Summer Sonic 2008

I woke up early the morning of August 9, 2008, all for the glory of Summer Sonic Festival (I've never done this for work though :P).
I was pretty excited as I went to the Shin-Osaka station and lined up at McDonalds to buy my breakfast. I met Dio at the platform and we headed out to Maishima (Shin-Oska->Osaka, Osaka-Nishikujo, Nishikujo->Sakurajima). We arrived at around 9:00am at the registration area. I saw Shoku-chan at the beginning of the line. She was waiting for Tomo-chan
who was probably still parking their car.
We lined up for the shop because I wanted to buy an official T-shirt.(Last year I wasn't able to so I made it a point to get one this year). I was disappointed with the lack of giveaways this year.
We had lunch together with Tomo-chan, his wife came later. We didn't linger much in the Oasis area and started out to the Sonic Stage. (The alternative bands were placed in the Sonic Stage this year, last year they were in the Sky Stage).
We were able to get a small glimpse of MGMT band in their last performance and they sounded ok. The next performers was MUTEMATH. Technically the band was excellent. Also the song variety and sequence was good, they had fast-beat, heavy beat, and also slow ballad type songs. The vocalist was an epitome of energy as he sometimes stands on top of the piano rocking the crowd. He was also very tall, or maybe he looked tall because he was wearing a suit!

After MUTEMATH we tried to go to the Ocean Stage to catch 311. I didn't like 311 vocalist's body movement. He had a great bod I agree to that, but more than that, his movements are totally uncoordinated. Like what I said to Dio, he's like a body builder trying hard to ballroom dance!And his vocal range is not that great either. We only stuck around for 3 songs because it was suffocatingly hot. We then went back to the Sonic Stage(a closed coliseum type stage) to cool ourselves off. We got to see BIFFY CLYRO for a few seconds in their last song. They were only consist of 3 people but they sounded powerful. They were also very choreographed in their outfit of red leg fit pants with no top!

Next to perform were AGAINST ME! This band is probably the worst one I've heard for the whole day. They got sound balance right, but their performance and song sequence/selection suck! I don't call that music, I call it NOISE. Plain, annoying, no remarkable display of technical skills, no soul NOISE! We stayed a little longer in the Sonic Stage to cool ourselves from the
disappointment we got from the last performers. Next in line were the SUPER FURRY ANIMALS. Although we didn't stay for the whole performance, they were slightly better than the last band. But I think they had some technical problems because there was a lot of extra noise coming out. The songs did not come out clean.
We then got out of the Sonic Stage and went back to Ocean Stage to prepare for ALICIA KEYS. By this time RADWIMPS were still playing. RADWIMPS is a japanese band with a really skinny vocalist (I think he is also in love with Alicia Keys, hehehehe). They sounded really good their performance was remarkable and I think they are all technically excellent. But I think their adlibs are all scripted and not exactly spontaneous. ALICIA KEYS is an angel! She is an embodiment of perfect beauty and excellent physique, endowed with the vocal range of a diva!
For me, she is the best performer! I love her spanish version of Karma. Everytime her face is focused on that big TV near us playing the piano I could have swoon at how beautiful she is, how talented, how graceful! We ended the day with watching the first 3 songs of Fatboy Slim.
I've never seen his face before since it was never shown in any of his famous videos. He is a little older than I thought but he is a very cool old guy. It would probably feel nice to have a grandpa
like him. hehehhe.

Summer Sonic 2008 felt great, ALICIA KEYS made it all WORTH IT!
ALICIA KEYS, I LOVE YOU, my superwoman!
Note: Couldn't take any pictures of the performers because it wasn't allowed.