I couldn't agree more.
I'm sad to hear that you had a bad experience with YMCK. I'm a big fan and have seen them at least 6 times.
I think there were never explicit "no photos" announcements, except for an in-store live at Tower Records (understandable).
Perhaps this time it was because the show was to hold some secret sauce (I guess they must have some new material), or because of the promoters or venue... or maybe a new policy of theirs, though I don't know what they'd want to hide since there are already hundreds of photos of them all over the net.
I sure am with you that photos should be allowed at indies shows, as long as photographers respect the audience (no flashes, no keitai camera that makes sound).
As for their show not bringing much more to their recorded music, I agree that most of it is pre-recorded, but I guess the complexity of their works doesn't leave much that could be performed live. The last times I saw them they had added some live solos and such.
On the other hand I think their visuals are very enjoyable, mainly their sync'd videos and Midori's cute outfits and smile.
Maybe I'm just easy to please, but I always had a fun time at their shows.
I hope you'll give them another chance sometime, and hopefully photos will be allowed then so that you can report as you wish.
It's bollocks really, isn't it? Bands in Japan, or at least labels, are utterly anal about photos. Perhaps there's some deeply-rooted superstition that it shaves a half-percentage point off your company's share index every time one of your artists is photographed. YMCK's shows are just them doing karaoke over their own promotional videos though, so it's not like you missed The Sex Pistols' at the Manchester Free Trade Hall or anything.
JE, Thanks. Great photos on your site, by the way.
Patrick, Thanks for your long note. No, I don't know if that was a typical YMCK event, and it could have been that I was in an ungenerous mood (it's known to happen...). Yes, hopefully I can see them again, and have fun next time.
ian, yeah, the way that record labels cynically use 'right of portraiture' to prevent unauthorized photos of their stars being published is a topic I've thought a lot about, and maybe I'll discuss it more some other time. Glad to hear it probably wasn't the Manchester Free Trade Hall show though!
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