#Searching for a keyboardist and violinist next

[sakumafangs]

Not a full look-book for Strangerville but Maki & Kurama dyed their hair before leaving Sulani with Ayumi, Kurama also forgot to shave. They’re ready to take on the weird plants & try to make music along the way.

[blossom-hwa]

band/orchestra au!ateez (simultaneously a college au too I guess)

@blue-greens if this turns into a bulletpoint au I'm blaming/crediting you anyway let’s GO

hongjoong (rock band): bass guitarist who has the best fashion sense like bumblebee anon said, half skirts and painted nails and does not give a flying FUCK what anyone says about him. everyone falls for his smirk, NO ONE is immune, and you happen to be one of the many affected by it one night at one of his bar gigs - you can’t take your eyes off him throughout the performance, no matter how you try. you’re lucky though, because unbeknownst to you, you managed to catch hongjoong’s attention too :)

seonghwa (orchestra): first chair violinist and he busted his ass off to get there. people will try to pull the good looks card but like?? you can’t do that in orchestra???? you have to actually  sound good and seonghwa is undoubtedly the best. very sweet, doesn’t play into the dumb rivalries in the orchestra at all thank god. you’re the soloist for a concerto the orchestra is doing and it’s been some time since you played with orchestra so you’re nervous, but seonghwa is so sweet and kind and works with you more than he has to and you can’t help but feel more relaxed in his presence?? you put it down to him being nice but hahahaHA seonghwa has a fat crush on you and is too terrified to say a word

yunho (rock band): lead singer of hongjoong’s band like bumblebee anon said, also the rhythm guitarist! typically dresses very sweet and soft and boyfriend but joong is in charge of gig wardrobes and everyone goes INSANE when yunho pops up onstage. plays trumpet pretty well and likes to play the street pianos for fun! one day he goes out to see if his favorite piano is open and to his surprise, it isn’t - instead, you’re sitting there, playing better than yunho could ever hope to. he’s floored then, both by your talent and by your smile.

yeosang (orchestra): second chair violinist and if it was possible to give less of a shit about rivalries than seonghwa, yeosang somehow manages. like. the dude just wants to play his violin okay?? fuck off. you happen to be third chair and you’re kind of mad about it but you’re not an asshole so you don’t antagonize yeosang about it - instead, you practice your ass off just to edge him out of his spot. yeosang knows all about your little one-sided rivalry and he could just cede his chair to you, honestly, but here he gets a little competitive for the first time - you’re really cute when you’re focused on a goal, after all :)

san (rock band): keyboardist of the band and honestly has so much fun with it? gets really into the music and looks really hot when he’s bobbing his head to the beat, especially when his hair gets in his face and it’s all sweaty and yeah I'll stop before this goes further kjkjnnh he wears the most revealing clothes next to wooyoung ANYWAY. you’ve been san’s best friend since middle school when you two were learning classical piano together, only you kept that path while san switched to keyboard. doesn’t stop you from coming to his gigs and him coming to your concerts and kissing each other silly afterward ;)

mingi (orchestra): flute player courtesy of blue and a complete sweetheart. tol but also smol! best friends with everyone in the orchestra especially the others in the flute section :) some people used to ask him about how he felt being one of only a few males in a flute section of females but mingi really does not give a shit?? he loves playing the flute, it sounds nice and it’s fun, who cares if everyone else is a girl?? why does it matter??? anyway you’re the new flutist and everyone is wondering why mingi hasn’t made friends with you yet. the reason: you’re really cute and he’s fucking shy. 

wooyoung (rock band): drummer and also the self-proclaimed “sexy one” (is he really wrong though). think 200626 wooyoung (if you don’t know the pics search it up you’ll regret it it in a good way) - sleeveless black shirts that show off several tattoos on his arms, hair messy but in an artistic way, tight black jeans and yeah I should stop now but you’re a fashion major who works with hongjoong sometimes on gig wardrobes and wooyoung is forever asking you if he looks good, whether or not he can be a little more sexy, and you play it off as wooyoung being wooyoung but in reality he’s head over heels for you and only you <3

jongho (orchestra): first chair cellist thanks anne and seonghwa’s favorite son when he isn’t causing chaos. gets away with anything tbh bc he’s the youngest first chair cellist this orchestra has had in years. also have you seen his arms they could snap anyone in HALF like the apples he brings for snacks. carts around the heavy instruments sometimes sigh but whatever. has an amazing voice and will occasionally sing with hongjoong’s band too! you meet because jongho trips over you with a tuba in hand while you’re trying to pick up some sheet music you dropped on the floor and you stare at each other from your positions on the ground and then start laughing and everything is history

[themusicenthusiast]

Tuesday, April 24th, 2018 - Jonathan Davis Digs into the Past and Explores the Future While Promoting ‘Black Labyrinth’ in Dallas

Photos by Jordan Buford Photography It was a Tuesday night that was sure to be remembered. After all, it’s not often that one gets to see a musician the likes of Jonathan Davis in the setting of a fairly intimate venue. Having embarked on his current tour in support of his forthcoming debut solo record, Black Labyrinth (out on May 25th via Sumerian Records) a few weeks prior, the road was bringing him to Texas on this particular night. Dallas, to be exact, for the first of just two shows in the Lone Star State. Davis’ venture out on his own was slightly unexpected. Sure, there have been a few side projects in the past. Though mostly, so long as the musicians that comprise Korn have been a member of the group, they have remained fully committed to the acclaimed band during its impressive quarter of a century (and counting) run. At the same time, that is perhaps what made this the perfect opportunity to take a little breather from the band that has become a career and instead pursue a different creative outlet. Something new to flex a different set of muscles, so to speak. It was a pleasant surprise to fans, fans who turned out in droves to Gas Monkey Live on this night, eager to get a more in-depth look at what Davis had cooked up for his solo release. Dallas’ own Dark Avenue helped set the stage for the man of the hour, while Palisades – currently on tour with Davis – delivered a well-executed and energetic performance that finished getting everyone warmed up. Those two acts had the excitement and anticipation running high; and it wasn’t much longer until the stage was set.

Along with Davis, there was another familiar face to be seen on stage, Ray Luzier joining him and holding down the percussion. Fanfare erupted as he and the other instrumentalists of the group trekked out onto the stage and took their spots. That included the more traditional guitarist and keyboardist that one might expect, as well as the surprising additions of a violinist/guitarist and a bassist who wielded an upright bass. It was definitely out of the ordinary, further enticing the throng of spectators, piquing their speculation regarding what this performance would hold. Moments later, at 9:21, Davis himself strolled out onto the stage that was bathed in red light, smiling at everyone before kissing his hands, subsequently thrusting them out towards the supporters, letting them know just how much he appreciated them.

“Welcome to my black labyrinth,” was the greeting he extended to everyone, setting the stage for the opening song and lead track from the record, “Underneath My Skin”. Musically speaking, Davis and company traversed a lot of ground this night. There was more variation to the music than anyone would have initially guessed; that track being a hard-hitting rock song that was also melodic and serene at times. The upright bass accompanied the drums exceptionally well, and, as was showcased during that opener, there were instances the man behind it used a bow to play it instead, which accented what the violin was doing.

Beautiful and devastating, it got the night off to an excellent start and earned a great deal of praise from the audience, who were next treated to something they would be familiar with. The most recent promotional single from Black Labyrinth, “Everyone” was a song several fans did indeed know, and they appeared delighted upon recognizing, even singing along to it. Stationed in front of mic stand for much of the first track, it was then that Davis broke free, removing the microphone as he began to roam about. He was exceptionally animated and active this night, even more so than what fans have come to expect from him as a performer. The thrill of performing and trying out new music for people seemed to be something that he relished, invigorating him a great deal. There was also the fact that this was the first proper introduction Dallas area fans were getting to Davis’ solo music, the way this night played out being paramount in shaping their perceptions of the record, and he aimed to make certain the patrons left counting down the days until its release.

The show wasn’t exclusively about the upcoming material, though, longtime fans being treated to a small handful of older pieces Davis had worked on throughout the years. That included a few songs penned for the soundtrack of the 2002 film Queen of the Damned, “Forsaken” being one of those and an early favorite of the night. As the sextet continued exploring the Black Labyrinth it became more and more compelling. They had gotten off to a fierce start, though it was “Final Days” where they really seemed to hit their stride, the track also exploring the true depths of the creativity that went into crafting this material. In a way it was somewhat progressive. It was also quite artistic and expressive, the violin being the most prominent instrument as it wove an eerie, at times even haunting, and atmospheric tapestry. In its own right it was breathtakingly gorgeous, demonstrating just what an immersive experience this music is meant to be, the crowd being truly enthralled by it. The show was done in a similar fashion (being immersive, that is). It boasted a consistent flow, even if there were momentary pauses here and there.

Four songs in and they were crushing it, proving to be a force to be reckoned with. Davis utilized all of the tricks he had learned over the years as he blazed new personal ground, showcasing a broader range of his artistry along with the versatility of his voice. Their 56-minute long onslaught continued. Some offerings were quite rhythmic, others heavy, leaning towards the hard rock/alt-metal side of the spectrum. One boasted a riveting instrumental breakdown, while others ebbed and flowed with carefully calculated precision, their overall tone being almost cinematic. Every track was distinct, no one sounding remotely like any other, though there was a common thread that bound it all together.

“…It’s okay to dance…” Davis remarked before another beloved fan favorite, grooving just a bit as he encouraged everyone to let loose and thoroughly enjoy themselves. With that he and his band mates dusted off “Slept So Long”. Patrons were quite familiar with it, so when Davis pointed the microphone out at them they knew what to do, collectively shouting the words, eliciting a smile from the frontman. A definitive moment of the show and surely the album as well, “Please Tell Me” conveyed itself as the song the entire night had been building to. It reflected what is sure to be a central theme of Black Labyrinth, depicting a person desperately searching to find a place where they fit; and when the reflective piece kicked in, it was as hard and heavy as could be.

Ultimately the night concluded with Davis’ chilling and simultaneously upbeat rendition of Neil Diamond “Love on the Rocks”, a fun end to a constantly captivating performance that had been full of twists and turns. “Dallas, thank you so much! I hope you can just smile!” an elated Davis informed the crowd, again expressing his gratitude to everyone for coming out to support, promising he would see them again “sometime real soon”. The gathering of fans had been transfixed thus far and they weren’t about to go anywhere, being adamant about their request for an encore. There had been at least one key song that was absent -- the lead single that accompanied the announcement of this upcoming solo release -- and it was paired with one of the most stellar songs of the night. “Happiness” gave Davis the chance to really tap into the guttural screams that fans have become accustomed to hear from him and which he has such mastery over, thus capping off the show in a powerful fashion.

At the end of it all Jonathan Davis had succeeded at doing what only the most elite artists could do: he held the complete attention of the audience members, doing so effortlessly no less. Under normal circumstances that may be customary of a band or musician to do, even expected by fans, but this was no ordinary show. This was Davis performing songs the majority of which no one in attendance had ever heard. That’s not something just any artist could do, no matter the stature that they may have, at least not without waiting until fans had a decent amount of time to familiarize themselves with the new music before touring in support of it.

Yet here on this Tuesday night in Dallas several hundred fans congregated, compelled by their love of Davis as a vocalist and musician or by their own curiosity, and quite possibly a bit of both, and they watched with utter fascination, spellbound by what unfolded before their eyes. The new material was that gripping; and while a few of his older personal material was mixed in for good measure, it was interesting to see the complete separation between this new phase of his musical journey and the other one. One might have half expected at least one or two covers from the nu metal heavyweight outfit that Davis co-founded, but there were none to be heard. And the show was all the better because of it.

That allowed him to further craft his own world as he broke the mold he cast himself in so long ago, the patrons marveling at the new sides of himself that he demonstrated. Combined with the various dynamics of this this new music it was nothing short of incredible, creating some rich and lush soundscapes, the music bed and the vocals both being finely nuanced. All in all it was quite the show, Davis’ arena-sized persona elevating it to grand scale as he and his band mates did everything they possibly could to engage and dazzle the spectators. They wound up exceeding expectations, and definitely blew some minds in the process. As the mass exodus began, fans left feeling more enthused about Black Labyrinth than when they had arrived. Anxiously awaiting its release one short month away and hoping his touring in support of it might bring him back to Dallas some time in the future.

Jonathan Davis will be touring the U.S. through May 19th, when he performs at the MMRBQ event in Camden, NJ at Susquehanna Bank Center. Other upcoming dates include stops at The Truman in Kansas City, MO (May 1st); House of Blues in Chicago, IL (May 6th); Irving Plaza in New York, NY (May 12th); and The Fillmore in Silver Spring, MD (May 17th). A Europe and UK tour in planned for June, and on October 13th Davis will be performing at the Aftershock Festival in Sacramento, CA. A complete listing of his upcoming tour dates can be found HERE; and pre-order Black Labyrinth on iTUNES or GOOGLE PLAY. Set List: 1) “Underneath My Skin” 2) “Everyone” 3) “Forsaken” 4) “Final Days” 5) “What You Believe” 6) “Basic Needs” 7) “Slept So Long” 8) “Medicate” 9) “Walk on By” 10) “System” 11) “Please Tell Me” 12) “Your God” 13) “Love on the Rocks” (Neil Diamond cover) Encore 14) “What It Is” 15) “Happiness”