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Doors open and I’m in. We’re handed a small packet of Chai stickers as we go in, lovely touch.  T-shirt bought and on through. I spot a lit-up CHAI sign in the corner, I can relax and enjoy the evening, gigs on, all cool.

Glasgow, Stereo Bar 15th May 2019

This time round I know all the songs, I know all the dances, I even know the exact order of the play list. I’m 15 again for the day (I was expecting to get asked my age at the bar, I forgot on the outside I was still 40… eh 40 something or other). Not alone this time either: Keith has come along to keep me grounded. He failed within around an hour of us arriving in Glasgow. We went to make sure we knew where the venue was before heading to the pub. In the lane outside the venue there was a van. Wonder if that is Ch.., I walk past the van and helping unload is Yuuki and Kana. I stand open mouthed and point, eh yip that’s Chai, around 5 yards from me. I can’t even get myself to shout NeoKawaii. Keith finally managed to get me moving as they disappeared back into the venue.

Keith and I stood over to the right, in front of Kana. I was wanting to get a chance to see Kana play up close.  Lights down, This Is Chai starts thumping over the PA…. “Hello Everybody, we are Chai. It’s showtime...”  For the next 50 mins I’m literally in my happy place. Chai outstanding, obviously.

After the gig was over, Kate, Mark’s partner, came up to me to say how much she enjoyed the gig.  Mark comes back from the merch stall with a haul of memorabilia.  I asked if he got both Pink and Punk LPs? “They have two?!?” and off back to the Merch Stall. The venue was closing-up so the four of us went around the corner to the Horseshoe Bar. I now have two new friends, even an invite to their wedding. Now that is the power of Chai.

On returning from a trip to the loo, I spot Yuna standing next to the T-shirt stall. I give her a big grin and she gave me a huge grin back; I’d be rude not to talk to her now. I had planned things to say if I ever got the chance. I forgot every single question and instead told her about 30 times how amazing she is and how amazing Chai are. Yuna nodding and smiling. Probably not understanding a word of my overexcited Scottish accent.

The support band come on, more proof Chai get it right, they’re not very good, not much chance of them upstaging Chai.

I don't have the rights to play any Chai on my website so instead why not listen to Drum Machines Can't Dance while you read.  If you like please click on Home to check out more of my tunes.

tongue firmly in cheek. In particular, the dance for I’m Me which just complements the song perfectly. On stage they will at some point abandon their instruments to either give an acapella version of NeoKawaii (repeating “NeoKawaii” to the tune of Dancing Queen) or if you are extremely lucky a full dance to ‘We are musician’ or ‘This is Chai’.  No matter which you get, if you don’t have a massive grin through the whole performance, then you are already dead inside.

Yuna, Kana and Yuuki came out from their dressing room to watch, stood next to me (OK so I moved next to them, who’s telling this story?). After a song they went back in.  I took this opportunity to head to the cash machine.  This is where I met Mark as we wandered the streets of Glasgow looking for an ATM. Mark told me he hadn’t heard of Chai, he had just chosen from the gig guide.  I told him to go put his lottery tickets on.

And those Dances

Not only do Chai polish their music until it’s beyond flawless. Both on stage and in their music videos every movement is choreographed to either tell a story or get you from A to B. this is not to distract from the music but to enhance it to the point one needs the other. Even listening to the CDs without the videos you will find yourself turning your head at set points. Just don’t throw your arms out to She is Kitty when you’re on a bus. I won’t be doing that again. Just avoid buses.

Incidentally, their song Sayonara Complex or say goodbye to your complexes is the opposite bookend to N.E.O. In this song Mana sings about getting rid of her complexes: “Cos I like to fall in love sometimes.” It contains lyrics (in English): thank you my complex, fly away, see you bye bye.. so fly away, I'll be new, change myself. Like N.E.O the English parts are enough you can understand the feel and vibe of the Japanese parts.  This was released before N.E.O, showing that they were implanting the Newcute message long before the full concept had taken shape.

Most of the videos contain a dance of some kind, always carried with professionalism, but I think, done with