ROOKiEZ is PUNK’D First Show in US brings in 3,000 people

FanimeCon 2013 took place from May 24 through 27, 2013 in San Jose, North California. ROOKiEZ is PUNK’D performed as guest of honor, and this was their first oversea live concert.

FanimeCon was originally started by anime fan-volunteers back in 1994. It is the largest anime convention in North America, with over 20,000 anime-fan attendees every year.

Over the years, many big name artists were invited as guest of honors including YOSHIKI, FLOW and Yuya Matsushita. ROOKiEZ is PUNK’D was invited to play at one of the major events within the FanimeCon, Fanime music fes.

The band increased popularity among the anime fans through writing songs for popular TV animation series such as “Durarara!!”, “BLEACH” and “BLUE EXORCIST”. The fans from overseas always sent love letters to the band through SNS or YouTube comment asking them to come perform oversea someday. With the FanimeCon in USA, the fans dream of long time finally came true.

The venue for Fanime music fes is a good and old music hall where prestigious artists like Rolling Stones, The Who and Carlos Sanata also performed, known as San Jose Civic auditorium. On the day of live concert, fans already formed a long line hours before the scheduled live time, in the hopes to see ROOKiEZ is PUNK’D.

Audience lights went off, and the show was started with “IN MY WORD” in wild applause. Members spoke during MC, “We brought a friend from Japan with us. Can we introduce the person?”, a character from the TV animation “Durarara!!” was projected on a screen, delivering a surprise message to anime fans in America. ROOKiEZ is PUNK’D used a phrase from a popular hip-hop and mix group the BLACK EYED PEAS “I gotta feelings” as part of their songs. Over 3,000 fans chimed in excitedly chanting the phrase together.

“Our dream of performing in America finally came true. Next goal is to return to San Jose and perform at FanimeCon again” said SHiNNOSUKE (Vo&G). The last song they performed was ‘Durarara!!’ opening theme “Complication”. Even though the lyrics were in Japanese, the local fans sang with the band. The live concert came to an exciting and touching end bringing unity beyond world borders and language difference.

The first US visit was definitely a hit for the band members themselves. Through the success of FanimeCon 2013, the band will surely see their potential of reaching the world going forward. Let’s look forward to their upcoming acts locally and internationally.

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FanimeCon: http://www.fanime.com/

Official Website: http://rookiez-official.com/
Blog: http://ameblo.jp/rookiez-official/
Twitter: http://twitter.com/_ROOKiEZ_

ROOKiEZ is PUNK’D