A PERFECT CIRCLE: THIRTEENTH STEP 2003-2004
HIROSHIMA, JAPAN [CLUB QUATRO]
3.6.04


By Chika Tsuchiya


I got on 10:30 express train from Tokyo and took 4 hours to get to Hiroshima. While I was in train I listened to APC's albums, slept, ate lunch, and thought about Jeordie. It was a little bit uncomfortable just sit for nearly 4 hours. I arrived to Hiroshima on 14:40, and went directly to hotel that I was staying tonight. After taking a few hours break, I was on my way to Club Quattro, tonight's venue. I arrived earlier than opening time so I decided to go Tower Records in the same building of venue, without much thought. That brought me the luckiest happenings in my whole life.

When I reached Tower Records "Thirteenth Step" was playing in great volume. I thought it's just a coincidence with today's show at first, but soon I found out there was signing event of APC is going on right now. The whole member of APC is here! I JUST COULDN'T BELIEVE IT!! And Jeordie was SO CLOSE!! (Later I've heard that Maynard mentioned about this event in the show day before)

I bumped into my friends (that I met in Tokyo) again and immediately bought "Thirteenth Step" CD and got into lines. We were almost the last people who can get member’s signs.

I got James' first. He smiled at me and said "Arigatogozaimasu" ("Thank you very much" in Japanese). His smile was SO CUTE!! Next to James were Maynard, wearing false mustache, fake glass, and skinhead wig. Third was Billy. When I said "Good luck with today's show" (I was so nervous that I couldn't speak proper English.) to him, he smiled and said "Thank you". He's really a nice guy!! Second to last was Josh. He's wearing funny wig and sunglasses just like Maynard. He was sooo nice, too. And the very last one was Jeordie!!

My heart was beating fast and feet were shaking, saying "Oh my god!! I can't believe it!!" (I was bit anxious that I looked really strange to him). I said to him "Hi!! Good luck today", but right English didn't come out in my mind anymore. I was TOO nervous. I couldn't catch his smile but our eyes met for a second. It was ONLY A SECOND but I won't NEVER EVER forget this moment in my life.

When I finished getting member's signs, I hugged and cried with my friends (she is fan of James) "We did it!!". Not only APC members but most of the people there was thinking we were so strange, probably. That's only thing I was worrying, ha ha.

After that, met another friend of mine and went to venue that was in 9th floor of building, still excited. Tonight's venue-Hiroshima Club Quattro- was really small. Capacity is about 300 or more, maybe. Probably APC's aren't as popular as they are in U.S, but I suppose U. S. fans can't see APC's shows in such small venue... I'll take it as a precious experience! I went right in front of Jeordie's position. I decided I'm not gonna move from here.

The show began just in time with intro of "Vanishing" and audiences were making noises. All I could see is stages and nothing else. When band members appeared on stage, noises became larger. Billy, Josh, James were wearing same outfit of that in Tokyo, except Jeordie, wearing sweater and sunglasses. Maynard was hiding behind the curtain, playing percussion as usual. The curtain fell off when "Pet" began, and figured out he's wearing ordinary suit (no spotlight on him, of course). But most of the time my eyes were focusing on Jeordie, his bass play, chorus, etc...almost everything he did. He was singing chorus on "Vanishing" and "Pet" also, and his voice was soooo sexy. Totally knocked me down!! Anyway I felt like I was swallowed down by APC's heavy and erotic sounds. I could feel A LOT BETTER vibrations than 4 days ago. After "The Hollow", Maynard said "Good evening, Hiroshima" and introduced band members. My heart was fluttering when Maynard introduced Jeordie first (Good grief, I'm in love, ha ha).

On 3rd MC Maynard, wearing ordinary (?) suit, was asking "Isn't it cold?". Audiences didn't know what he meant and responding him we weren't cold. Then he turned around...there's no suit in his back but funny pants.... I just couldn't say anything but laugh (I remembered a famous cartoon character in Japan wearing exactly same suit as his). I can't believe this compared to his most beautiful voices. Then Billy and Jeordie are talking to him X-ray or something. I couldn't catch most of what they said because some American audiences were still making noise (plus my poor English listening...sorry).

After that was Jeordie's solo, "Fred's Got Slacks". This time Maynard was singing chorus for Jeordie and rest of the members played backing for him, too. Jeordie's voice is sooo sexy even in solo!!

Next to it was "Thinking Of You" (is it right order?), song that you can feel better "if you take your pants off" (by Maynard). It is one of my most favorite APC songs, too (but I didn't take off my pants, of course). By the end of it, when James' played ending lead guitar, Maynard took his whole suits off after all.

Jeordie seemed more relaxing than Tokyo, and was drinking beer often. When audience became quiet for a short second between songs (I forgot which songs) I called his name but I'm not really sure if he'd noticed me (pretty embarrassing, huh?). And James sung, too. This time he got into Maynard's space and sung funny Backstreet Boys'. When I saw James last year, he seemed very shy guy, but today he seemed really enjoying this solo time. Again, he's so cute.

In last MC, Maynard said "We'll come back as soon as we can" (I REALLY hope so. I REALLY DO.) And said "Ichigo ichie" in the end, means, "Treasure every meeting, for it will never recur" in Japanese. The audiences, mostly Japanese, were so impressed and thanked Maynard that he said this (I almost forgot about his funny suits).

Last song for today was "Judith". The show is almost over in a minute, and I wouldn't be able to see them in Japan for a while (or I have to go to U.S. to see them). So I sang chorus part as loud as I can.

The show was over at last. I still miss them and beautiful days I spent for APC. But I really wanna thank the band for this greatest opportunity. THANK YOU! THANK YOU SO MUCH, APC!!! And MANY THANKS to Jeordie, of course, my dearest bassist!!

P.S. - Setlist for today is as below. But please excuse me that memory's not clear so orders of songs are bit random.

Vanishing
Pet
The Hollow
Magdalena
Weak and Powerless
Rose
Orestes
Thinking Of You
The Package
Blue
3 Libras
The Nurse Who Loved Me Gravity
The Outsider
The Noose
Judith