Toe - Live in Manila: Aftermath

"TOE-gasm!"

That's pretty much the "word" that sums up my experience while watching Toe's concert here in Manila last Tuesday, March 20, 2012. I'm still pretty much overwhelmed by positive mixed feelings towards the whole experience. Toe is all about passion, and invoking that same feeling from their audience.

To the unfamiliar, Toe is a band based in Japan, composed of four members: Kashikura Takashi on drums, Mino Takaaki and Yamazaki Hirokazu on guitar, and Yamane Satoshi on bass guitar. They're music somewhat sprung out from the experimental or math-rock genre, which is very much influenced by progressive rock. (Known progressive rock musicians are Frank Zappa and John cage.)

Takaaki Mino, Satoshi Yamane, Takashi Kashikura, and Hirokazu Yamazaki

Source: http://fortythreepercent.blogspot.com/2011/02/quintus-toe.html

The concert proper started at around 8pm at the NBC Tent in Fort, Taguig. It was a pretty cool set-up. There was a mini-stage at the far end for the opening bands, “Sleepwalk Circus” and “Encounters with a Yeti” from Terno Recordings, and a circular, main stage for Toe.

Source: From Terno Recording's Website

Toe started their performance at around 10pm. Admittedly, I wasn’t familiar with some of the songs that were performed, however, it was still such a refreshing performance to watch as each member poured out their hearts to create something uniquely beautiful, uniquely Toe. What makes Toe distinct from other bands is the capability of each band member to draw out their own individual sound, that when melded together brings out such surprisingly harmonious melody. Toe didn't disappoint their audience last Tuesday, as their lives had a more tangible energy which leaves the audience captivated even after the end of the concert.

Here's one of my favorite Toe songs, called "Goodbye". You can also check out the version with Toki Asako.


I guess the number one highlight from the concert was when Takashi threw his drumsticks after the last song. My sister dove to get one of the drumsticks and she ended up keeping it. Haha :) She was able to have it signed. :D

Congrats to my sister! Haha :)

Cheers to Toe for a wonderful performance. :)