July 5, 2007
Momoi Expo, part 2
After the panel, and a quick side-trip to see Chiaki's concert, we headed back to the hotel. Once back, we decided to check out Momoi's blog to see if she would explain the cancellation situation further. Seeing her entry really pissed off everyone, and we each took turns writing our consolation comments. We also decided that it was necessary to take some extra steps to prepare for the next concert in order to make up for everything. Momoi had mentioned she would love to see glow sticks while answering a question at the panel, so the rest of the night was dedicated to what Chibitech calls the the great "Glowstick Adventures," where we drove around Long Beach hitting up Walmarts, dollar stores, supermarkets, and even got into the dance events to look for glowsticks to hand out at the concert. However, after several hours, we only managed to find something like 20 or so. Things didn't seem too good at the time.
On monday though, we happily discovered that we were not the only ones who had realized to bring extra glow sticks. Many other fans had also brought similar amounts to distribute, and the Japanese fan club was well prepared with a huge bag of around 200 or so, which they gladly shared with us. After we arrived, they decided to start a glowstick practice session near the front of the line, and we passed the time cheering together with the fan club. It got very embarassing after some staff members gathered around to watch, and another dude started taping us without asking, but I was also happy that we, and others watching, could learn the moves properly (the call book could be very confusing at times). It also felt rewarding after one of the volunteers got very interested in Momoi due to the demonstration. Around 10:00AM, Momoi's autograph book was passed around again so we all signed the thing a second time.
Once the doors opened, we began distributing call books and glow sticks to everyone again. Although everyone around us pooled their glowsticks together, we still ran out in less than 20 minutes, and more than half the audience were still missing them. Additionally, the crowd was kind of small and a lot of people didn't seem that pumped. Luckily, shortly after we ran out, AX staff suddenly rolled in a cart with boxes and boxes of glowsticks. Although they were selling them, AX must have been in a pretty apologetic mood after Momoi's tirade, so the people were actually very nice and the prices were actually fair (4 for $1, an entire bag for $10). As people gathered around to get glow sticks, one of the Japanese fans, WEB-RIDER, started a chain reaction by rushing up and buying like eight full boxes and handing them to us to help distribute, which then prompted most of the first and second rows to start buying up eveything. Seeing this mad dash for glowsticks did generate some enthusiasm from people though, and from what I've heard, even AX staff got bitten by the generosity bug and started giving them away to anyone who came in later once the show started.
Momoi appeared on stage in her modified tropical kimono-skirt thing and thanked everyone for coming. In an incredible display of stamina, she performed songs from nearly every point in her career in rapid succession, starting with GURA GURA, moving on to UNDER17 and Komugi material (never underestimate the rush from hearing several thousand people screaming "Fever! Fever!" and pumping their fists), post-UNDER17 stuff like Love.exe Hide and Seek, Wonder Momoi, and Tondol Baby, and special pieces like Akihabalove and Romantic Summer from Seto no Hanayome (the only thing I really wanted to hear that she didn't sing was Motto Yume Miyou). As soon as the music started, the fans in front began leading the glowstick movements, with several jumping into the aisles to direct everyone. Momoi pulled off a flawless performance as well. This time, the sound was perfect, and she had plenty of room to jump around and lead many of the motions herself. Occasionally, she would also break a glowstick and launch it into the audience to rile them up even more. I was obviously pretty occupied/entranced during all of this, but every time I did turn around (like during the spinning jumps), I saw nearly 100% crowd participation. Whenever she turned the mic on us, the chants were deafening. Most of the audience knew all the words and could sing along, and those that didn't did a pretty good job of improvising on the spot so at least they seemed like they knew the words. During the small talks in between, there was also no shortage of very loud "MOMOI KAWAII" screams from various locations in the crowd (I did contribute mine as well, and got waved at!). Looking back at both the songs and the talks, these components added up to create the most electric atmosphere I had seen out of all the AX events so far.
Some time in the middle of the show, Manzo also showed up again to do Nihon Break Kogyo and My Pace Daioh while Momoi caught her breath. I'm glad the audience gave him a much better welcome this time around. I don't think a lot of people really started getting into it until they realized he was the guy who did the Genshiken theme (he probably should have did that song first for the recognition factor).
When the show ended, the fans started begain chanting MOMOI and ENCORE. I think the Japanese fans tried to start a different chant like the ones in the DVD, but they gave way to the American fans since ENCORE was just much easier to say and the huge energy just drowned them out. It was essentially the same in spirit anyway. After a few minutes, Momoi came back on stage and performed Saigo no Rock, a.k.a. "The Last Rock." After this, Momoi asked everyone to come close to the stage and take a picture with her. This time, security much more understanding, and so we managed to squeeze together VERY close to the front (right up to the rail). She then threw out autographed balls into the audience as presents. One was thrown directly toward us, but it bounced off the rail and the guard picked it up and threw it in a completely opposite direction (argh!). She then gave her final talk, but started crying before she could finish. She said that she was so happy to see all of us, that she was really glad about all the glowsticks, and that she would definitely come back to visit us again. With the crowd completely out of their rows and gathered at the front, she sang Yume no Baton" way up close without any music track, and visibly in tears. After she left the stage, the Momoi calls continued for minutes.
Only after Momoi left did I notice the extreme fatigue in my arms and back. We had been jumping and waving nonstop for almost 90 minutes, and no matter where I looked, there wasn't a single person whose t-shirt wasn't completely drenched. I was still slightly dazed by what had just transpired. As we walked out, we saw a very long line forming at the merchandise booth outside and felt very satisfied in knowing that after this concert, Momoi had just gained a huge number of new fans who probably originally showed up just because "they were giving out free tickets." Additionally, those of us who already were fans had just accomplished something we had always wanted to be a part of ever since watching our first Momoi DVD. Before leaving the arena altogether, we decided to take one big picture with all the hardcore Momoists to commemorate the coming together of fans from around the world.
Posted by Paranda at July 5, 2007 6:23 PM
Comments
Cool, thanks for posting the picture. :)
Posted by: InsaneLampshade 
at July 5, 2007 7:14 PM
Thank you so much for posting the picture. An increadible event - I'm so very happy to have been part of it.
Posted by: Mr Trainspotting at July 5, 2007 8:55 PM
Thanks for posting this entry, I can almost feel the atmosphere of the concert again. My shirt was also drenched after the jumping and my voice was basically gone for days after the concert from yelling so much but it was totally worth it. My friend was lucky enough to catch her autograph ball and when another flew four seats to my right, I dove for it without hesitation and almost broke my neck. I missed it but my friend gave me the one he caught. After the concert, I got out late and saw the huge line to sign her autograph book. Although I was supposed to leave after the concert, I really wanted to sign the book and I stood at the end of line and waited. About 40 mins after waiting in line, one of Momo-i's staff member came out with a camcorder and started taping the people still left in line, saying that Momo-i will be seeing this. I was estatic and got out the autograph ball. The line was totally worth the wait. Anyways, thanks for posting again and hopefully we'll meet at another Momo-i concert in the near future.
Posted by: AzureZero at July 6, 2007 10:23 PM