#15　From Idol to Rock Band – Reina Tanaka and The Meaning of "Hometown"（2/3）

2014.12.17

LoVendoЯ's Fukuoka Performance

One thing I thought when I saw LoVendoЯ perform in Fukuoka was how their performance as a band has tightened up another notch. The band members and the audience definitely look more relaxed and seem to enjoy themselves even more than the last time I saw them on tour.

Tanaka “We’re performing better as a band and I feel that our fans are getting more into it now. We have more cheer patterns, too. And Okamari (Marina Okada) is always getting picked on and teased by the audience (lol). Our next task as LoVendoЯ is figuring out what each of the members can do to increase our fan base. The more that each member does their bit and ventures out into the world, the bigger concerts we’ll get to play. I want to play at various festivals and joint gigs, too.

I went to see them perform in Fukuoka with the members of the Fukuoka-based idol group, LinQ. For member Yusa Sugimoto, Reina Tanaka is her long-time idol.
After the concert, I received this message from Sugimoto:

“I’ve been a huge fan of Morning Musume。ever since I was in elementary school and I’ve always admired Reina Tanaka, and this was the first time I got see LoVendoЯ perform live. I loved how all the fans would come into the concert area and then start changing into their pale blue LoVendoЯ t-shirts one after the other! Pale blue is Reina Tanaka’s color after all, right! Fukuoka is her hometown, so all the fans were really fired up too.

With intense energy right off bat, Reina Tanaka’s high-pitched tones harmonized with Marina Okada’s low-pitched tones were so beautiful, they gave me goose bumps. And if there’s anything to say about live bands, it’s that they’re intense! I fell in love with Yuki Uozumi’s wild guitar playing and Marin Miyazawa’s execution! We got to hear an acoustic version of “bukiyou,” and for me, that’s what makes live performances so special. Seeing all the fans headbang to Uozumi and Miyazawa’s instrumental segment was amazing! Everyone was so into it!

During the emcee, it was fun to see the personalities of each of the four members come out – something you only get to see at live performances. Their Hakata dialect was really cute. And it was obvious how much they value their fans too. They way they joked around was hilarious!

It was the first time that I’ve been to see a band play live, but to have this much fun even though it was my first time, I think idol fans would enjoy this too. There are no rules against waving glowsticks, calling out, or jumping around – you’re free to enjoy yourself however you like!
The concert really heated up from the second half and everyone was really into it. I could barely contain myself!
Not only did I get to meet my idol, Reina Tanaka, I found a lot more to like about LoVendoЯthat I only realized after seeing them live and I really had a blast.
LoVendoЯhas inspired me to work harder and pour more of my soul into my live performances with LinQ just as they do. Thank you for this amazing experience!"