NataliezWorld

Down in Downtown Los Angeles’ Little Tokyo would be Little Akihabara a nook of sorts to feature pop-up events, live events, arcades and other little shops in this miniature sized mall. It was a recent maid cafe experience, and would then be transformed into a live event featuring Akiba Live’s array of idols, collaborating with Vtubers YouTube idol performers, with the company called Brave Group U.S., Idols, as well as local idols too! Some of the humanoid idols would include Oyasumimi, Deco Pro, and Strawberry Sunday! Whilst the digital vtubers would be idol Eternals, idol ENCORE, idol ENDLESS, V4Mirai, and idol WILDFYRE. 

The doors would open close to 1PM with the show starting off a little after 1PM, going all the way until around 4:30PM. Kicking the show off would be idol Eternals and Oyasumimi, the virtual idols would perform first, playing a couple of songs, then the humanoid idols Oyasumimi would perform together with the virtual idol, then perform solo, and then perform with another virtual idol, it would rotate between three virtual idols and the human performers. All the performers did do a good job, minus this small venue featuring little to no AC! A fan was set up but it was not enough was it was a hot sunny day in LA.

 LIVE PHOTOS:

But the heat did not stop the fans cheering, dancing, and waving their light sticks about. The next set of performers would go on next which was idol ENCORE, idol ENDLESS and Strawberry Sunday kicking things off at 2PM. Again rotation would occur, having the idols collide with one another, performing together, and then solo, playing cover songs of anime theme’s and other idol groups. Everyone was quite pleased with their performances, giving off lots of energy throughout.

Following would be V4Mirai and DecoPro, again performing various songs together and as solo acts. But the fans did not disappoint, even with the heat growing ever so much. Lots of colors, cheers and shouts would erupt with such fun, it overflowed into quite the excitement given off of everyone there.

Wrapping it up by 4PM would be more virtual idols idol WILDYRE three idols again performing together, and solo, but they had the crowd interacting with them non-stop. Lots of momentum, catchy tunes, and just more fun thrown out there. It brought together fans from different communities of idol culture, having them come together to spread the joy of music.

Surely this collab will be done again, in a much more bigger and better fashion. Idol culture is alive and well in Los Angeles County in sunny California, and fans alike embrace it in full force!

This past summer back in June, Star Wars tribute band Galactic Empire announced a full U.S. tour happening in late August through October, with such bands as Super Madness and Powerglove taking part in it. This band decided to come through Los Angeles, California playing at the venue called The Mint, a tiny hole in the wall establishment. This show would bring out the geek and nerd in all in attendance, because a lot of the tracks performed by the various bands would be TV and movie themes, cartoon songs as well as what else video game cover songs too!

Doors opening at 7:30PM with the openers Super Madnes, brought the video game instrumental fun out of themselves, playing such gaming tunes as tracks from Castlevania, Mortal Kombat,  Final Fantasy, RoboCop, among other catchy yet upbeat tracks that got everyone into it. Lots of familiarity with applause within the gathering crowd, recognizing numerous tracks of their beloved video games of the past, present, and perhaps future, that they could remember with glee. Super Madnes is an act of trio of musicians, that have catchy momentum, making a tribute to video games and heavy metal music in general, that has a beat we could all withstand and admire.

SUPER MADNES:

Following these guys would be Powerglove, whose last performance was seen back in 2011 during The Summer Slaughter Tour, where the band played during that tour’s half time show, giving quite the performance back then. But tonight’s was no different minus some minor things, the line up has changed in some forms, no crazy costumes this time, member shortage by the looks of it, but still a lot of fun with their extensive set. Singing a variety of cartoon and video game tracks ranging from the X-Men, Tetris, Super Smash Brothers Melee, Ghostbusters, Pokemon and even Power Rangers! Their performance tonight was just as fun as it was seeing them way back in 2011! Lots of memories growing up with a majority of these shows brought excitement for me and many others enjoying it. Lots of energy, memorable music, with fun thrown in from start to finish is how Powerglove throws itself out there, giving the crowd their full undivided attention. 

POWERGLOVE:

Wrapping up the evening would be a band from a galaxy far, far away that being tribute of sorts to the Star Wars franchise and series of spin offs as a whole, is what this band is all about. Coming upon the stage dressed in full on costume attire, is what draws your attention to their presents. Their songs being a lot of the Star Wars catalog of songs, as well as other theme’s from film like Indiana Jones, Jurassic Park, and even Pirates of the Caribbean. One of the well known tracks being “Duel of the Fates” is what got the crowd hyped up, causing a mosh pit to break out, this being clever yet funny to witness. But these guys are truly instrumentally based, no vocalization whatsoever which may deter some but they still bring the energy with that angst of riffs, solos, and upbeat tone of force. It kept the crowd there getting into their theatrics through and through. 

GALACTIC EMPIRE:

Overall this trio of video game forces of acts, brought out the real “fun” for all there of all ages, shapes, and sizes. If video games, is your go too thing, then by all means giving either one of these guys a listen or seeing them live in person is a must see, just for the fun of it!

Danny Elfman one of the most known composers of our time. Besides being a composer, but a musician in a band Oingo Boingo in the 1980s, to later doing acting work, aside from music being his main focus. He would compose countless films, teaming up with Tim Burton in a majority of them. One in fact, being highly popular over the year's, since releasing back in 1993, this being "The Nightmare Before Christmas". He sang for character Jack Skellington, whilst Chris Saradon did the voice work for the same character. As such, Danny Elfman would later take this character, and costars on an array of shows some taking place at the Hollywood Bowl in Hollywood, CA. After these shows were such a success, he would back away and say countless times that they would not occur ever again.

But demand was demeaned and more shows would span over the next few years. The 30th anniversary of the film would commence in 2023, and so would not one but three shows at the Hollywood Bowl, all three being completely sold out! Having attended the Saturday night performance, to a packed house, it was all smiles from ear to ear, with those big, small, old and young dressed up in the various characters, if not dressed up altogether it being a Halloween weekend after all.

PHOTOS:

Heavy metal is a genre that has grown quite a bit over the years, for Huntington Beach, Californians Avenged Sevenfold or sometimes abbreviated as A7X, formed back in 1999. Going through line-up changes and member losses, eight full-length albums, lots of shows and tours. But the band would go on a hiatus, only returning sometime later in 2023, announcing not just a new album but comeback shows as well. A headlining show would take place at The Forum in Inglewood, California on June 9, 2023.

This show would of course sell out come the day of the event itself. Opening up for the band would be Falling In Reverse, who may have had some mishaps with performance issues in general, but this sold out showcase, brought in the fans regardless. Doors opening around 6PM and arriving a little after 7PM, The Forum’s circular venue was quite a walk round, finding our seats on the other side of the venue was one thing, another thing that was an issue, was finding our seats once inside the arena.

Being darkened as it was, finding our seats was a bit of a challenge, but luckily seats were secured after sometime. Close to 8PM would be when Falling In Reverse would perform and play for a good 45-50 minute set, consisting of a lot of old material and newer works as well. Such songs as “Raised By Wolves”, “Fashionably Late”, “The Drug In Me Is You”, “Just Like You”, and newer tracks like “Watch the World Burn”, “Voices In My Head”, “Zombified”, and “Popular Monster”. The band as a whole put on a good set, kept the crowd entertained, singing along, and just hyped throughout. By the end of their set, all there cheered with enjoyment, by such an enthusiastic performance.

FALLING IN REVERSE PHOTOS:

AVENGED SEVENFOLD PHOTOS:

Epic-ness, fantasy, pirates, AND ducks?!?! Indeed so, when it came to the United Stations of America Tour with Alestorm, Gloryhammer, and Lutharo! This early summer trek, hit the Los Angeles, California terrain, stopping at the Wiltern Theater!

Doors opened at 6PM with the openers Lutharo hitting the stage sharply at 7PM. Performing a solid 30 minute set, having caught the end of it, the last set of songs were intense yet catchy. This band bringing to mind Arch Enemy meets Unleash the Archers. Their performance overall, was one that was brief on my part but surely memorable at least. Guitars, vocalization was powerful and promising, being an act that will likely be going places for sure.

LUTHARO PHOTOS:

LUTHARO SETLIST:

1. Phantom

2. Ruthless Bloodline

3. Wings of Agony

4. Hopeless Abandonment

5. Lost in a Soul

Next up was Gloryhammer, a power metal band from the U.K., who was founded by keyboardist Christopher Bowes of Alestorm believe it or not! Each member of the band, goes on to represent a character with costumes, story, the whole concept, which is done live on stage and within their music videos, song lyrics too. A lot of the band's material, was involved within the fantasy aspect, especially unicorns! The power metal melodies were catchy, never ending, and truly just interesting to witness really. The band goes into the theatrics with it, bringing props, characters, and total interaction with the crowd as a whole. The crowd present, really getting into it. Lots of cheers, claps, and utter excitement to hear and see it all played live! Surely they are an act, that is hard to follow up with, but there was just one act remaining.

GLORYHAMMER PHOTOS:

GLORYHAMMER SETLIST:

1. Holy Flaming Hammer of Unholy Cosmic Frost

2. Gloryhammer

3. The Land of the Unicorns

4. Fly Away

5. The Hollywood Hootsman

6. Angus McFife

7. Keeper of the Celestial Flame of Abernethy

8. Masters of the Galaxy

9. Hootsforce

10. Universe on Fire

11. The Unicorn Invasio of Dundee

Headliner's Alestorm came forth with a total different set-up. Their music being another take on power metal mixed with some other elements involving the ocean sea, sharks, pirates, and ducks! They had not one but three ducks set up upon the stage, with their stage presents being energetic, passionate, and goofy. From start to finish of their set, lots more cheers were shouted out, with total interaction happening left and right, clapping, sing-a-longs, to the mosh pit, really stirring up fun!

ALESTORM PHOTOS:

Alestorm just kept their momentum constantly flowing, it being contagious from each song onto the next one. The ducks sitting on the stage, were set to float on-wards at the end of the performance, right into the crowd! But before that happened, a special sea creature guest by that of a shark swam onto the stage. Well sort of swam, more like walked onto the stage, but did sing two songs with the band! At the end of the set though, the crowd wanted more and an encore was brought forth, with those giant ducks floating atop the bottom floor of the two story venue, making the crowd very happy and rather surprised than anything.

All in all really, this trio of acts this night, brought on the entertainment, in more than once. All there, kids, teens, to adults old and young, kept their hopes high, and memories ready, to absorb all that was sung and played by the elements of fantasy, sea, and epic-ness!

ALESTORM SETLIST:

1. Keelhauled

2. Pirate Metal Drinking Crew

3. Under Blackened Banners

4. The Sunk'n Norwegian

5. Alestorm

6. Cannonball

7. Hanging (Taio Cruz Cover Song)

8. Magellan's Expedition

9. Mexico

10. Tortuga

11. Nancy the Tavern Wench

12. Rumpelkombo

13. Shipwrecked

14. P.A.R.T.Y.

15. Captain Morgan's Revenge

16. Shit Boat (No Fans)

ENCORE:

17. Drink

18. Zombies Ate My Pirate Ship

19. Fucked With an Anchor