  Fans of visual kei band DaizyStripper we treated to a live stream Q&A session this past weekend at XENON in Los Angeles' Little Tokyo. Xenon, for those that do not know, is a clothing store in the Little Tokyo Mall that offers unique fashion straight from the streets of Shibuya with brands like Jury Black filling their shelves and racks. They are also no stranger to hosting events for some of the hottest visual kei bands/artists whether it be live concerts (Visual Kei Fest in July 2014) or the many live stream events (Prior ones featured DIAURA, Royz and CELL) this store is the place to be if you are a fan of the Japanese fashion, visual kei music or the aesthetic in general.
Not one to simply have a large event like the DaizyStripper live stream be the sole draw, Xenon hosted two other events that led up to it. First was a live DJ performance by DJ Meirlin and the second was a Cure snapshot session. Both events brought many people to Little Tokyo and the crowd that eventually filled XENON was one of the largest that has been present at these live stream events. After some introductions from our hosts DJ Meirlin and Ryo (ex.LF-laissez faire-), and a warm welcome for Mayu who recently returned to the band, the members of DaizyStripper began their part of the Q&A.
The questions that the band asks the fans is one of the elements that make XENON's events unique. Anyone can have a question and answer session where the guest is asked a series of questions, but it is all the rarer for the guests themselves to be the one doing the asking! What better way to foster artist/fan relationships than through this type of exchange? This round of questions gave us some interesting insight into the bands thoughts as well as revealing some of their own likes and preferences. For example, after hearing what the audience's favorite Japanese words were (some notables being "suki", "tabemono" and "baka") we learned that Yu-giri's favorite is "daisuki". We learned a little about our hosts too. After being asked what everyone's favorite anime and/or Japanese movies were, we learned that Meirlin has a preference to "Death Note" and Ryo has a leaning towards "Yu Hakusho". Following the more questions, the band seemed legitimately surprised with how well-versed the audience was with Japanese media in general. Not only the movies and anime discussed before, but also the amount of knowledge everyone seemed to have regarding Japanese music. It came as no surprise that most present stated the internet as being central to their exposure to the current music scene in Japan. Wanting the band to visit LA, the crowd was quick with responses with all the wonderful things the area has to offer. Everyone also was quick to point out that DaizyStripper's sound was popular amongst American fans due to the strong feelings present in their music and the great songs that show off Yu-giri's wonderful voice. Following some interesting comments from Nao about his nose (Note: Nao wants all of your noses!), the event moved into the questions asked by the fans.
 The first question up was directed to Nao and Mayu and was concerning their favorite guitarists. Nao mentioned Ken from L'arc~en~Ciel as his favorite and Ken stated Kurt Cobain, from Nirvana, as his. To follow that up, the band were asked what their favorite American artist and there were some interesting answers that ranged from Metallica and Nirvana to Stevie Ray Vaughn and Limp Bizkit. Some of these answers surprised many American fans though this is exactly the kind of thing one comes to these events for. Following a couple more questions, those present got a very special answer from the band when asked what the strangest gift they ever received was. Probably expecting something along the lines of an odd handmade trinket, the band shocked the crowd by mentioning that the strangest gift they have received was in fact used underwear! The follow-up question to this ("Do you like underwear?") was conveniently dodged by a brief technical error. It was probably for the best though as the answers, and topic, might be just a little off topic for some of the younger attendees! Next up were some questions regarding the band's interest in video games. Ever play "Gears of War" on the XBox? Ever play it online? If yes, you might have played with vocalist Yu-giri and not have realized it! Apparently he plays online regularly though his username will remain unknown. A couple more questions were asked before the band had to call it wraps and one of the most entertaining live stream events held at XENON came to a close.
 As the band said their goodbyes, there were many promises to come to LA/the US soon. We can only hope this is the case and we can all have a similar event, or better yet a concert, in the near future! Things didn't just go out with the band saying quiet goodbyes, Nao unknowingly started a spontaneous round of "You Are My Sunshine" from the crowd, much to the delight of all! With that the night officially came to a close with the announcement of the following event involving the band "Arlequin", an event which has too passed since this article goes out. Stay tuned for continued content from the DaizyStripper event (including video clips!) as well as coverage of the Arlequin live stream and other XENON events! Also, be sure to check out both DaizyStripper and XENON if you have not already!
DaizyStripper Are: ◆ Rei - Bass ◆ Mayu - Guitar ◆ Yu-giri - Vocals ◆ Nao - Guitar ◆ Kazami - Drums Official XENON Site Here
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 XENON is pulling out all the stops for their February live stream event and will be hosting their next Q&A with one of the hottest new bands in visual kei! These live stream events are a monthly occurrence and past events have featured bands like CELL, DIAURA and Royz amongst many others. This upcoming event will take place on February 7th and will feature the band Arlequin who will be broadcasting live from Japan into the store which will be full of their American fans. These events are unique in that they not only offer the Western fans to meet and interact with their favorite artists, but also allow the band themselves to interact with the fans too by way of their own Q&A. An interesting twist on the standard formula if there ever was one. This is a very special opportunity, fans in the US should clear their calendars and prepare those burning questions! A-To-J will also be on site to film messages for the band and to cover the event itself! Arlequin is a band that formed in 2013 and is signed to Goemon Records. They may be relatively new, but they are one of the hottest bands in the scene today! They have won fans the world over with their blend of hard rocking songs infused with unforgettable melodies accompanied by some of the best vocal work this writer has heard in years. Not ones to work slowly, they have released four singles and their first album, titled "Near Equal", over the past year. Without a doubt this is a band to watch out for and we at A-To-J can hardly contain our excitement for this upcoming event and their continued career! It is no stretch to imagine Arlequin someday becoming as big as Dir en grey! Those who have not checked out the band yet are encouraged to do so. There are songs for everyone in their catalog, from those that prefer more hard rocking songs with harsh vocals to those who prefer softer more subdued songs, this band has it all. The PV for their song "HakaAna" can be seen below, it's a good one! XENON is the official Cure Magazine shop, located in The Little Tokyo Mall in Los Angeles (319 E. 2nd St #119 Los Angeles, CA 90012). It has been open since August 1st, 2014 and has hosted several events and fairs in that relatively short time. The store carries various apparel brands from Shibuya 109, including Jury Black, as well as, CD’s, DVD’s, and official tour merchandise of idols and visual kei bands straight from Japan. This event, like their past live stream events, is completely free. No cover will be charged. It will run between 8:00-9:30 PM on January 24, 2014. SNS and event page links below. Arlequin Are: ● Vocal: Aki (暁) ● Guitar: Kuruto (來堵) ● Guitar: Nao (奈緒) ● Bass: Shohei (祥平) ● Drums: Tamon (堕門) Official Event Page: Here Official Website: www.xenon-la.com |
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