4 Legs Good, 2 Legs Bad

#2016 has been a rollercoaster for me, it started quiet, then hit me hard after March and I had to find myself again. But after feeling low, music was once again there for me, and I was able to be guided by music to places I had wanted to go, and meet old friends like @painted__bird and @marc_vicente, and then meet some great new ones in Paris like @misakism_, @loluphotography and @kuroyukikoushu. And then I went to London to meet new friends (who do not have Instagram so I cannot tag them), who I met all because of our love of music. All these people I need with the great experience because of #coldrain and everyone's love for music Later that year, with memories of music in my mind I crossed off my goal to see Man With a Mission and had a great night. But it was the kind act by @kuronyan86 that will forever be in my heart when she gave me her #MWAM scarf and made me cry. I have this to say Bara: ありがとうございました。あなたの音楽への愛と情熱は、音楽を見たり聞いたりするためにイギリスに連れて来ました。そして、同じバンドに対する私の愛と情熱のために、私はあなたからの贈り物に値するように感じました。私はこれに値するかどうかわからないが、それは感謝している、それは私がいつも思い出す記憶です I didn't get a chance to watch a lot of music this year, however, I was always told when I was down that my friends will always be there to pick me up. Music lead me to my friends and these wonderful people, I still may be on rocky paths, but without these people I would be lost and have no where to go. #2017 I hope will build on the foundations I created this year so I can walk forward on my own power with #music and these people besides me

So while it was short, @mwamofficial were fucking incredible tonight. I couldn't take any photos which I understand, but after a kick ass opening band, when the wolves came on, it got real and awesome! The guys played old, old old (like stuff only half of us knew) and brand new songs in a great mix up that totally threw me off because I didn't expect some songs to come where they did! At the end of the show, I noticed this Japanese girl who had the bands faces tattooed on her shoulder. I asked for a photo and she said yes. She then said "are you British? You are a big fan of man with a mission?" And then she handed me this scarf. This MWAM scarf you can only get in Japan, she handed it to me, a total stranger. I don't know if I deserved it but I am honoured and I will admit, after shock I did almost cry! A hug and thank you as I went away. Tonight wasn't about seeing a band headline for the first time in England, it was about music bringing unity. It was just a great feeling #manwithamisson #mwam (at O2 Academy Islington)

Power goes from your stage? No worries, Jesse and @the____bonez kill it with no electricity! #Repost @sti109mulus69 with @repostapp ・・・ 2日目👍👍 「Crossfaith 」 めっさ暴れました！くそ楽しい✌️Teruさんが目前で興奮しました😍横みたら、ヘイスミの猪狩さん、かなすーさんSiMのSINさんゴリさん……… クロフェのパフォーマンス観ていらっしゃってびっくりしました😳 「the oral cigarettes」 ライブは初ですがめっちゃ激しくてたぶんクロフェ以上…😳😳 やまたくの下ネタ聞けたありがとうございますいただきました💖💖💖💖途中でケータイなくして本気でやばかった…😱でもインフォメーションに届いていてしかも無傷！拾ってくれた人ありがとうございます😭😭 「The Bonez」 大人見で見ていました！ライブ中に機材トラブルがあって曲が止まってしまいましたがJESSEさんの即興ラップショーが始まった！他にもロットン、クロフェ、ジーフリ…いろんな人が出てきて豪華すぎた！！JESSEさん本当に尊敬します楽しかったありがとう！ 10FEETは観れなかった、また観たい！最高でした…！

More CDs from Japan! My First Story, SiM vs Crossfaith and the last ever album by Boom Boom Satellites! @myfirststoryofficial @crossfaithjapan @sim_japan #myfirststory #simvscrossfaith #sim #crossfaith #boomboomsatellites

それは素晴らしいです！This was so worth waiting to order and get shipped from Japan to England! Time to find a place for that poster now haha #noisemaker #roar

Awesome!! My limited edition of #noisemaker's ROAR has arrived! Can't wait to listen to this album :3 #roar

And so my last night of this @coldrain_official tour ends. But what a fucking amazing tour it was! I started the tour low after a bad week and I needed to unwind. When I got to Paris last week I saw my old friend Suzanne who we've been there for the band since day zero! During that gig I met some awesome people, including @loluphotography (who has done some awesome photos) and @misakism_, there were some others from Facebook that I was happy to see as well! After a week away I returned to see the guys perform at Thekla, the same place from two years ago, and met up with a good friend in @marc_vicente and his partner. I ended tonight meeting Lolu again and meeting a brand new set of friends. During the tour I discovered two good bands in @countingdaysuk and @wagewarofficial. While the heavier side of metal core isn't my thing, they caught my attention and I loved their stuff at the end of it. It's never goodbye, it's just cya later, and I can't wait to see these guys play, and all these awesome people I've met along the way again (at The Borderline)

Two years ago, one nervous dude struck a connection with a shy dude from Japan after their gig. Flash forward to two years later, and at the same place, the same two dudes do it all over again. It's always fucking awesome to see @coldrain_official play and it's great to capture this snapshot in time with @masato_coldrain (at Thekla Bristol)

It's safe to say the last time I took a photo of my Japanese CD collection, it wasn't this bad! To explain how much it's grown since last time, I have 8-9 CDs not in this cupboard! I think I need a bit of a tidy up! #aaequal #manwithamission #mwam #oor #oneokrock #coldrain #maximumthehormone #mth #mothball #fact #boomboomsatellites #rize #thebonez #Sim #crystallake #spyair #alexandros #beforemylifefails #bmlf

Finally here! AA='s new album! It's been 18 months since Takeshi's last album and their new stuff has a lot of electro influence over the ever awesome metal riffs. Really looking forward to hearing the new stuff on top of the tracks with guest vocalists. You may not hear from me for a few days while I play the fuck out of this #aaequal

A picture can say a thousand words. This photo of me, Suzanne and Masato means a lot. A photo of two fans who have been there since before day one outside of Japan, to see the band once again after a long winter. When everyone is there queueing to get a photo or signature from Masato, we just queued just to say hello and chat like we always have done to catch up with him. I felt bad being we took up a lot of time, but it was something we both needed. After the rough week I had I was able to unwind and managed to get some quick words of encouragement from Masato which meant a lot. We joked about how we wanted older songs and he knew we would say that. At the end of it all, with no awkward goodbye, our friend @loluphotography shouts "Photo!" And gets the 3 of us together to get this awesome photo. Not only did I get to see @coldrain_official with my friends, but I was able to meet and make new friends, we're one big family and I can't wait to see more of these people when I see the band next week

The collection is complete! Vol 1&2 from season 1 and now Vol 1&2 from season 2. Had to wait a few weeks for season 2 Vol 2 to be released but it's here and I can't wait to hear some of the awesome tracks from the end of season 2! #haikyu #haikyuu #haikyuuseason2

I love this. In 2015 the wolves travelled all around the world and met so many die hard fans and made new ones. Bands like @mwamofficial are so humble when they see their popularity outside of Japan. I've always done my best to try and spread the word of bands I love and support that come from Japan and Mwam was just another one. #mwam are thankful for us the fans. I am thankful once again that they have put music into my life like they have done for the past 3 years since I discovered this awesome wolves. #manwithamission #theworldsonfire

Awesome! My version of The World's on Fire @mwamofficial has arrived! Can't wait to listen to this!

Memories of an amazing night a month ago seeing @mwamofficial. I wanna see the wolves again! ( ≧Д≦) #mwam #manwithamission #Kamikazeboy #gigs

The first bulk of CDs from Japan for 2016 has arrived and it's a bit of a big list for normal SPYAIR (@spyairstaff) - BEST and 4 Before My Life Fails (@bmlftokyo) - animus FACT (they don't have an Instagram handle so have @adskillz) - best 2009-2015 My First Story (@myfirststoryofficial) - Alone #spyair #fact #beforemylifefails #bmlf #myfirststory

One of the things I love about being a fan of Japanese music is when I get to see people see a band I support and really dig them. Take this awesome dude, saw @coldrain_official on their USA tour and loved them. When I explained my views on how coldrain (and other Japanese bands) take over a crowd and kick ass as a support band, he totally understood and wanted more. Sometimes I know I'm annoying when hyping the bands from Japan I love, but thanks to record labels and radio/tv stations, these bands can get exposure outside of Japan and people can experience the power of their music like I have for the last 6 years #coldrain #reddit