The crowds was fuckin' wild last night. From the look of his face, MINORU NIIHARA was satisfied with how Kuala Lumpur responded towards LOUDNESS. "We should have been here earlier" and this is what he did said in regret.
The venue - KL LIVE was fully packed with about 3,000 maniacs turned out to celebrate the classic LOUDNESS line-up of MINORU NIIHARA (vocal), AKIRA TAKASAKI (guitar) and MASAYOSHI YAMASHITA (bass), as well as MASAYUKI SUZUKI (new drummer). The atmosphere was magical when the crowds started to sing along to old classic especially "Crazy Nights", "Heavy Chains" and "So Lonely" (from another older album 'Hurricane Eyes'). After taking the band photo on stage with the cheering crowds at the back, MINORU asked "Do you wanna go crazy ?" and a big yes came soaring. "Crazy Nights" was a nostalgic trip back as the album - 'Thunder In The East' was the first album we started with LOUDNESS ("Crazy Nights" was the 1st track in the album apparently). From where we stand, we've already started jumping when the riffs exploded and then came the screaming "Rock & Roll Crazy Night. You are the heroes tonight ...". There was also this earth shaking "Hey Hey Hey" from all the crowds.
All jaws dropped when guitar wizard - AKIRA showcased his magical fretworks in "Exploder". In friendly manner, also tossing his guitar pick to the crowds, as well as to where we stand at the right corner of the stage (AKIRA side). While, those who fortunately got the drumstick from MASAYUKI will surely have a sleepless night. Good catch !
The KL show must be special as LOUDNESS ended the show with 2 sets of encore after the crowds demanded for more. Another blown out trip back to the 80's, first with "Let It Go" and "Like Hell", and finally wrapped it with "S.D.I.".
Earlier, opening bands like the all-grrl band SHEWOLVES and rock veterans SATIRA and SOFEA managed to get the adrenalin pumping before LOUDNESS came out and brake all necks. An amazing show !
Setlist
1) Fire Of Spirit - instrumental (Metal Mad)
2) Hit The Rails (The Everlasting)
3) Crazy Nights (Thunder In The East)
4) Heavy Chains (Thunder In The East)
5) In The Mirror (The Law Of Devil's Land)
6) So Lonely (Hurricane Eyes)
7) Exploder - instrumental (Disillusion)
8) Shadows Of War (Lightning Strikes)
9) Get Away (Thunder In The East)
10) Black Star Oblivion (Lightning Strikes)
11) Requiem - instrumental / The King Of Pain (King Of Pain)
12) Crazy Doctor (Disillusion)
Encore
13) Let It Go (Lightning Strikes)
14) Like Hell (Thunder In The East)
15) S.D.I. (Hurricane Eyes)
Some personal photos taken from our old camera :-
"Kuala Lumpur ??!!"
MINORU, AKIRA & AMY (SEARCH)
MINORU screaming at the top of his lung
gorgeous SHEWOLVES bassist
MAN RANI of SOFEA
Official tour shirts :-
Thanks AKIRA !