Music Elixir
Eavesdrop on a conversation between two friends about their favorite Asian artists and music and how music is their tonic of life.
Music Elixir
Blissful Energy: BE:FIRST's Intimate NYC Show
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The electric buzz of anticipation filled the air as we stepped into the venue, determined not to miss our chance at BE:FIRST merch. What followed was a night of pure magic as the seven-member Japanese pop group delivered an unforgettable performance in New York City.
Standing in the merchandise line, screens displaying the concert's opening let us witness the explosive start with "Mainstream" – a perfect opener that set the tone for the night. When we finally entered the main space, what struck us immediately was how different this fan experience felt from other concerts. The crowd created a welcoming atmosphere that felt less like attending a show and more like friends gathering to enjoy music together.
Each member brought their distinct personality to the stage through both performance and fashion choices. Ryoki embodied his "bad boy" image in dark green with a cap, while Ryuhei caught every eye in sparkly hot pink. Junon's fluid, graceful movements contrasted with Sota's powerful dance breaks, showcasing the group's diverse talents. What truly amazed us was experiencing their individual styles while witnessing flawlessly synchronized choreography.
The intimate venue allowed for genuine connections between artists and fans. When members asked where people were from, you could hear individual responses – Boston, Colombia, Brazil, DC – creating moments impossible in stadium settings. We even spotted fans representing other fandoms, including ATINY and ARMY with their light sticks, showing a beautiful cross-fandom support system.
What made this concert particularly poignant was knowing it featured all seven members, including Ryoki, who will soon depart the group. During a brief moment addressing fans, he became visibly emotional, simply stating he wants to "live life" – words that resonated deeply with everyone present.
For anyone who hasn't experienced BE:FIRST live, we cannot recommend it enough. Their online presence, while impressive, doesn't capture the energy they bring to their live performance.
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DJ Panic Blog:
OK ASIA
Concert aftermath and sore throats
Speaker 1Welcome everybody to another episode of Music Elixir with me, sarah, and.
Speaker 2Miss DJ Panic with a very sore throat because I was yelling Boston constantly. My throat is a bit raspy today.
Speaker 1Minus two, but I think that's allergies as well. I yelled a lot too. Oh you did, and I was singing along.
Speaker 2Oh yeah, Especially with that song Scream. I think there I was like my voice is shocked, it's shocked, I'm done.
Speaker 1So, anyways, it's concert season, that's why yes.
Speaker 2Yes, yes, it is Because we were another, previously this one but at least they gave us a week to recover, but then we're going to have two more weeks to recover till our next concert, yes, which, of course, we're going to be screaming on top of our lungs as well, so, anyway. So, thank you, you everybody, for listening today. I'm not ending it just saying thank you for listening, if you're starting to listen now, you know? Yeah, thank you for joining us yes, thank you for joining us.
How we discovered Be First was coming
Speaker 2That's the one that I should be saying. So um date stamp today's episode. It is June 9th and it's the day after the. B-first tour.
Speaker 1Yes, in New York City.
Speaker 2Oh, my goodness. So, bestie, have reached out through our form. Thank you for using that, you know. If you don't know about the music elixir form, you can find it in the show notes. It will be on the bottom. You can send us requests. You can send any questions, comments and we'll be getting your comments and that's awesome, and this one is from besties because they they mentioned to us. I mean, we were remember. We're like, hey, they're coming, we gotta keep an eye on it?
Speaker 1yeah, sometime in january we saw an announcement and then it was like disappeared. Yeah, like what?
Speaker 2happened. I thought, you know, I'm like, when are they coming? And then one of the besties was saying, hey, b first is coming. It's not coming to boston, but they're going to new york. And I'm like, when did that happen?
Speaker 2when I'm like, sarah, we I don't know how we completely missed that announcement you know, it's because of the algorithm changes on all the social media, right, I mean we follow so many artists that probably is going crazy with us, so they're only showing us whatever is current for us yeah so if we just saw that be first announcement back in january and didn't go back to you know to check more of what they're doing, yeah, we totally missed it yeah well, thank you, besties, for always having you know, have our backs yeah, letting us know what's going on in the activities and that's that's awesome. So thank you, thank you, thank you, and we weren't sure we were gonna go right.
Speaker 1And then we were. We were actually planning on keeping it a surprise, but after the show last night we couldn't help but no yeah, send out a little, you know we were so excited it was so good oh my goodness.
Speaker 2Yes, so it was like we wanted to give it a surprise. But you know it was, it was so good.
Speaker 1Yeah, the energy, that concert Wow.
Speaker 2Wow, yes, completely different, like fan energy from like a previous, you know J-pop group that we saw, not J-rock, because that's a whole different animal.
Speaker 1That's a whole different energy.
Speaker 2But when it comes to the J-pop, at what um, what I have from the last last one I have interacted with and this one different fan mode, they're different type of fans. There's this. Why do I mean about different? It's just like a different energy. Okay, different energy, and it was lovely.
Speaker 1I found it very, very lovely well, this was, it was very, um, intimate. Yes, it was. It was lovely. I found it very, very lovely. Well, this was, it was very intimate. Yes, it was. It was like hanging out with your friends. You know what I mean. Your besties, I mean, yeah, you were just a bunch of you got together to go check out some music. You know what I mean?
Speaker 2Yeah, it was that the name of the fandom is so fitted for them. Yes, it is the name of the fandom is so fitted for them. Yes, it is, it's just the way that they are, and they were very, they were welcoming of, actually, people who were not japanese. Remember, we went to the merch line and there was this you know, this lady who, you know, we assume is from japan. We're like, oh my god, but okay, just to let everybody.
Speaker 1We got in a little bit late because something happened at the restaurant that we were at Well plus, there's some things going on in the city that we didn't know were happening. Holding up.
Speaker 2Well, you know my culture, the Puerto Rican parade is happening. So in Spanish I was just saying everybody who's Puerto Rican was there. I'm like sorry. I was just saying everybody who was there. I'm like sorry, I cannot join you this time, I'm going somewhere else.
Speaker 1But also the big rivalry Boston versus New York.
Speaker 2Oh my God, Baseball.
Speaker 1Yankees Red Sox was happening.
Speaker 2We were like what. What weekend we're like. Where is this to happen? We're not even a Red Sox fans, but they're just everywhere Every time you go. When we go to Boston, there's a game. Now, when we go to New York, there's a game. We're like what? We can't shake these people off. No, oh yeah, Okay.
Speaker 1So anyway. So yeah, so between restaurants and getting on trains and stuff just moving through the city oh my God, Crowds were incredible.
Speaker 2Well, because they had the, you know, some of the streets blocked for the parade, they were telling us, no, you got to go down two more blocks and then make a right. We're like, oh, can you just go through here?
Speaker 1You know we did.
Speaker 2We cut over on 45th instead of 43rd. Yeah, yeah, I was like can we just go through here, we're rebels, yeah, yeah, it's just because you were like you know, crossing a you know a new york cop and he's like what are you doing? Uh, crossing, no, this is blocked.
Speaker 1I was like okay, you're gonna go down two blocks and then, well, I was like there's an opening, like for people to walk through, so why are you? You know?
Speaker 2There wasn't construction, there was nothing, it was empty.
Speaker 1Yeah, I think she just wanted to give me attitude Because I looked confident in my yeah to talk back. I didn't actually talk back. She asked where we were going and I said down the street to the restaurant. And you said the name of that restaurant.
Speaker 2She was Puerto Rican. She was like, oh really. But let me tell you there was a lot of Puerto Ricans in there. Yes, there were. I am one. It was really good food. I don't know if I want to tell people the name we've already told them. Okay, then you know, but I'm not gonna say anything now. They have to go back a few episodes to find out what the restaurant that we love.
Speaker 1It was one of our previous concert experiences. We talked about it exactly so check you.
Speaker 2Check that out the amazing, amazing Cuban food we love. Every time we go over there, we're going to our restaurants. Our families are like man. We really want to. They're like too bad.
Speaker 1You guys got to go with us or what it's our hangout.
Speaker 2This is amazing. Mojitos Amazing. Oh my God, they're so tasty. Go down smooth.
Speaker 1All right, this is not a food digress. Yes, yeah, no, we digress so anyway. So, yeah, we wound up a little bit late, yes, and we were in the merch line right with some people, right. I felt kind of bad. The, the promoter, was out there going.
Speaker 2They're about to go on yeah, they're like you have two minutes, they're gonna be on in two minutes go in in the main room I'm like, uh, sorry, dude, I'm learning from the last time that we just didn't get any merch from the last one that we went to, and then we were kicking each other like dang it, we missed the merch.
Speaker 1Yeah, and they had merch yeah, it was like gone by the time. Yes, so we, yeah, we were like we're just gonna hang it up. There were other people so we were like we're all just gonna tough it it up. There were other people, so we were like we're all just going to tough it out.
Speaker 2Out here in the line. Yeah, nobody was moving. No, we're getting our merch now because later it will be chaos.
Speaker 1And it was no like three, four people got out of line, but for the most part the rest of us were like no, we're hanging here Right, getting our stuff.
Speaker 2We didn't miss anything because the bar where they had the merch, they had two big screen TVs and they were broadcasting the boys.
Speaker 1Yeah, they were showing it, so we were all facing that.
Speaker 2Exactly.
Speaker 1Exactly and when they started, I knew what they were going to start with. I knew it, you knew it.
Speaker 2I knew it. I knew it.
Speaker 1Okay, say it Mainstream. Yes, I knew it, I knew it. Okay, say it mainstream. Yes, and uh. So yeah, when it started like the stage was dark and then the lights popped on, yeah, and panic's like how many are there?
Speaker 2I know I'm yelling how many are there? So the lady was japanese. She was like oh my god. Of course she understood english, because I like how many are there? How many? You're like Connie, it's a six, I'm like no. And then the lights went up Seven, he's here. The lady's like clapping with us, yay.
Speaker 1She was so awesome. She looked genuinely excited too, and I was like there's seven.
Speaker 2She's like yay. Then we started dancing.
Speaker 1She was also dancing. We were the only three in line dancing While waiting for merch.
Speaker 2I am so happy about that.
The merch line experience
Speaker 1We were singing, but we were like. Happy, yeah, we were. Yeah, I'm sure, inside watching them actually doing it was amazing. But even seeing it on that screen, yeah, while waiting for our merch we're sorry, guys, but we wanted the merch we needed to get there. Amazing, the choreography they're singing, they sounded great, yeah, like, and what a powerful opener. Yes, because we talked about that song before, yeah, in one of our previous episodes, so we love it. So we were like they played a lot of songs that we love that we love and it was uh, yes, we were.
Speaker 2I was dancing, sarah was dancing, sarah was dancing and I was like why is not to dance? I'm like there were some people behind us that they were not dancing and I'm like why aren't you dancing? The bass is popping.
Speaker 1Yeah, well, I mean, you could feel that bass.
Speaker 2Oh, my God, yes Through the whole venue.
Speaker 1The place was shaking.
Speaker 2It was like you can feel it coming through. It reminded me of that Lady Gaga from Abracadabra. Oh yeah, yeah, you know, feel the beat on your feet. The world, you know the world's on fire. It just felt like that yeah it did.
Speaker 1I was like Lady Gaga, nah, like yeah, I understood what you said, but now in that concert, feeling it, it was like oh my, oh, my god yeah, the world's on fire and you're like what, just like this euphoria, love, love again, it's such a great song and it's such a powerful song to start with, but, like I said, I was like I know it's gonna be the first song and then. So I think we were. We were out there only for two songs. Right, it was only the first two that we were out there for.
Speaker 2Yeah, we were.
Speaker 1We will get our merch, yes.
Speaker 2So we got our merch, we got the T-shirt. Well, I got the T-shirt, the towel and, of course, the unique sticker for.
Speaker 1New York City, yes, the New.
Speaker 2York sticker. So that's cool. I'm assuming everybody had their own sticker. Well, I don't know. Yeah, I don't know. Besties, let us know if you were the ones in Europe, if you had your own sticker?
Speaker 1Out in California.
Speaker 2Yeah.
Speaker 1Like San Francisco, did you get one?
Speaker 2If any stop have like a unique, you know, like a unique merch.
Speaker 1I think it seems like something that they were doing and I like that. That's really cool when you have something Unique to the stop Just to you, you know. Yes, wow, you and the thousands of other people who were there, but you know, Because you can say I was in New York City for this, yeah, exactly.
Speaker 2It just lets you know. I mean, we love our band t-shirts with all the stops, because then you can say you know I was on this one, uh, but that sticker is so personalized, right meaning that I was there for that show and occasionally because we have been to very exclusive shows that were specific to an area we were so.
Speaker 1So it's been done, but usually with a T-shirt, not with a sticker, something like you can slap it on your car, stick it on your phone case.
Speaker 1It might be a little too big for that On your computer, your computer yeah, you know, your water bottle, you know, you know something that you can always have on you to show off that you were there. You know a T-, something that you can always have on you to show off that you're there. You know a t-shirt. You can wear it, and then you gotta throw it in the laundry and wait, you know, yeah. So it's really yeah, it's cool, I like it. Different approach to merchandising yes, which is awesome. You've got to be innovative because, like, the reason I didn't, I was like so torn but I didn't get the t-shirt because I'm like it's ridiculous how many t-shirts I have. Oh, I concert t-shirts, it's. So I'm trying to mix up my merch, right, you know like, whilst I had the pin and the key.
Speaker 2You know like I was like something different.
Speaker 1Yeah, so that's what I've been doing is trying to buy the odd.
Speaker 2Well, remember yesterday I said, well, I'm gonna do the same, and then I was like damn t-shirts calling my name it's like why you? It's like crying, why are you buying me? You always buy a t-shirt.
Speaker 1Buy me no, I was really. I was fighting it. I was fighting it, I almost went back but, the line at the end of the night was outrageous, oh yeah no.
Speaker 2so I was like, oh my god, that t-shirt is calling my name. That's ridiculous. It's like, why, why are you buying me? I'm like I'm like, okay, if, if, if the largest t-shirt fits me comfortably, then I'll get it. And then, when she pulls it out, I'm like, oh yeah, I'll get it. It's like the universe is like, yeah, get it, get it, come on, you want it, because then you'll be kicking yourself like you didn't get the T-shirt. No, yeah.
Speaker 1I'm sure I'll have concert remorse later when I'm like I don't have the t-shirt, but I've just been looking at my t-shirt and tote bag collections and I'm like, oh, your own psychology like it's like, yeah, you own your.
Speaker 2Your mind is your worst enemy. Because then you start thinking you know, this is like your first concert, this is your first be first concert. How can you not want to get the T-shirt? Also, you got to remember that it's the last concert with seven members. Right, I don't want to get down here, but we know the announcement that Yoki is not going to be with them until what? June 27? I forgot the date of his last date with the group.
Speaker 1Well, I think, after the show in hawaii okay, I think I'm not even sure if he's going to be part of that, but I thought they said, through the us stuff, right, so that would include hawaii, and then they're going back over to, like, I think, singapore, hong kong, and I think that that is where he is no longer going to be part of so again, you know, the psychology mind is like.
Speaker 2You know, this is like the beginning and an end of, uh, you know, of be first yeah, exactly. So I'm like oh, okay, I'm getting the t-shirt. So that's why I broke down and I'm like I'm getting the tissue well, see, but the the towel like yes that'll last forever.
Speaker 1Yes, t-shirts wear out and eventually depending on how much you're wearing, and if it becomes your favorite, then yes, it's gonna fade out.
Speaker 2It all depends.
Speaker 1Yeah, that's true, very true, since I have so many t-shirts just like I don't know I'm gonna wear, I'm trying, I'm trying to, like you know, justify and make myself feel better.
Speaker 2I know, no, you are, you are, you are, you are Sarah.
Speaker 1You are, I might end up having to go online and buy it.
Speaker 2No, you made the great decision, you did great. You're amazing. You didn't buy it. You did great. Don't become like me and like no, I got to have it and like cave and buy it anyways when I said I was not going to Hang in there. My friend, You're doing amazing. The struggle is real. Watch it for the next episode. Guess what I did? I went online and ordered oh, man, this is funny, I went online and ordered.
Speaker 1Oh man, oh, that's funny. So when we did, yeah, get in there, it was the third song by the time we got in there, because we missed, uh, mainstream and spacecraft, right. But um, like we were approaching the stage and I was like, oh my god, because we were really close on that side coming in, yeah and what I really liked was there were a lot of people, but the crowd was not like pushing on top of each other.
Be First's performance energy and style
Speaker 1And yeah, that's what I when I said this crowd was lovely yeah, because they were giving you your space so you can enjoy it so when we came in this little side entrance I mean we, it was off to the one far side of the stage obviously, cause we're just coming in. But even as we moved through, people like nobody nudged us, nobody gave us a dirty look, they just let us sort of weave our way around and it was. Yeah, it was so nice to not feel like you're in a mosh pit just because you want to try and get you know over to this little corner or whatever yeah.
Speaker 1Like for people not to assume that you're just trying to barge in front of them, right?
Speaker 2That's just what I said.
Speaker 1It was just lovely, it was a very lovely environment, but seeing them that close I was like, wow, they're right there.
Speaker 2They're right there. It's just a few feet apart. Oh my god, oh, and I. There's one fan out there that I was like so happy to see. There was a fan boy. Oh, there were a few. There was one that got my attention who was at that side, so I catch her, him, on a picture. So I was like, oh, there's a fan boy, I love it. He was amazing. He was waving out there in his hand, he was singing on top of his lungs. I'm like, oh my god, can we have more of this please? I love fan boys.
Speaker 1Well, there was actually the tall dad that I was like, oh, come on, really, the tall dad was with a fanboy son too, and same thing, he was like singing and waving his arms and, you know, taking pictures and filming. It was like his dad would lean over to be like, oh, you know, zoom in. I was like, oh, that's so cute, like dad and son having a good time. So, yes, there were, there were plenty of fanboys, along with all the fangirls. Yeah, there were fan families.
Speaker 2Yes, there were fan families.
Speaker 1That was unique too. That was unique to see, too Lots of little kids, yeah. I know I was like wow, the whole family, I know, I know, so that was awesome, that was awesome.
Speaker 2I was like, oh my, my god, this is like so two different fan experience. And that's why it's like, wow, this is really cool. Great interaction with fans, great crowd, of course, great performers.
Speaker 1Oh yeah, oh, my god they were so striking yes, on stage, that was like when we came around that corner and first I got the first glimpse of all of them up on the stage. It was so crisp and crystal clear. Like I was just blown away by how vivid everything looked, and I don't know if it's because, you know, they all had bright colored clothes and they all had their own little style going on, like it wasn't a uniform costume set up, it was just like they were all just hanging out in. There were individuals.
Speaker 2There are street clothes.
Speaker 1And that was one of the things we talked about sort of after the show. Right, I was like this is sort of like you know those guys you knew in high school who formed a band, and you decided to, you know, go out with everybody friday night to catch them at the local whatever auditorium call.
Speaker 2Yeah, yeah, yeah it was so.
Speaker 1So that's how the crowd felt. Like you said, very much like you were just hanging out with friends right and then it also felt like you were just going seeing your buddies perform yeah, at the local theater yeah, auditorium yeah, you know, those are usually open for everybody to use. So you know, you're just, you're going to see your buddies perform, you're hanging out with your friends and everybody's just having a good time and I think that that was why it was just so vivid and sharp.
Speaker 1Right, it was so real to me at that moment. Right, you know what I mean. Like, sometimes you go to a show and you're like this is so surreal, like how, how am I here and what's going on there?
Speaker 1was a little bit of that, but more of it was just like wow, this is so surreal, like how, how am I here and what's going on? There was a little bit of that, but more of it was just like wow, this is just so. We're here in this moment. It's real, it's happening and this is awesome.
Speaker 2Yeah.
Speaker 1Like there was no yeah Sort of moment of am I dreaming, Right? I was like, woo, I'm right here with yes, and the energy in the whole place was just so amazing.
Speaker 2Amazing. Yes, yes, yes and yes, my girl. Yes, my friend, my friend. It was great. It was great. I was telling people if you heard Boston, it was me.
Speaker 1Not just Boston it was Boston.
Speaker 2Yeah, very screechy and probably didn't even hear the word Boston. I'm stuck. My energy was so pent up that I was just like that's why my throat hurts. I said I'm leaving a mark here.
Speaker 1Every time you did it, though, I just busted out laughing.
Speaker 2I think I scared two ladies Because they kept moving up front.
Speaker 1They're like my ears are going to bump the first time, that's why I was laughing, and then it was just so funny because you I did yell out a couple of members' names. Yes, you did. Yeah, yogi and Leanna Toe and Yorick Junon, those three guys behind us, they were doing it too, they went.
Speaker 2You know why they went behind us? Because we were saying it, so it's like let's come over here.
Speaker 1These ladies are actually like we're doing the yelling so you think they were making fun of us I think so.
Speaker 2They're either making fun of us or they're like let's just come over here, because this is like the rowdy crowd.
Speaker 1Yeah, they're crazy fans.
Speaker 2Whatever, you know what If they were laughing at us or having? I'm glad that they're having fun with us, you know.
Speaker 1We made someone's night right Exactly. If we were entertaining, exactly, that's great. Or if they were joining in the fun, that's great too Well hello, entertaining exactly, that's great.
Speaker 2Or if they were joining in the fun, that's great too well, hello, I'm gonna keep saying we're fangirl comedians hello, we're definitely gonna put a placard on that. If you listen to the last episode, sarah put a snippet of us talking about being fangirl comedians. It's not really on our title somewhere, but you know what? Let's start doing that comedians it's not really on our title somewhere, but you know what?
Speaker 2let's start doing that yeah, no, that's true, we brought it up very early in our stuff but we never put it into our title. Yeah right, yeah, we're fangirl comedians. We don't do stand-up, we do it here in the podcast so you can listen here. Listen to it but of course we bring it everywhere and the guys behind us, they're like okay, we come over here and make fun of these ladies and I'm like I don't care, yell out the boys, because we want as much support as we can, because yeah, that's a hype.
Speaker 1You're hyping them. And there were fanboys. You may think you're, you may think you're being funny, but you're hyping them. I'm bringing in the fanboys come, come on here.
Speaker 2Start yelling names. Come on, even though you're making fun, I don't care, you're still yelling out his name and people are liking it. Come on, mm-hmm. Yeah, hey, you know, with us we kind of bring that positive energy. Mm-hmm, it's just magnetism, it just happens.
Speaker 1Well, we love live shows, yes, and whether sometimes we are feeding the energy, sometimes we're feeding off the energy, sometimes we're doing a little both, but yeah, so this was definitely a like. The energy was just so good in that place that we felt free to be. I was singing along, I was doing the hand moves.
Speaker 2You're yelling, bastard you know it was. You know I get we, I get hot easy, you get hot easy. You were like man, it's hot in here and today I thought one of, uh, one of the fans of one of my ok asia fans they have sent me hand fans yes so I was like, oh my goodness, why don't I bring one with me all the time when it comes to concerts like I?
Speaker 2well, for another concert it wasn't too hot, so I didn't bring it with, but then I should have anyways. So I'm like, oh, wait a minute, I have a fan, bring it out, and I'm like fanning myself fanning sarah too, and sarah's like oh I did, you did you feel cool?
Speaker 2yes, okay, because I'm like I'm moving the fan with the beat and I'm like dancing with the fan, dancing on my feet, and I'm like hey, hey, hey, hey. Now, if anybody was out there and heard a lot of a, a, a, that was me too. You were near me. So if you're listening to the podcast and you hear this, hey, that was me, yeah.
Speaker 1I was mostly just woohoo. Yeah, yeah, I'm a woohoo-er.
Speaker 2You know I was a woohoo-er, but I just, I don't know, pass on to another.
Speaker 1Well, hey, hey is a little easier on your throat than the woo-hoos and the straight up.
Speaker 2I've been listening to a lot of reggaeton and Lobo and they're like A. So I'm like, yeah, that's true, I'm doing some. Family is like since when you started doing A.
Speaker 1I might adopt that too. That's because I I was just thinking, I was like it really is, it's easier on the throat, yeah, and you was just thinking about it. I was like it really is, it's easier on the throat, yeah, and you can be loud with it, ay, ay, ay. I mean, you know I sat back for that and it still showed up. So there you go.
Speaker 2There you go.
Speaker 1I'll have to remember that.
Speaker 2Yes, we're still doing the A's. We're going to be. Remember that. Yes, we're sure doing the a's, we're gonna be. I have an idea for our next concert, oh okay. Yeah, all right, I'm not saying it here yet, but you know I gotta talk to you about it okay, yeah, no, there was a couple of things I was thinking of after this one too.
Speaker 1I was like oh it was so small and intimate we could have been, could have been like all kinds of things could have been happening.
Speaker 2I do want to say, of course, again when I said that the fans were lovely and these are besties, like, they're like besties. The other fandom, like helped, we saw the 18-y was there and an army bomb.
Speaker 1Oh, yeah, yeah, yeah, I'm like what this is so cool, I know.
Speaker 2You're like, hey, is that an army bomb? I'm like, why? Yes, it is. I was like what you know? It's like, yeah, they're army, but they're also fans. This is like we're here also representing. We love you guys. That is so cool. And some eight you know 80s fans, which that was cool, and you know there was a few, like you know, light sticks for for that, for the group as well.
Speaker 1Yes, there were. It's a cool one too. I like that Right. Why weren't they selling?
Speaker 2I don't know if it because it's their first tour. There was no light sticks for them.
Speaker 1Yeah.
Speaker 2That you know, seeing what works, what doesn't work, what actually sell. If they go for me, I bought everything. So you know. I do want to say that by the New York show the small size T-shirt was sold out, yeah.
Speaker 1Which is unique, unique.
Speaker 2Yes, it is so, so, um, but yeah, lovely concert. They ended the show with uh, blissful, everybody was singing to that I was singing to the. I was doing the moves to to the left to the right which we also talked about the song. It was so positive vibes awesome. They ended up with a positive vibes new to us, there was no encore right.
Speaker 1Well, like I said, it was sort of like I felt sort of like, you know. They stopped and talked for a few minutes and then they did two more songs, blissful and oh, what was before it, was it their new one?
Speaker 2no, no, no, no.
Speaker 1Grit was somewhere in the middle yeah, now I can't remember what it was, because now we're getting the concert at mija yes, I know they played like a lot of the the ones that we have talked about sos sos we love sos gifted of course master plan I think I already mentioned that you know so.
Speaker 1So the ones that were really, really familiar with, but. I liked grit a lot. That was a lot of fun when they did that, I just gotta say, like ryoki's insane rap, like he's the insane rap guy for them, yes, but I think that maybe sota can pick up the slack on that, because he came a close second and his dancing. We're talking about the unit.
Speaker 2You know the rap unit and the, yeah, the vocals, yeah, but the rap unit it's good, we know. You know you, we love our rappers. We love our rappers Absolutely. You know, and yeah, rocky is a powerhouse of a you know, of a musician, of a talent, actually everybody, but when I don't know if it was just the energy or just being in there, but he had a different like I'm bringing it. Yeah, you know, he's always had that.
Exploring the unique fan environment
Speaker 1He's like the bad boy of the group yeah, he's always had that image, so his style of rap fits that, yeah, and like he's aggressive and he's fierce, yeah. But like I said, sota, yeah, very good too. And his dancing blew me away. Every time he came to front and center was like oh my god, and junon he was. I was like I can't even describe how fluid he was. He's. He's like um, like a one of those giant soap bubbles that for a minute is all undulating and moving around and then it becomes this perfect circle of just grace and beauty. I was like, how is he so perfect? Cause he's got that great voice too.
Speaker 1I was like you know, he was always like sort of the one that caught my eye, but in this live show I was like drawn to him and sota, because the two of them, their dancing was so on point, oh my god. And for one to be like the vocalist and one the rapper, right, you know, like they sort of juxtapose each other, but they, oh, I could watch the two of them forever.
Speaker 2Everybody else was great too I they were, but for some reason those two caught your eye like yeah, yeah, there's something that you were like.
Speaker 1I'm mesmerized by you yep, and but like I mean, leo was very humorous and personable. Um, manato, I loved his hair. Yeah, I love that new hair. Oh my god, and same thing like very good energy. He was very playful with the crowd. Yes, uh, he was happy to see people from, you know, all over. He was like one of the first ones to be like where's everybody from? Yeah, and I mean so, yeah, no, they were all all great. So, but those two, yes, I I just have to say, if you're gonna go see them, you're gonna like right, be blown away right by sota's like whoa, whoa many episodes ago.
Speaker 2This is like when we were talking about k-con. Remember there was one group that I was like, uh, blah, blah, blah is coming I forgot the name of the group, which, which right now, well they're. They're not acting anymore, but I remember seeing their video and I was like but then I saw them live and I'm like, oh my god, I'm blown away, like they're completely different. You need to experience this live. Oh yeah, you can really appreciate their talent, how they really interact with the crowd and how they move, how they sound, because you know, when you see on a you know video it's completely different because it's edited and you know, make it sound pretty and look pretty. But you need to look at the artist performing. But for be first, they're always being good. I mean, you're like what you see on videos and what you see when they interact on youtube, it's like, yeah, they, they're fun, they're cool, awesome vocals. You know great performers, but seeing them live, it's like, oh my God, is that like 50 times better?
Speaker 1You know Well and you know what is kind of funny is when we were watching the unit stuff and the rappers are Sota, ryokei and Shunto. It's funny because Shunto is actually like the vocalist of the rappers. Yeah, I found his rap more melodious, melodic than the other two, so that was interesting too. Was like it wasn't just a bunch of angry rappers out there, right, not?
Speaker 2that in your face.
Speaker 1Like we, know he brought this like suave to gentle, but yeah yes, very smooth rapper but there were a couple of times later where he was like the in your face, yeah, but it was just. It was very interesting to see that dynamic in the in the little groups. Yes, because same thing with the, the vocals like leo was a little more aggressive vocally, you know and yeah and monito a little too.
Speaker 1Junon's just always beautiful. You know vocals, beautiful vocals. Everybody can tell who my bias is right, but it's starting after seeing them. And this is what happens. Yeah, once you see them live, yes, everything changes.
Speaker 2Yes, your bias changes.
Speaker 1It's like because of a video. You know is an organized stage, scripted little right. You know everybody has their place, they need to be and they got to look a certain way. When you're watching them live, you're seeing their personality come, even with the choreography. You're seeing their personality come through, right, it's awesome. And I think Ruhe blew out his microphone during a dance move because he had it in the hand that he put down on the floor and then he's like, oh, my mic's not working, boy, you're breaking equipment.
Speaker 1It's how you know. He's the youngest.
Speaker 2He's like coming out of your paycheck. You got to work for it. Boo Breaking equipment.
Speaker 1But he was. He was super cute, though, oh yeah.
Speaker 2Of course.
Speaker 1He's the baby and he was just. I think he was pulling his baby card. A lot yeah.
Speaker 2But come on visuals on him, because he's the baby. Oh, my God.
Speaker 1Plus, he was wearing that bright pink shirt. I think they did that on purpose. Sparkles, that's why?
Speaker 2that's why I kept looking at him and I'm like why are you putting shiny and pink on yourself so you'll be like? Look at me, it's like a moth going towards the light. It's like I know there's other members, but why are you wearing my favorite color and sparkles on top of it?
Speaker 1I know the sequence.
Speaker 2Those always draw me in see, so when he'll come in like there was some move, that he's like center stage and I'm like oh man, okay, so the other one's like disappear when you put him right there and I'm like oh cute, well, well, it's so funny right though, because, like shinto was wearing red, which is a very but it, it was a patterned yeah, patterned shirt.
Speaker 1That was mostly red, yeah, it was more muted, so so it was striking, but like, yeah, that hot pink with sequins, yeah, they knew what they were doing.
Speaker 2I don't know, if I want to know if they picked their own outfits right or they had a stylist and said, no, you're gonna wear this and you're gonna wear it, you know yeah oh, that's true I don't know, because uh two of the rappers were wearing green, because uh ryoki was wearing that dark green kind of like the sports jersey yeah, at first I thought it was black, but then, when the right depending on the lighting.
Speaker 1There was one time where yeah, and he was wearing a baseball.
Speaker 2You know a cap. So it's like again the bad boy. You know where's the cab and yeah, and it was.
Ryoki's departure and final thoughts
Speaker 1It was like angel wings on the the shirt, so or wings of some sort, the black angel yeah, exactly, yeah, could be a devil, could be a. Yeah, yeah, I don't know anything, but you know they, yeah, they yeah, anyways, but yeah, they did they it.
Speaker 1It seemed sort of like this was maybe all their own style, maybe they had a bunch of clothes to choose from and they just picked them. I don't know. But that'll be cool, but it was. It was awesome again. That just led to the whole feeling of just being amongst friends, watching friends, you know.
Speaker 2Yeah, like there was no costume change, which we're kind of used to from other groups yeah, from unless you're on this more bands. They don't do costume change, but I mean when it comes to like.
Speaker 1Sometimes lead singers go off and change. The rest of the band stays, but a lot of times if there's just a singer, they'll go off and do stuff.
Speaker 2Well, I guess it all depends, yeah, but now that I remember not current though- not not recently, but one of the ones we've seen before.
Speaker 1Their lead singer did go out and change and come back who was it? Who was that? You know who. We just saw them recently. He didn't costume change, not this time, but two years ago. He did, oh, he was wearing some stuff that were like boo, you're gonna be hot you're gonna be stripping, and that's what he did exactly he learned his lesson. Yeah, other other groups do it because, like, the lead singer will go out to put on some of the tour merch yeah and you know, or to match the vibe of the songs.
Speaker 1But these guys again, they were just your buddies from high school who formed a band and wanted you to all come see them and they're like I just put on whatever mom washed today.
Speaker 2My mom bedazzled this shirt for me, it was cute. Yeah, it was very cute. No, it was awesome. Yeah, it was awesome. It was a different vibe. It's positive vibes, it was. So lovely. I'm just going to keep saying that word lovely, it just was lovely.
Speaker 1What I liked, too, is they genuinely seemed happy, like they were just having a good time, and I think that part of this was also.
Speaker 2it was sort of more um, low pressure yes the being a smaller venue, being a smaller crowd it's a smaller production than, of course, being in japan. Of course, yeah, definitely um different, different mood. We have noticed that, actually, that when our favorites come from either japan, korea, whatever, and they come perform in the us, they're completely more, they're relaxed, they're like there's no rules here we can't do this and that and you can feel it.
Speaker 2Yeah, actually some act fans from those countries. They come here because of that Right, because their energy is so different, the attitude is so different and they love seeing that.
Speaker 1Yeah Well, it's like seeing a whole different band or group. You know you're like when they're just out there being themselves and enjoying the interactions and the feel of it. Again, we've gone to so many huge stadium tours but we've also gone to a lot of smaller venues like this, and when you're in these smaller venues as the audience, you feel closer to the band because you are but like you feel seen and are but you feel seen and I think the artists feel seen Right Because the audience is right there. In a big stadium usually they've got the barricades and it's just this sea of movement out in front of them. They can't see individual people unless they go down to the you know.
Speaker 1So it's, I think, uh, just more personal for everybody. Yeah, because you, you have this intimate setting and you're right there with each other. You can see each other, you can hear you know they could hear where people when they were like where is everybody from? You know, it's not this 10 000 people yelling, where is everybody from? You know, it's not this 10,000 people yelling where they're from at once. Exactly you could hear you yell in Boston and people who are like you know?
Speaker 2Yeah, there was one from Colombia. Yeah, I think I heard Brazil as well, DC yeah. Dc. Oh, yeah, the people that you know. Unfortunately, those shows got canceled, but they got a complimentary ticket where those that were able to be at that show they were there, philadelphia, there was a few people there, yeah, uh, yeah, like you said, dc and and um. Well, chicago.
Speaker 1In chicago, some people from chicago did come out. Yeah, I would have hated. See, there was a lot of people going.
Speaker 2Yeah, there was a large crowd from dcC, so that's cool.
Speaker 1But, yeah, there were definitely, though, people from all over there and, considering it was a small venue, that's incredible too, so it was just amazing. It was so much fun. I'm glad we got to see the Seven. Yes, that was amazing. Yes, yeah, no, this was just.
Speaker 2We were very fortunate that we get to see the seven. We were fortunate to be there. We uh, they are fortunate to see these seven members. You know, be there. Ryoki tried to say some words, but we can tell he was trying, he was starting to choke up, um, but he just, I just want to, you know, live life, just live life. And I think that's what he could have said.
Speaker 2So I was like oh man, if you're gonna start crying, I'm gonna start crying because I cannot see that especially yeah no especially with him, you know he was he was one of my favorites and I'm like, of course, when he shaved his head and he had that crew cut, I'm like, yeah, you really want to stand up. You have a mind of your own. I can see it. I like that. You want to stand out from everybody else, even from your own bandmates. I get that and he's a great. He's a great. This is great talent. He writes his rap is good. He I mean his performer as a performer as a whole, he is good. I just wish him luck. If he is first gonna pursue a solo career, I will follow him. I want to see what he has to bring, what he's going to be bringing, because he is a great talent.
Speaker 1He is Sorry. It's been so long since we did it. I had to look up his Zodiac sign. He's a Taurus, so that's headstrong, you know, yes, so makes sense.
Speaker 1Oh yeah, I had to go go quick look up what. What is he? Because I was almost like is he a virgo? Because that's kind of virgo behavior too. But right, he's a taurus, which is also another very strong bulldozing personality. So, yeah, yeah, no, this was an amazing opportunity, definitely, yeah, glad we, because we weren't sure we were going to be able to do it, weren't sure we could pull it off, but we were able to get there it was awesome.
Speaker 1Despite our struggles between, you know, the Puerto Rican culture day and the Red Sox versus Yankees, we managed to get there lately, when we're going to events. Plus all the construction.
Speaker 2Oh jeez, Everywhere Construction in Massachusetts, construction in Connecticut.
Speaker 1New.
Speaker 2York is always under construction.
Speaker 1So it's like I think this time it's just a parade. You know, we overcame many obstacles to get there, god but it was worth it.
Speaker 2We did not forget the merch I'm proud of that. Yeah, yes, but I mean you know, the venue was so good enough that it had screens where we just were able to watch it there for a bit until we got into the main room but yeah, now that's and gee, and I like the website.
Speaker 1I've never been there. I thought I had me, neither I. I was like no, I think I've been there, but I have not no, I have not.
Speaker 2Just that was my first time like I have heard of it, but never been there yeah, no, I liked it I liked it me too easy to get to too yeah, yeah. Surprisingly, yeah, and if you're a Beastie Boy fan, which I don't know, if you are 14th Street, if you know that song. Anyways, all right. So thank you everybody for listening to our Be First US Tour recap experience.
Speaker 1Specifically New York City experience.
Speaker 2I'm putting it out there in the universe that we are hoping for a Boston tour, since I was just yelling out Boston and you know well.
Speaker 1Plus, we mention it every single time and I know, come to Boston.
Speaker 2Besties, help us out. You have helped us before, I'm sure you can help us again on bringing the boys to boston. Yes, definitely. If that is to happen, I have a plan a master plan.
Speaker 1I have a master plan yeah, okay with my cat hole at the end. Oh yeah, the woo woo here, major I was just thinking of, of the uh when we were earlier we were talking about. I had said, uh, I would love to go check them out in Hawaii, but it would be too hot. Panic says, yeah, the Be First, you'd need to be naked, yep. So we're like the Be First, be naked tour, yeah.
Speaker 1It's so damn hot in Hawaii, it's just going to be you know, yeah, June in Hawaii is going to be a lot Please in Puerto Rico right now it's like insufferable, I can't, I can't deal.
Speaker 2Just being it's going to be saying in Hawaii oh yeah, I know.
Speaker 1Well, I was there in September, when it's supposed to be cool, and it was hot.
Speaker 2You know, I went to Puerto Rico in December and I was like, why is it so hot here? Ma it's nice.
Speaker 1I think you and I just have a problem with heat or something we do not like, because I've done that. I've been in florida in december and been like, it's like 85 degrees, what?
Episode wrap-up and fan appreciation
Speaker 2the hell. No, I lived in florida for many years and I was always inside a mall. Uh, my apartment was always air conditioned. Um that, when there was well.
Speaker 1People are like it cools down in the winter. I'm like it does not. You may think it gets cool.
Speaker 2That is not cool I lived in south florida, which is the hottest part of florida, apparently, and, uh, when it was the cooler time, maybe a couple of days, but I mean not really now I don't even know, because it's been many years since. I don't. You know, I will die in Massachusetts, but anyways, no, no, I don't know.
Speaker 1Even for the beginning of June, New York was hot yesterday.
Speaker 2Oh, oh yeah.
Speaker 1Maybe it's just us.
Speaker 2I don't know. And now we're over here, okinawa, we love to go there. No, that's going to be insane. I mean, already Japan is hot during the summer, I know Okinawa, then we really be naked.
Speaker 1Oh my God. Okay, enough with the silliness. Yes, we're definitely. Anyone who hasn't seen. Be First, be first. Yes, but you're going to a show, you're in for a treat? Yes, it's just so good, they're so good yes, so please enjoy yourself.
Speaker 2Yeah, enjoy an amazing, lovely fandom when you go to one of their shows.
Speaker 1All right besties, so so well, please rate, review and share, share share.
Speaker 2Please rate review and yes share share, share. Yeah, I posted something on Twitter and you guys have been sharing it and I just want to say thank you, thank you, thank you. Tomo arigato gozaimasu. Lovely, I'm telling you. This fandom is just so lovely.
Speaker 1Could you please be so kind and give us five stars, because we love our constellations yes, as you can tell from me looking up of course, what was inside, right of course.
Speaker 2can you please be a subscriber? We know we have a couple who are a subscriber. We know we have a couple who are besties who are subscribers. Yes, thank you See.
Speaker 1Because you're helping us maintain this podcast. You're helping us keep the archives of all the previous episodes, including those that we've done on Be First, from two years ago.
Speaker 2Yes, our first episode was two years ago. Wow, on June 18th 2023.
Speaker 1Wow so almost exactly two years ago. Wow, on june 18th 2023. Wow so almost exactly two years exactly exactly what girl what?
Speaker 2are the odds I know, two years ago we talked about them, two years now we get to see them later.
Speaker 1We get to see them, yeah, and then the episode, I mean war yeah, wow, wow, wow, wow. I know everybody's like they are woo-woo.
Speaker 2Oh my, we are woo-woo. And when we say here may not happen, next episode May not happen, it will happen. It's out there in the universe. Yes. Yes, yes, yes yes, anyways, all right, so until next time, bye-bye, bye anyways, alright, so until next time, bye, bye.