LIVE-GYM: Difference between revisions
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==Home Video Releases== | ==Home Video Releases== | ||
Prior to the advent of DVD and the widespread adoption of the home video market, B'z were very selective about [[B'z Home Videos|home video]] releases. Releases generally came once every two to three years, often covering major, hallmark tours. Although this was the case, B'z has filmed virtually every tour and event to date. | |||
Beginning in 2006 with ''[[B'z LIVE-GYM 2006 "MONSTER'S GARAGE" (Home Video)]]'', B'z have released all of their tours on home video within a year of the tour's conclusion. With the introduction of Blu-ray technology in latter years, B'z began releasing all of their recent LIVE-GYMs on both DVD and Blu-ray simultaneously, with select older tours filmed in high definition also being re-issued on Blu-ray. To date, every B'z home video is available on DVD apart from the first two, ''[[FILM RISKY]]'' and ''[[JUST ANOTHER LIFE]]''—the latter of which covers [[B'z LIVE-GYM "Pleasure'91]]—, which were available only on VHS and LaserDisc and are now considered out of print. | |||
==List of B'z LIVE-GYMs== | ==List of B'z LIVE-GYMs== | ||
Revision as of 23:20, 15 September 2013
LIVE-GYM is the moniker used for live concerts featuring B'z. Invented by the members as a combination of "live" and an abbreviation of the English word "gymnasium" due to the band wanting to perform with the high-energy that one would expect from a sports event, the word has become synonymous and interchangeable when referring to B'z concerts. Shows featuring the band are characterized by their high-energy, consistent quality, and state of the art production value. LIVE-GYM concerts all over Japan are known to sell out no matter the size of the venue, with B'z routinely selling out the nation's largest domes in record time.
Since the band's first tours that carried the title "LIVE-GYM", most that followed have been labeled as such as well, with the only exceptions being special events and SHOWCASE concerts. SHOWCASE events allow the band to take a break from large-scale venues and venture out to see fans at smaller, more intimate venues, where the setlists typically include a great many scarcely-performed songs. Generally, these are often played as warm-ups to larger LIVE-GYM concerts as well as a means of still touring for fans even when a major album promotion isn't in order, especially in areas of Japan that the band have not visited previously or have not visited in some time.
In addition to sold-out shows all over their home country, B'z has also performed internationally in the United States, Canada, Taipei, and Hong Kong.
History
Format
A LIVE-GYM usually contains roughly 20 songs and lasts around two and a half hours. At virtually every show, generally immediately prior to the third song of a given setlist, a skit is generally played out on stage leading up to Koshi announcing "Welcome to the B'z LIVE-GYM" (B'z LIVE-GYM ni yoko so). For SHOWCASE events, this may be changed to "Welcome to the B'z SHOWCASE" (B'z SHOWCASE ni yoko so). Throughout the setlist, at specific intervals, Koshi and Tak will engage in MC sessions related to specific songs prior to performing them. Lastly, at the end of each show, Koshi customarily leads the band into a heave with the crowd replying by shouting "Okutskure" (Well done), a customary parting in Japanese culture following business transactions. Afterward, an "Ending SE" as it is known in Japan is played to the crowd over the speakers as the support members leave and Tak and Koshi wave and bow to the audience while roaming the stage for its duration. The "Ending SE" has generally been that of an unreleased song or instrumental at the time of its inclusion, usually ensuring its release in the near future as a B-side or album song.
Songs
Types of B'z Tours
After more than a quarter century of performing, B'z has amassed a varied history of live concerts that have come in a number of different types. These tours typically fall into one of three categories:
Album Tours
The most common LIVE-GYM tours by the band, carried out in support of their then-latest studio album, such as B'z LIVE-GYM 2006 "MONSTER'S GARAGE" and their 2006 studio album, MONSTER. These shows typically result in a setlist that blends about 75-80% of the titular album's songs with a selection of the band's past hits and gems.
Pleasure Tours
Beginning in 1991 with B'z LIVE-GYM "Pleasure'91", B'z began touring occasional "Pleasure" LIVE-GYMs that were not tied to an album or similar source. Instead, they were more of a celebration of the band's entire catalogue and as such can be seen as "greatest hits" shows instead. Singles and special songs released on albums contemporary with a given tour can usually be found in the setlist in question. For example, the bonus songs included on B'z The Best "ULTRA Treasure" in 2008 ("Glory Days" and "Itsuka Mata Koko de") were also performed during B'z LIVE-GYM Pleasure 2008 -GLORY DAYS- the same year.
SHOWCASE Tours
These events are generally one-off warm-ups that take place at smaller, more intimate settings in front of local crowds. Occasionally, these will feature a handful of performances at various dates that may or may not be tied to larger tours by the band. Often, B'z use SHOWCASE events to play obscure fan-favorites and crowd-pleasers from older albums and other releases that are rarely played live.
Home Video Releases
Prior to the advent of DVD and the widespread adoption of the home video market, B'z were very selective about home video releases. Releases generally came once every two to three years, often covering major, hallmark tours. Although this was the case, B'z has filmed virtually every tour and event to date.
Beginning in 2006 with B'z LIVE-GYM 2006 "MONSTER'S GARAGE" (Home Video), B'z have released all of their tours on home video within a year of the tour's conclusion. With the introduction of Blu-ray technology in latter years, B'z began releasing all of their recent LIVE-GYMs on both DVD and Blu-ray simultaneously, with select older tours filmed in high definition also being re-issued on Blu-ray. To date, every B'z home video is available on DVD apart from the first two, FILM RISKY and JUST ANOTHER LIFE—the latter of which covers B'z LIVE-GYM "Pleasure'91—, which were available only on VHS and LaserDisc and are now considered out of print.
List of B'z LIVE-GYMs
Listed here are LIVE-GYM tours held by B'z. Preview shows and SHOWCASE events that were used as warm-ups and openings to larger tours are not highlighted here, instead being mentioned in the corresponding Concurrent Events section for each tour. Additionally, festival appearances and related events are included in the same vain outside of special exceptions.
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The band's 25th anniversary tour. The tour was preceded by SHOWCASE 2013 -Pleasure75- and began shortly after the release of the B'z The Best XXV collections. New songs "Q&A", "Utopia" and "Kakushin" from the albums all received their LIVE-GYM debuts. Several obscure album songs were revived for the hall portion of the tour, with the dome leg featuring the likes of "LOVE PHANTOM", "C'mon", "Ichibu to Zenbu", a revival of "Aikawarazu na Bokura", and classics such as "RUN", "ALONE", and "TIME". Concurrent Events: B'z SHOWCASE 2013 -Pleasure75-, Aerosonic |
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Tour information Concurrent Events: Pepsi NEX presents B'z PREMIUM LIVE, B'z LIVE-GYM 2012 -Into Free- EXTRA |
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Tour information Concurrent Events: Pepsi NEX presents B'z 1DAY LIVE, TV Asahi Dream Festival 2011 |
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Tour information Concurrent Events: Music for Relief's Secret Show for Japan |
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Tour information Concurrent Events: Summer Sonic 09 |
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Tour information Concurrent Events: B'z SHOWCASE 2008 -Kiyotake ACTION- |
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Tour information Concurrent Events: Summer Sonic 07 |
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Tour information Concurrent Events: B'z SHOWCASE 2006 "Yokosuka MONSTER" |
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Tour information Concurrent Events: B'z SHOWCASE 2005 "Abashiri EXTRA Edition" |
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Tour information Concurrent Events: B'z SHOWCASE 2003 "BIG MACHINE" |
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Tour information Concurrent Events: B'z SHOWCASE 2003 "IT'S SHOWCASE!!" |
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Tour information Concurrent Events: B'z LIVE-GYM 2002 "Rock n' California Roll in Tokyo" |
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Tour information Concurrent Events: 2002 FIFA World Cup International Day Concert, B'z SHOWCASE "SAPPORO DEVIL", B'z LIVE-GYM 2002 "GREEN ~GO★FIGHT★WIN~" -Preview- |
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Tour information Concurrent Events: B'z SHOWCASE "Kobushi wo Nigire" |
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Unreleased | |
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Tour information Concurrent Events: B'z LIVE-GYM Pleasure 2000 "juice" -Preview-, "juice" PV Shoot Guerrilla Live |
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Tour information Concurrent Events: B'z LIVE-GYM '99 -Brotherhood- SHOWCASE "B'zepp", B'z LIVE-GYM '99 "Brotherhood" -Intermission-, B'z LIVE-GYM '99 "Brotherhood" -Extra- |
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Tour information Concurrent Events: B'z SHOWCASE "GO! GO! HEAVEN", B'z LIVE-GYM '98 "SURVIVE" -Preview- |
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Tour information |
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Tour information Concurrent Events: B'z LIVE-GYM '96 "Spirit LOOSE" SHOWCASE |
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B'z LIVE-GYM '94 |
Tour information Concurrent Events: Merry X'Mas SECRET GIG |
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Unreleased | |
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Unreleased | |
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Unreleased | |
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Unreleased | |
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Tour information Concurrent Events: B'z LIVE-GYM #00 "OFF THE LOCK", B'z BAD-CLUB GYM, B'z CAMPUS-GYM "OFF THE LOCK" |
Unreleased | |
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SF Rock Station Final Event |
Tour information |
Unreleased |
International Tours
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