so happy to interact with the crowd, getting us going with his silly sexy gestures. It was so cute when he jumped up on the speaker to play up there — and did the splits, in tight jeans! I am very flexible and I can’t do that!

Carmina: Miyavi had microphone stands all over the stage, so he moved around and got close to everyone. Drummer Ryo Yamagata, with his years of jazz training, brought the heat to a boil.

Rose: I was excited to hear the two new songs he played, “Torture” and “Gravity.” I liked them very much. Now I can’t wait for his new album!

Carmina: Miyavi did an encore, squirting water from his bottle onto the crowd. When the lights went up, Rose and I went to the side of the stage… because we were two of the eight lucky people who got to meet Miyavi himself!

Rose: I always appreciate when musicians are willing to meet fans after a show. I know if I just did a live with so much craziness, I definitely wouldn’t feel up to meeting anyone. I don’t know how he has so much energy!

Carmina: As you’d expect, Miyavi was charming and gorgeous in person. He spoke English well, with endearing “hep cat” turns of phrase. Miyavi graciously signed a tour postcard and gave us a sticker.

Need I say it was an unforgettable live? I’ll soon be posting GPKISM, Kaya and SaTaN reviews, so please bookmark my blog and come back soon. For a report on the San Francisco show, check out Kirsty Evan’s article in East Bay Express.

Have you seen Miyavi in concert? What did you love best about his performance?

PS: I added more designer items to my wardrobe clearance extravaganza, including a red and black velvet Lolita dress for only $86. The Japanese clothes and accessories are disappearing fast, so come browse my Online Garage Sale before everything’s gone!

Japanese Word of the Day: Erande kudasai = Please browse
Song of the Day: Miyavi – Aishiteru kara hajimeyou (live in concert, 2009)