Tricot Keeps Promise - Returns for an Awesome Show!

A complete band. Tricot brings another impressive show to their Filipino fans.
Photo by Miguel Ordonez.
Instagram: @mpordy 

2015 has been an incredible year for Filipino fans of Japanese Math Rock band trio Tricot. Last June the girls endeared more fans by choosing to give an intimate acoustic show, after their session drummer couldn't fly with them for their Manila gig.  

I wrote in a blog post: 

Tricot promised to come back as a full band - soon and this promise makes us even more excited. When that will be, we don't know yet but we know that it's going to be one hell of a show.

I had no idea that the girls were going to keep their promise before the year ended. 

Slated for a comeback show, the day after Christmas. The Trio teased a return like no other, bringing with them Japanese Progressive Jam band Rega. 

Despite the grueling Holiday schedule, covering a wedding at 5:00PM on the same day and battling a nasty flu (one that I am not completely healed from yet) we rushed to 19 East from Taytay Rizal and in what could only have been a Christmas miracle, made it to Sucat in just 40 minutes.   

This is the band you want to be friends with.
Japanese Progressive Jam Band Rega.
Photo by Miguel Ordonez
IG: @mpordy 

Unfortunately, we already missed local band Pulso, which is a favorite of Paul's. When we got in the venue, Rega was already bringing the house down with their incredible music and performance. They have definitely gained fans in the loyal crowd that was present that night. 

The crowd cheered as the girls took up the stage and brought that killer show that they promised. It was great for the fans to finally have a taste of what they've seen in videos online and actually experience it for themselves. 

A crazy Salsa dance, an insane crowd dive. Yes, it was the Tricot show you've been hoping and more. I was actually worried that, being sick I was worried I wouldn't be able to physically enjoy the show but I did! I enjoyed it so much, jumping, singing and dancing along with friends and of course sharing the experience with my husband also :) 

It was definitely a great way to cap off 2015. 

Pulso Drummer: Franco
Check out the 'Pulso' text behin him!
Photo by: Miguel Ordonez
IG: @mpordy

After the show, the girls took some time to say hi to fans, have photos taken and sign CDs, posters and photos. Albeit, it was rushed, since the girls were going to catch an early. It was another amazing night with all the #TricotFeels. 

I can't help but feel a little special that Motoko, Hiromi and Ikyuu chose to keep their promise before the year ended. It was like they really thought about giving their fans the show that they missed. 

Thank you girls! Thank you to Terno Recordings! It was an amazing Christmas gift indeed! 

Thank you to Miguel Ordonez for letting me use his photos :) 

The Bouncer asked Paul to keep his camera :P We should really invest on a mirrorless compact camera! Make sure you follow Miguel on Instagram @mpordy :) 

We also have some photos of the Meet and Greet Session up on the page, which you can also check out here!  

Keeping their Promise. A complete and all-powerful Tricot.
Photo by Miguel Ordonez
IG: @mpordy 

Tricot Philippine Street Team with Rega Guitarist Ryuji Ide
(c) PCheng Photography 

The Show Must Go On! Tricot Pushes Manila Show Without Drummer

Matta Ashita. Oyasumi.
See you tomorrow. Goodnight.
(c) Sonson Mercado 

Tricot's second Manila show (the last leg of their Hip Step A N D Jump Asia Trip) has been one roller coaster of emotions - really. First, finding out that the band was doing an Asian tour and making a stop in Manila had everyone on a high. The whole street team, of which I belonged to was ecstatic to say the least. Our favorite Japanese lady trio was coming back-so soon! After a successful (if I do say so myself) What's Ochansensu-Su ? Asian Tour. Here they were again ready to give their Filipino fans another #feels experience. 

After securing our early bird tickets we could feel the excitement and anticipation mounting. Plans of printing a Tricot Street Team shirt were made. Gifts to give the girls were prepared. We were literally just counting down the days. Then - the first dip in the roller coaster happened. We received news that DSLRs, Point & Shoot Cameras and recording devices would not be allowed. Now this was a punch in the gut especially for Paul and myself who regularly, about a 100% of the time take photos and even cover gigs and shows. I was really pissed off and could have possibly overreacted.

Once the dust settled and we came to accept that we wouldn't be able to take photos of our beloved Japanese trio with our DSLR. We decided to just go ahead and enjoy the show. Maybe it's also time to invest in some stealth mode cameras :) 

After getting home from work, Saturday morning (we work the night shift) I had to take sleeping supplements just to make sure that I could get some rest (I probably wouldn't be able to sleep from so much excitement). 

Upon waking up to get ready, the biggest and possibly the most damaging turn in the roller coaster happened. 

We found out through a Facebook post that due to unforeseen circumstances Tricot's drummer (the group is currently a 3 piece band with session drummers filling in during live shows and tours) could not travel to Manila. Those who purchased early bird tickets (P1,000/each) would have their ticket refunded in full. The band was still going to play a short set for the fans. Acts originally slated to perform Skymarines and Encouters With A Yeti will still be performing. One of the country's most sought after bands Up Dharma Down were included in the line up. 

So that I won't make any mistakes
I dive into the shining light.
-Diver
(c) Sonson Mercado

Mixed emotions were surging through me. I didn't know what to think or feel. Then I began reading the comments of my fellow Tricot fans and while they were comments of dissapointment and dismay, there were still comments of encouragement, messages of hope and rallies of "Let's go and Support them!" resonated throughout Social Media. With a renewed sense of purpose we started to get ready for the show. The roller coaster was starting to pick up again. 

This time around we invited friends over to join us in the show. Their first show was so amazing we just had to tell our friends. Arriving at 19 East a little before seven in the evening, the members of our Street Team were already there. They have been at the venue since around 3 in the afternoon (talk about dedication). The attendance sheet, which is actually a beautiful piece of original art created by Pejie, one of the Street Team members was already being passed around. The group gave a similar one last year which was signed by all the members, it now hangs in vocalist's Ikyuu Nakajima's room. 

Attendance Sheet! Members of the Street Team signed up on this original art
by resident Tricot Street Team Artist Pejie Abia.

After a light dinner, the doors opened and we went inside with our friends and Street Team members. Davao based electro pop act Skymarimes opened the show. I really enjoyed her set, even if she seemed nervous, her music and vocal prowess was very impressive. I look forward to seeing more of her gigs :) 

After Encounters With A Yeti, Tricot was already set to perform. You can almost feel the excitement in the air, it was that palpable. I rarely get into a fan girl moment but when the girls started to come up on stage I felt as though I was going to cry. Paul and I get to watch a lot of shows and gigs but I never get that emotional that I want to start bawling out. 

You've probably seen that story on Facebook that tells about what happens when a train is 5 minutes late in Japan, the conductor bows in front of the passengers and even gives them an excuse slip for being late. So you can just imagine what the girls could be thinking. The fans really appreciated what the band did, that they decided to give a short performance to the fans. The girls only had two and a half hours to re-arrange songs and practice. The early bird tickets were refunded and for other artists, if a show wasn't going to push through they could just refund the tickets and that's that but for Tricot they wanted to give a little something to the fans.  They probably also know that they have a strong fan base in Manila and didn't want to dissapoint the fans. Whatever the reasons were, we definitely got more than what we bargained for. 

Tricot does not usually perform acoustic sets, not even in Japan so even if we didn't get that live full band set we were hoping for. We got a rare emotional acoustic performance from the girls. Nothing could have prepared us for that, by the time their set was over I was already literally crying. 

Oyasumi By Tricot (Special Acoustic Performance in Manila) 

(c) masterlevi04

tricot LIVE in Manila

Flying in mid air: Motoko Kida and Hiromi Hirohiro of tricot doing what they do best. 

If you would have told a 16 year old me that one day - Japanese bands and acts would be making their way to our shores and performing I would not have believed you. 

Growing up I've always loved Japanese music, whether it was Anime music or music from their charts and countdowns and because of this I have been ostracized for liking Japanese music. 

So I never imagined meeting people with the same appreciation for music from the land of the rising sun as I did; let alone get to catch a Japanese band we all love in a show here and even have a Street Team - going all out (tarp, shirts, poster, gifts-the works) just to profess their love for a band, which is why Jepp and Martin founded the tricot Manila Street Team.

But time has a funny way of turning things around and now I find myself furiously typing on my iPhone amidst a crowd of anxious fans as we all await Japanese Math Rock band tricot take the sate at 19 East at 

10:39 PM on a Saturday evening. 

Terno Recordings, the record label behind Up Dharma Down and Paul's personal favorite Pulso brought tricot for a one night performance. Much to the glee and happiness of fans who have only been enjoying their music on their own but have now discovered that there are other tricot fans out there - and that is basically the origin of the tricot Manila Street Team. 

Full of energy: Nakajima Ikyuu and Hiromi Sagane of tricot during their What's Ochansensu-su? tricot Asia Tour 2014 in Manila in front of a crowd of eager fans. 

So now - checking one's notifications on Facebook would not be complete without a notification or a post from a fellow tricot fan. 

I was initially worried I wouldn't be able to watch the show- slated for the 15th of March at 19 East. Tickets were initially priced at P 500.00 until March 11, after that it would be priced at P 1000.00 each. The tickets were only sold at Artwork stores and 19 East which were all too far from us, especially since we are straight-to-home work people who also work the night shift. I couldn't believe that a fellow tricot fan in the street team- actually picked up two tickets for us no questions asked. I'm just flabbergasted thinking about it even after I've already gotten the tickets. 

Super thankful to Mon for getting us our tickets! Much love and appreciation to you man! <3 

Coming from the mountains of the East (aka-Antipolo) it was really a trip to 19 East which is all the way in Sucat but we made the pilgrimage as did other fellow tricot fans who even came from Laguna, Cavite, Manila, Quezon City -- now that is what I call effort from fans! :) 

tricot Manila Street Team first in line before the doors opened. The line went all the way up to the back. 

Speaking of effort from fans- the Street Team even had a bad ass tarp of tricot - with Manila Street Team printed on it. As well as shirts with the letters T-R-I-C-O-T printed on them, you know to spell out tricot just like in a football game. ^_^ 

tricot Manila Street Team Members in their T-R-I-C-O-T uniform and bad ass tarp 

       

As if that was not enough, there was even a fan art of the band from Pejie and members of the Street Team signed their names and wrote messages of love and support for the band. 

From Ikyuu's Instagram account - the Street Team attendance sheet! 

Arriving at 19 East after loosing our way a couple of times, we met up with the super cool and hilarious Street Team who have been waiting and hanging around the bar as early as 5pm! 

After the doors were finally opened and we seated ourselves right in front of the stage - ready to catch some tricot action!

The show opened with Terno Recording's very own Pulso. 

If you want to talk about technicality and talent in music - just check out Pulso who shared the stage with tricot. They don't need lyrics to ensnare you with their music. 

The music moves and captures you even without words! There is such passion and sensuality in their music that you don't need lyrics to dictate anything to you. 

Bluer than blue - the amazing trio that is Pulso

Trying out 'tricot'

'It's all about the music with tricot'

Even before it was considered okay (if not normal) to listen to foreign music (besides English)  I have always listened to Japanese music (both anime and J-pop/Japanese pop). So it's really no surprise that I'm raving about a new Japanese band but the thing is, 'tricot' is not your typical Japanese band. 

First of they don't look like your typical Japanese band. Sporting loose shorts (I was aghast) in their "Ochanse su" video they don't follow the typical formula of pretty girls with long bleached hair in short skirts and high socks. For one thing they (3 girls and 1 guy) are anything but your poster bishoujo or bishonen. It really is about the music with these guys. 

Although a bit lacking in the 'centerfold criteria' they make it up with their raw talent which is my second point as to why tricot is not your typical Japanese band. 

They are genuinely talented musicians and let's be honest not all acts out there are really talented when it comes to writing their own music and coming out with technically impressive songs as opposed to having pop hit makers produce candy coated commercial songs.  

Japanese or not they are genuinely talented musicians. tricot showcases great technicality in their guitar playing which is a bit reminiscent of another genuinely talented Japanese band Toe. 

tricot has been described as having a "Math Rock" genre Woah! Those were two words I never expected to be seen together-ever. For the sake of expanding our musical knowledge Math Rock is a genre which is rock based and is described as being experimental rock and indie rock. It is made up and characterized by complex rhythmic structures to get a better idea of what math rock is, you can check out tricot's song 'Ochan-se-su' below. 

           

Formed in Kyoto in September of 2011, the band first started with the three ladies Ikkyu Nakajima (guitars/vocals), Motoko "Motifour" Kida (guitars,backing vocals) and Hiromi "hirohiro" Sagane (bass/backing vocals) and current male drummer Kazutaka Komaji who joined in May of 2011. 

As if the discovery of a new Japanese band is not good news enough but the fact that (Drum roll please....) Terno Recordings the record label of some of our favorite OPM artists (Yes. We listen to Japanese music but are not ignorant of the genuine talent that our OPM artists have also, you can do both you know) Up Dharma Down, Pulso and Maude have posted a super teaser post on Facebook for tricot fans in the Philippines.