Radio Free BANRI: Saiyuki Reload GUNSTOCK

BANRI: ...-f we get away with this for a day, that'll be great...not sure how long the battery will last, 'cause we've always run outa luck before we've run outa juice--but we're gonna be tough to spot in this crowd, and I hope even tougher to get hold of to toss out...! 'kay, Ensui, am set whenever you wanna crank it...

And here we are, on a grassy spot among the masses who've crammed the place for Saiyuki Reload GUNSTOCK. Our ride, the one and only Harley in Tougenkyou, is at our backs; it's parked at an angle to buy me and Ensui a little space from the crowd. This steel-rimmed sexpot was our ticket in, too--a guy at one of the gates was happy to look the other way in trade for a 10-minute ride, riding double with Ensui.

ENSUI: He got his 10 minutes, all in one direction! He might finish his walk back before this thing ends--but I don't think so! [giggles maniacally]

BANRI: We've missed the first few songs; getting through the crowds to stake out this spot was a little ugly. But the "Saiyuki Reload GUNSTOCK Songbook" is already for sale, at any of a couple dozen logo-crap kiosks--sorry, "GUNSTOCK Goods & Nice Memory Corners"-- set up around the grounds. A salesgirl was kind enough to provide us with a review copy, in trade for An Empty Pack Of Marlboro Reds Believed To Have Been Crumpled Up By Genjou Sanzou Himself...and so that you won't miss anything, Ensui and I will do dramatic readings of those first few songs' lyrics.

It's important that you don't miss anything. Here's why: The tickets to get in started at 15,000 yen each. They're searching people at the gate, confiscating cameras and anything that can record--and then they're taking advance orders at the kiosks for a GUNSTOCK live six-CD set that's gonna come out just in time for the holidays! So is the whole thing about collecting cash? In spirit, it's not supposed to be--should be music and message, not money and merchandise; am I right? Songs are sung for ears to hear. So listen to 'em all!

Sure, by not being here, you won't actually see those Sanzou-ikkou guys and guests and whatnot performing. But believe me, it's way more fun to see them do the Funky Chicken in your head than to spend all day squinting at the stage a quarter-click away, trying to make out which inch-tall guy is on this time.

So, everyone everywhere in the world but here--listen to the whole thing; the pure thing, not messed up by money. Enjoy the pure spirit, and pure sound-

ENSUI: -and our pure horseshit, too...

BANRI: -of Saiyuki Reload GUNSTOCK!

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