I think this Live-Gym could be released as dvd, because if 2010 is a solo year, we won't have lots of singles. But with the dvd they would still release something as B'z, so let's hope for it.
Soooo... A full review, more or less a translation of my italian one (outlaws, I think Google would have a hard time with my italian, it's full of slang and fangirling stuff XD)
The show started about at 7:05pm. We had a short cg movie where a city was built and destroyed, then started a solo guitar. From the center of the stage a some kind of elevator (I can't think of better way to describe it, sorry) started going up, with Tak in it. While the elevator went down, this intro changed into Magic's Introduction... Then DIVE started.
Curtains opened from behind, and a moving stage came forward, with supporting member and of course Inaba. DIVE is a perfect opening, there were flames on stage, and the song is so energic... We were all jumping up. Than TIME FLIES, and the "B'z no LIVE-GYM ni yokoso!" MC. As juzzz said, Tak kept interrupting. So fun! Finally they said it altogheter, and MY LONELY TOWN started. Inaba sang it in the same way he did at Summer Sonic (I mean, struck at the mike).
The ballads begun with Kon'ya tsuki no mieru oka ni. It's one of my favourite ballads, so I was a little moved ♥ At the very end of PRAY, when the lyrics says "hotobashiru kono omoi dareka no tame ni/
afuredasu kono hibiki dareka no tame ni", Inaba took the mike and came to the arena, and made us sing with him. I can say he seemed really happy... He was smiling. I think he laughs a lot, but he doesn't smile often, so my little fangirl heart was doki-doki all around.
During TIME Inaba and Tak went to the very end of the stage, so everyone could see them better. Then Tiny Drops and OCEAN... The weakest part imho. I don't like Tiny Drops that much (and I'd preferred an acoustic or piano version, maybe by Tak, just to have someting new), and yes, I like OCEAN but I think it's just "plain" live (I had the same thought when I saw Glory Days). Anyway, they added a piano ending to OCEAN, with sound of waves in the background. Obviously it was because Tak and Koshi had to change costumes (I don't want to talk about Inaba's violet suit. My God, I'm still laughing at it XD), but it was a nice change.
I'd already seen in some live the green laser lights, and I knew LOVE PHANTOM was coming. Just amazing. I really loved the rap part, Inaba kept looking at the cameras and awww. During it, they moved again along the stage.
After LOVE PHANTOM, Inaba did a little talking, saying that tonight we had to create a new magic. It think he was referring to meaning of MAGIC's title. When we entered the Dome, they gave us a special issue of Be with! called "Be with?". In it there was an extract of an interview B'z did for Be with! nr.84. Here Inaba explained that MAGIC is referring to the special magic that can exist between man and woman. But between B'z and their fans it's another type of magic, and this is the reason why Live-Gym is called "Ain't no magic". I liked this explanation when I red it, and I liked Koshi for referring. They really care about us...
And than of course MAGIC started. The intro was slightly different from the album, and we had Inaba playing harmonica.
During Mayday! the stage started to move, and by the end had reached the b-stage, just in front of my seat ^^ I really liked Mayday! live, it's so energic. Than love me, I love you. Tak and Koshi kept moving around so that anyone could see them. It was a nice thing, if you ask me. And... ultra soul. Well, who doesn't love ultra soul? The entire public started jumping. I've seen various live performance of ultra soul, and as I thought it's just perfect to see on stage. We also had fires at the end ^^ Sadly, during this song the stage came back ç__ç
At this point another MC, to introduce members. I don't really understand why Inaba is the only one whose name isn't said XD I know everyone is aware of who he is, but everyone is also perfectly aware of who Tak is. I find it very funny...
Anyway, after introduction, supporting members started a music-only piece, and when Tak came in it turned into LOVE IS DEAD's intro. As I already said, this was my favourite number, so no surprise if I say it was fantastic. Perfect combination with music and words, and at the end an acute from Inaba that gave me thrills. Fangirling moment: Inaba was *so* hot here. He reminded me of FIREBALL performance on Hidden Gym, if you understand what I'm meaning.
With IT'S SHOWTIME we had some fireworks and lots of lights. I don't remember if it was here or during another song but I know I've seen Inaba crawling on stage, don't ask me why XD
On Freedom Train some platforms at the very end of the stage showed up, and B'z played most entirely on it. There also were a magaphone, I was hoping for it.
During Darenimo ienee, just before the bridge, a fake well came up. It was the "don't-tell-anyone well" or something similar. Inaba-san give us some hilarious moments speaking of Masuda's aerobic's class XD After that, Koshi sang the last part next to Tak - I really like when they do this type of things.
Than MOVE and Ai no bakudan. During Ai no bakudan first refrain, big bomb-like ballons were throw into the arena, and inside there were tons of little heart-shaped balloon. Maybe childish, but very very nice.
After the first part of long time no see Inaba stopped singing and did a bit of talking, saying that was the last song, that we're all friends and friends always meets again (I so hope for ç___ç).
The encore. Ai no mama ni... was ok, and Ichibu to zenbu - ballad version was touching (maybe Koshi said something before if but I don't remember XD). Immediately after the first chorus normal Ichibu to zenbu started, with some fireworks effects. And than the end ç___ç
While Hitori ja nai kara was playing Tak and Koshi make their way along the stage waveing and sending kisses. And that's all.
I don't think words can explain how good it was. Reading the setlist I was a bit perplexed by the 5 ballads, but I had the sensation that in this way the show didn't have slower parts before that. It was like a 2-hours rollercoaster.
And I really hope for a dvd but I think we have to wait at least until summer... It depends on when Inaba plains to release his solo album.
