We were November 13, a day that should have been just like any other. The guys were having their last rehearsal before leaving for Japan. A very different show, a very different ambiance, a moment they were envisioning with great excitement. Halfway through the set, they took a short break, and this is when they learned about the tragedy that happened in France. The night took a very different turn. Suddenly, the main focus shifted. They all took to their computers to contact their loved ones, to write to the people who, there or not, were deeply affected by the tragedy that took place. It continued all night long, none of them slept, through to the very moment Alex and Jeff’s boarding took place. Unable to sleep, unable to calm down, even from a distance, I think we were all affected by what happened… It didn’t matter if it was in France, across an ocean… It continued until the guys boarded the plane (that they almost missed). And then came the doubts… “What do we do? Are we really going to Japan? Are we really going to give a concert? In such a poignant time of need, is this really what people need? Is this really what best we have to offer them?” But music has the power to unite people in the most wonderful way… 

And this is exactly what happened… A powerful moment. A moment that was lost in time and space, that became a little universe of its own. It brought us to a place we didn’t know existed before. A place where chaos was peaceful. Where noises were melodies. Where a punch in the face was soft. It was not music. It was way beyond that, way beyond what my understanding could see. I knew it was real, but it somehow didn’t feel like it. It felt as if I was dreaming awake. The guys played the album “Between Illness And Migration” from top to bottom. For the very first time. An album I love to hate, hate to love. It brought me through so many different emotions, and I know it’s the same for many people who were there at the show, and many others around the world who didn’t have the chance to be there. The show started with a brand new intro, making it sound as if you were about to lose your mind. Too much speaking all at once, different voices, different sayings, all different, but all the same in the way that they were coming from the deepest of the soul of those who were uttering these words. And then the music started… Satsuki Yami took a complete different turn, where the lyrics changed completely, and where the words “my heartbeat” were repeated over and over, sometimes in a way that seemed painful, sometimes in a way that seemed joyful… And I stopped for a second, and looked around me, and I could say: “Yes, this is what it feels like to be truly alive”. 

The show continued, and went on and on and on. I didn’t feel I was listening to an album. I felt like I was witnessing the birth of something that had never happened before. It might be strange to read this, and I do acknowledge it’s not exactly common. I have been with the members of Your Favorite Enemies for over 10 years now, and I have had the privilege of being closely involved in the making of the album “Between Illness And Migration”, probably giving me this love-hate relationship with the album itself. There’s always a lot of illnesses around us. Some we can just push away, some we don’t notice, and some that just keep coming back. And no matter how much you want to migrate away from these, the steps you need to do are not always easy. But that night, I felt like we had flown to the moon and back. No limits, no constraints, no holding back, no “what if”. Nothing was impossible… 

We always talk about the fact that “Between Illness And Migration” is a journey. And it truly is. But as we thought we knew what direction it was going, as we thought we were in control, we were blessed to see our course being changed by this wonderful communion we’ve had with you all. It’s as if, all of a sudden, we don’t know where we’re going anymore. And we can simply, once again, enjoy what “migration” is all about… Discovering oneself, discovering the world around us, with a simplicity we tend to forget. Our eyes are no longer on the finish line, on where we want to go, but they’re back to the world of wonders that surround us, and that we sometimes do not take the time to see… And those wonders, they were the heart of the people we’ve met all over this journey that “Between Illness And Migration” is. Hearts that accompanied us throughout the worst and best moments… 

And even though I have been to Japan for several times before today, as I am about to leave, I can say I have discovered a brand new country… maybe only because the eyes I lay on it are now seeing with a brand new perspective… 

Please join us on December 5th, 5:00pm (ET), to get to know more about this unique moment during our special edition of the Bla Bla Bla: The Live Show! You’ll be able to hear the testimonies of Alex, Ben, Sef and Jeff about their time in Japan! You’ll also be able to watch a short excerpt of the concert! To know more about how you can watch the live broadcast of the show, please check out the event we’ve created on Facebook: http://j.mp/YFEGALAevent

And if you want to push your experience a little further, join the SFCC fan club to watch the band do a live performance of a song from the album “Between Illness And Migration” for the members of the fan club only!

– Stephanie

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We arrived home late last night… Some people came to pick us up at the airport, while the others were waiting for us at home… It’s been an emotional day and a half, due to the time difference there is… It’s quite crazy to think we witnessed the sunset of the 9th of October twice!

Our day started with filming some last scenes with Alex for a new project – remember, we had a lot of projects in store while we’d be on the road! The video clip for I Just Want You To Know was only one of them 😉 After a coffee, we were off to the airport, where we would meet some of our friends – some of them flying to Tokyo for only this! we met at our usual meeting point at the airport, the Starbucks! It’s the only place large enough to accommodate all of us – and large enough is still a big word 😉

We spent a wonderful 2 hours, talking, sharing, taking pictures, signing t-shirts and posters… And when came our check-in time, they all followed us to the 4th floor, where they waited for us to finish everything with our suitcases and guitars and pedal cases… Beside all of our suitcases being overweight, it all went very well, and didn’t take nearly as long as it did in Sydney!

Then came time for the goodbyes… And this is when the band members surprised us with something very special… we did a toast at the airport, with all the people who were there, gathered in a big circle, with our paper cups and a drink. Not only was it the first time for us to do something like that, I can tell you it was the first time for others in the airport to see this as well!!

We then boarded our plane, direction Toronto! It went pretty well, with most of us catching up on the few hours of sleep we missed in the last month! We also had a toast, a very special toast to everything we lived, shared, and to who we have become… Arrived in Toronto, we almost missed our flight, but finally made it back to Montreal!

We then got home, where we share a meal with everyone, sharing funny stories and touching moments that happened throughout the tour. It did feel good to be surrounded by that constant noise on the table, where you need to scream to talk to the one sitting beside you… A truly wonderful communion! A communion that keep growing bigger and bigger, stronger despite the distance that separates us. Because deep down inside, we know that we are one. And this is all that matters!

– Stephanie

The last 2 days we’ve spent went by in a flash. After the show in Tokyo, it felt like time was in suspension, everything was so surreal… Like so many others who were at the show that night, it’s a sleepless night we’ve had. The emotions would not allow us to sleep at all. No matter how tired we were, our souls were overly excited. And it’s with the same feeling that we spent the 2 last days, a feeling of euphoria like we’ve never experienced before.

We started Sunday going to the offices of Tower Records. We would have an interview there, an interview that was supposed to be a short one. But you know Alex, right? A short interview never is short! Alex introduced the band as a circus (and he couldn’t have said it any better!), but especially as a community, where band members, crew and fans form one big family in which the level of sincerity is at its highest. An equal relationship, where people exchange with one another, inspiring each other in the process of being alive. They talked touring, staying at a temple, musical background, and what inspired the album… An interview that was to the image of YFE and the YFE Family: real and intense. At the end of the interview, both the interviewer and the translator said that of all the bands/artists they’ve ever met, YFE has been the most passionate one, something they had never seen before…

After that followed a Meet & Greet with some people of the family at the Starbucks in Shinjuku, a place that has become an emblem for our meetings, thanks to its delicious coffee and large open space! And what a time it’s been. To be able to see everyone again, talk with them, share with them, exchange about the concert they have seen… it was really a family gathering. We were all exhausted when we got there – band, crew and fans. But to be able to be reunited together gave us the energy that we needed to turn this simple moment into eternity once more. The smiles, the laughter, the words exchanged… People were coming from all over Japan, some of them flying only to attend this meet & greet and spend time with the band, going back home on the first flight in order to get to work in time… This meet & greet ended with an extensive photo session, one picture with everyone, and then several individual pictures with the band members. We spent 3 hours at this meet & greet… where old friendships were sparked again, and where new friendships bloomed…

Right after this, the band headed to a bar on the 45th floor of a building in Tokyo, a place overlooking the city. The sparkling light looked like souls waiting to take off and fly. And we knew, over looking the city, above all else, that we had started to fly. Not because we were so high, looking down on one of the world’s biggest city. But because we knew we would never be the same again… We had a toast for the tour that had just been concluded, but especially to the relationships we’ve celebrated during those 2 weeks in Japan, and to the people we have become in the process…

Our Monday started quite late, first of all with a Skype with the people at home, where we talked with them about the show and the meet & greet we just had… Then we headed to one of Jeff’s favorite place, Harajuku!!! And looking at the first picture, it’s easy to understand why… 😉 We walked around Yoyogi park, a bit disappointed not to see the dancing Elvis but delighted by Sef’s new look, and then went down Takeshitadori, and through several other little backstreets. We stopped at a shop called “Jimsinn”, where we met a very passionate guy with a true punk rock spirit… We talked about different bands, about music in general, about the passion you need to keep alive when you are in a band… An encounter we never expected, but that felt like it was meant to be! The band signed a poster that would be place on the ceiling of the shop along with a picture they took all together…

We then finished the day at a restaurant that holds many memories for the band, the Sakuratei, an okonomiyaki place located in an art gallery. We did smoke the whole place again, but this time with pepper added… Think it was hard to breathe with only smoke? It wasn’t that bad… The pepper brought it to a whole new level! For anyone who has already been with YFE in this place, you know exactly what this is all about!

We then went to a Starbucks in Harajuku, on the 6th floor of a building, in a garden terrace, with a wonderful view on the city, where we talked about you. About you who, every time we felt like giving up, inspired us in ways we could never have imagined. About you who gave us the strength to go one step further and discover things we thought would never be possible. About you who allow us to live the miracle that lies in the invisible. About you who changed our lives. About you who are a part of our souls…

– Stephanie

We just came back home after the last show of the “More Than Noise And Make-Believes” Tour… The show took place in Shibuya, Tokyo, at a venue called “The Game”. We are sitting around the table in the living room, eating all together and reminiscing about the concert that just happened. Well, to be honest with you, it still seems a bit surreal. Definitely, surreal is a word that describes very well what the tour has been all about!

Everybody was sick before the show… everybody! And everybody was somewhat exhausted, especially after the video clip shooting, where the band had to play I Just Want You To Know over and over again. And for those of you who have heard the song, you know just how intense it is! So it’s on “energy saver” mode that they did the soundcheck!

The show started with a kick with the song “A View From Within”, a song that people have made theirs and associate a lot with the images that can be seen on the video. Needless to say, that same energy, the lights and the movement that can be found in the video were also present in the show, added with the proximity you have with the band members and the euphoria of being surrounded by other people who are in love with the music just as much as you are! It sure did put the audience in the intensity of the show that would follow. And I am sure that by that time, the band members also felt like they wouldn’t run out of energy during that show!

Followed Where Did We Lose Each Other, a song that’s many people’s favorite. Very high in intensity, this song becomes very emotional at the end, with the lyrics that are added, with only Alex singing and Ben playing bass. A whole new vibe to the song, but a vibe that carries the same meaning…
“And if I lay down, if I lay down, again, be the water on my skin”

In 3rd came Midnight’s Crashing, a song that everybody recognizes when the first notes are played, a song that dates back from the MySpace era. Alex jump-kicked to start the song,like he often does with this song. Upbeat, energetic, this song made sure that people were completely blown away by what they heard! It’s on that song, in what we call the “let go” section, that Alex jumped into the crowd for the first time, joining people and singing with them as he walked in the middle of them… A surprising moment for many fans, but that was to be followed by many others…

After this, the band played Empire of Sorrows, a song that’s relatively new for the people, as we’ve only learned about it through the album that has been released in stores in Japan! However, as new as it can be, this song alway, always bring the whole audience in a mood that is hard to describe, a blend of angst and will to live to the fullest.

A little switch here as Ben grabbed an acoustic guitar, replaced on bass by Jeff, and it was time for City On Fire. Considered an acoustic song by the band, it’s far from being your obvious guitar-voice type of song, and gives the set a different depth.

Introduced as a very meaningful and personal song for Alex, the song that followed was a special request from a fan in the audience. “When I am asked to play a song because it empowers someone, I have no other choice but to play it”. It’s with these words that the band started playing Old Noisy Friend. Another acoustic song, the band made its ending a lot longer, carried away by the moment and the synergy of the crowd that was visibly at that point completely caught into the YFE world…

Then followed the song 1-2-3, another song that people really made their own since it’s been released on the album. A very powerful one when played live, this one didn’t disappoint any of us. About reaching out, about making that step that we all felt was impossible to make, but that is yet life changing. And on that song, Alex did make that step further, jumping into the crowd, flying over it while doing body surfing. And as the audience brought him back to stage, after he went to the very back of the room, he decided it wasn’t time yet to be back on stage, and kicked his way back to the end again, being carried back midway on someone’s shoulders. Doing this brought the show to a very different level, giving wings to literally everyone to fly in places we never thought existed.

It’s under a sea of clapping and headbanging that the band performed the song Would You Believe. At this point of the show, you really couldn’t make out who was the band, and who was the audience. The band was feeding itself off the energy the crowd had, while the crowd was getting more and more energetic with every note the band played. It really was a special synergy, one like few people can say they’ve experienced before.

Then came the song Little Sister, unmistakable from the very first notes that are played. Very meaningful for the band members and especially for Alex, a lot of people also associated themselves to this song, as it has given them wings, as many of them said after the show. A song really takes a whole new dimension when people make it their own, and we can only begin to see how many different shades Little Sister has…

“It’s with this song that everything started, several years ago, when we were crazy enough to upload a song on MySpace, and that YOU were crazy enough to listen to it and like it. We didn’t believe in ourselves at all back then, so that you would do was something that was way out of our minds. Yet, here we are today… This is Open Your Eyes!” This song is a live favorite, there is no doubt about it! From the first row to the very last, people were throwing their fists up in the air, headbanging, and screaming on top of their lungs. It happened more than once that I was surprised to hear myself singing so loud, only to realize I wasn’t the only one – everyone around me was also singing 😉

Then came From The City To The Ocean, a song that’s ben very, very, very special every time it’s been played live. The ending of it, as it appears on Between Illness And Migration, is a very unique moment filled with emotion, as we hear Alex’s voice breaking as he lets go of absolutely everything. And it’s with that much emotion that this song is played live to. The ending has been stretched to the fullest, with Alex singing “My spirit graced from gravity, from the city to the ocean…” over and over again, his voice and the band’s music carried by the people. Looking at it, it truly looked like we were a huge wave, washing away what had to be cleaned while carrying to new horizons the purest parts of who we are as a whole…

Came the end of the song, we were already past the curfew we had with the venue… However, and to my biggest surprise, the band kept playing and introduced the song for which they filmed scenes of a video clip just a few days ago, I Just Want You To Know. It’s with a reaction that sounded like thunder that Alex jumped and kick started the song! A powerful, uplifting song. And I am sure that had the band started this same song a second time, the excitement in the crowd would have only kept growing and growing!

Voice Inside was supposed to be the last song of the show. But as you know the band, “last” is a relatively unknown concept, and that song lasted and lasted, turning into a different one as the band brought the whole drum set in the crowd, to the biggest excitement of the fans who quickly grabbed drumsticks and embraced the song in a way that has never been seen before… Words aren’t enough to described the screams, the smiles, the tears that could be seen in the crowd…

As Alex was saying his last words, thanking the people for such an experience with them, One of our French friends started chanting “This is Rock N Roll!”. He was joined so quickly by all the crowd that, totally stupefied, Alex didn’t really have a choice but to join in, asking for some music, thus forcing Moose to ask the people who had all taken his drumsticks to get them back! And it’s for 2 complete minutes that the band and the crowd chanted “This is Rock N Roll”… Visibly, nobody wanted this show to end…

As Alex said, there’s no need to close our eyes and dream it all over again… And tonight, this is what we did. No matter how different we all were, no matter where we came from, tonight, we embraced those difference and together, united as one, we decided to dream it all over again… As a simple dream, a little idea is all it takes to change to world… And tonight, we dared jumping, not minding the landing, and found ourselves with the most magnificent wings…

– Stephanie

This morning, no matter how tired we all were, there was an excitement that was so real amongst us all, so intense and so alive that we could actually see it take shape around us, a halo of a color so pure it cannot lie. To add to our excitement, today has been graced with a beautiful blue sky in which very few white clouds were hanging, perfectly what we needed, and a heaven gift after those 3 days of rain we’ve had in Tokyo!

We got stuck in traffic a little, so we put on some music to make the ride more interesting… Can you guess what song it was? Of course, “I Just Want You To know”, exactly what we all wanted to get us into the mood for the day! And it most definitely did!

We arrived at the skate park, where we unloaded all the gear. You need to understand that the parking in on the 1st floor, on the skate park on the 7th… Let’s say we were happy to have some carts and 2 very large elevators to help us carry all the music equipment upstairs!

We arrived on the rooftop, and suddenly, we weren’t sure anymore it was a good thing that the weather was so nice! It was so hot! There was not a spot of shadow anywhere, and the surface of the skatepark was reflecting both the heat and the sun! Only standing made us feel like we had run a marathon… It was that crazy! Make-up time for every one, with a very strict order of not moving around too much, so the makeup doesn’t run… And then we were ready to film! With the sun starting to set at 4pm, time where we started the video shoot, the temperature got a lot better very fast!

And then, the music started! The song in itself is enough to lift you up, but with the visual added to it, it just brought the song a complete different perspective, while bringing the excitement to a whole new level! The music, the band, the skateboarders, the Tokyo skyline in the background… It really was so much more than noise! The whole team completely flipped out, too! They loved the takes so much that, according to their own words, “they peed their pants”… 😉

The team received energy as the band played, and the band received energy from the team… There really was a special synergy in between each and everyone of us… As if we had known each other for a lifetime already!

And then came 8pm… After we all managed to find the energy we thought we didn’t have for such a long and intense shoot – the band said it was more demanding physically than a 2 hour live performance, and how wet their clothes were after the shoot did support what they were saying – we packed all the gear, and spent time with the crew, the skateboarders, the people who had came to see us… It really felt like a very large family gathering! We were all tired and exhausted despite the fact it was very early, but we knew nobody wanted to leave… Nobody would have been able to sleep, our adrenaline level was way too high!

We had a curfew at 10pm, as the place was closing at that time… But we knew that it wouldn’t be respected anyway – the staff of the skatepark was also hanging out with us! However it’s the rain that started falling that made us all go home! A true wink from heaven, letting us know that this day of beautiful weather wasn’t only a coincidence… Has it rained, we would have had to cancel everything. A moment none of us will ever forget… 🙂

It was loud, it was noisy, it hurt, but no one can deny it… it was as real as it gets!!!!

– Stephanie