L'Arc~En~Ciel at Madison Square Garden

Starting in the late 1980's there was a boom in the number of Japanese rock bands throughout that country. In a country known for tradition and respect the blazing guitars and thundering drums of the young edgy bands of that age was a shock to outsiders. The thing was though they were combining the American glam rock, with European pop along with their own sensibilities to create Visual Kei. Look it up and look at the pictures that says more than you'll need to know. One of the bands that came out of this era in the 1990s was L'Arc~En~Ciel, it's french for the Rainbow.

Along with bands like X-Japan, GLAY, Malice Mizer, Luna Sea and others they became famous. Throughout the '90s as the over the top look of Visual Kei wore down the music continued. After two decades of albums and tours and side projects they did something all of their contemporaries had not done. The worlds most famous arena would be the place that L'Arc~En~Ciel would perform in support of their latest album.

X-Japan is by far the most important and influential band to come out of Japan, ever. The bands frontman, the drummer Yoshiki has become such an icon in Japan that there is a Hello Kitty version of him. Take my word for it that's huge. But for all of X-Japans fame. For selling out the largest stadium in Japan, the Tokyo Dome nearly twenty times, L'Arc~En~Ciel did something they've never done play in the worlds most famous arena. That is probably the best thing that they ahve ever done. But maybe it may lead to X-Japan trying to achieve the same feat but better.

The show was supposed to actually take place at the theatre at MSG. Due to high demand it was moved to the main arena. The crowd was over 19,000 people from all over the world but mostly Japanese. Not a sellout but still very impressive and gives them something to shot for next time. And there will be a next time. Long stroy short that was the best concert I have been to just because of scale. I went to the X-Japan show in 2010. That was their first time in New York, but its was at the Roseland Ballroom. A ballroom for the most famous band in Japan and they played a ballroom. Still they made that place explode, but it was no Madison Square Garden.

My hope is that concert will lead to the return of L'Arc~En~Ciel and it will. But than X-Japan will come and raise the bar. Than GLAY, my personal favorite Japanese band of all time. Still mad that I missed them at Flushing Meadow Park back in 1998 I think. But playing at Madison Square Garden would make up for that. Than maybe Gackt, with Exist Trace opening would be cool. I've seen Dir En Gray four times but want to see them somewhere bigger maybe the theatre first and if that get the demand than the Garden. From there Ayumi Hamasaki maybe but that would cause minds to melt. Whatever the case this was the first of many and for that I say that you L''Arc~En~Ciel. And thanks for an awesome concert.