Visual Va-kei-tion: Seeing JILUKA Live in Chicago 11-05-2024

 I came so, so close to not attending this show. My friend Sierra introduced me to Jiluka (because I'm an old guard visual kei fan who doesn't keep up with the newer bands) and bought tickets as soon as they went on sale, managing to snag a VIP package. I was busy with work that week, and I assumed (incorrectly) that I wouldn't be able to take time off. So, I wrote the show off.

But, oh boy, I did NOT stop thinking about it.

I'm a risk-averse person by nature. I've become more social as life has worn on, but I'm not someone who has ever, say, taken a spontaneous road trip to see a concert. At age 24, I felt like it was probably time I take a fun, harmless risk. I've been listening to visual kei music since age nine, and I was going to turn down a chance to see a new VK band on their big U.S. tour? What would my younger self think of me?!

Though VIP was sold out, I acquired a $20 GA ticket to Reggie's Rock Club no problem. I wasn't the world's biggest Jiluka fan (though this concert absolutely changed that), so I was fine going without the VIP. But I'm absolutely getting it next time I see them!

We bumbled our way through booking a hotel and making some rough plans (and really, it still shocks me that I'm old enough to book a hotel and pay for it with my own money), and approximately $90 later, I had my ticket in my inbox and our hotel room secured. Being an adult is wild! 

We drove my little road warrior Honda to Chicago, and checked in to a hotel that... was maybe the weirdest part of the whole trip. If you're ever in Chicago and want to feel like you're a protagonist in House of Leaves by Mark Z. Danielewski, you'll love the Skokie Hilton location. If you like clean pillows, the ability to quickly and easily find your room, and not being awoken by old men yelling at each other, maybe avoid it. I'm convinced the place was a panopticon-style prison before it was a hotel. 

The show won me over as a Jiluka fan, and specifically a Ricko/Zyean fan. I'm incredibly contrarian, and though Boogie and Sena are wonderful instrumentalists and performers, it makes me mad that vocals and drums don't get any love! I managed to catch up with Sierra when GA was allowed to answer, and we ended up just two people from the stage. Reggie's Rock Club is a tiny venue, so we were right up close and personal! We also took some photos outside of the venue; it was drizzling, so my lens was blurred, but I actually love how it looks.

I wore my new-to-me 90's/2000's Putumayo camisole, I love their unhinged edgy screenprints. My headpiece is Marble (and came off immediately when I started headbanging), choker is Vivienne Westwood, everything else thrifted or handmade.

I think I was maybe one of the oldest people there, which should give you an idea of how young the fanbase is. I noticed a pretty drastic difference in concert etiquette from the bands I've seen with older fanbases; lots of phones out and recording the entire concert, lots of elbowing and blocking people without paying attention, and nobody knew how to start a circle pit when the band motioned for one. Taking a short photo/video or two is perfectly understandable, you want to remember the moment! But it was to the point that people were watching the show through a phone. I think I'm officially getting to the "annoyed with teenagers" age, and it disturbs me that it's starting when I'm still in my mid-20's haha. 

Jiluka were truly incredible to see live, they had such great stage costumes and energy! I didn't take any photos or videos of my own, but here's my favorite photo I was sent: Ricko, wearing his own band shirt post-encore, looking tired and disappointed in everything and everyone. He has a good amount of devious middle school band kid energy, which I really enjoyed. 

He just looks like a deflated chew toy, it cracks me up

Around the end of the set (I think the last song and the encore) I ended up ducking out of the crowd. I bought some merch and a Liquid Death water while the lines were short, and just watched the rest of the show from the back of the venue. I'm not made of the hardiest stuff, I was getting dehydrated and my arthritis was acting up big time haha. I was definitely bringing the old hag vibes to the venue! I did get a keychain of my beloved drummer boy (along with a tour shirt), and after taking a sweaty post-show photo, we headed back to the Eldritch Hotel for midnight Burger King and bed.

The great thing about having a friend who wears all white is that you always look cool in photos together

We did some exploring the next day before heading home, and of course we had to go see the infamous Goth Target. It truly did not disappoint; Chicago has so much stunning architecture, and seeing that kind of molding on the outside of a building was so cool.

Sierra got some Fruits-worthy snaps of me outside of the Target

I can't believe how well that car/the general color scheme matched my outfit, and how sparse foot traffic was in those shots. Stars aligned! My hat, vest, skirt and necklace are handmade by me, my fanny pack is a weird handmade Mercari find (possibly made from an Innocent World tote bag?), jacket is thrifted, top is Deorart and scarf is Blablahospital. I wore my TUK creeper sneakers the whole trip, and my feet are so thankful. To think I almost brought my platform boots!

I love how much our outfits contrasted

We did a bit more wandering, had our Nana moment on the train, stopped for a dog toy for Sierra's darling hound, and got back on the road after filling up on boba tea. It was a total whirlwind of a trip, and I feel like I definitely caught a cold, but I'm so happy I decided to go. The concert was great, but just having an adventure with a friend was so worth it!

I also found out my panel application was approved, and I will officially be a panelist on Saturday at GalaxyCon Columbus! More details to come; I can't promise my panel will be the most exciting one there, but it'll certainly be interesting. I'm looking forward to it!