BLOG -- Man with a Mission World Tour 2023 ~Wolves on Parade~ @ The Axis Club (May 25, 2023)

So Man With a Mission (MWAM) stopped by Toronto over a week ago, and I went. I initially was too busy but then I made myself un-busy. I had so much fun at their last concert (so many years ago) that I realized I couldn't miss the chance to see them again.

For anybody curious, here's my blog to the last concert:

https://ironixgirl.blogspot.com/2019/09/blog-man-with-mission-chasing-horizon.html

The stage for MWAM.

Me and Man With A Mission - Update

There's not much to update from the last time. I still listen to MWAM every now and then, "akatsuki", "Memories", and "Please Forgive Me" still being my favourite songs (please perform them live in Toronto one day!).

For this concert, I was thinking of getting a VIP ticket (since I got one at the last concert). Then I saw the price and promptly purchased general admission. $300-something for VIP vs  $35-something for general admission is a huge gap... especially if we're all sharing the same stage! Was it to offset ticket scalping? Sorry... I just couldn't do it. The most I would probably pay for VIP would be maybe $200 after tax.

The Little Details

Date of Concert: May 25, 2023

Venue: The Axis Club (Toronto, Ontario)

Time: 8:00 PM (Doors open 6:45 PM for VIP; 7:10 PM for general admission)

Ticket Price Total: $36.75 (general admission)

Seating: No reserved seating

5:15-ish PM @ The Axis Club

The line into The Axis Club.

I got to The Axis Club about 2 hours early with my boyfriend. We were there that early to meet with a couple friends, but they didn't show until much later. By that time more people had lined up behind us.

The weather was pretty windy so it was a bit agonizing being in line for so long. My boyfriend and I ended up chatting with the person behind us. The guy seemed open to small talk so it was a good way to pass time. We talked about how we first got exposed to MWAM (his first exposure was through watching Seven Deadly Sins). We also talked about some anime series we enjoyed (he really liked Air Gear -- I'll have to check it out sometime). I talked about Monster and Black Lagoon (series I'll blog about one day). The guy also mentioned attending Anime North the next day and it being his first convention ever. I wished him luck with all the long lines he'll be facing. 

At some point, the line got divided into a VIP line and a general admission line. We also had to make space to let all the beer get wheeled in (we saw tons of tall Heineken cans). Eventually the VIP attendees were given a bag of goodies (much better than what I got as VIP at the last concert). They were let in around 6:45 PM.

Before we got let in, we had to show an ID to get a wristband to let the staff know we're of age to buy alcohol.

The line for general admission.

7:10-ish PM -- Going into the Den...

The stage inside was much larger than the last concert. There was a large standing area in the center, the bar area on one side and a wall bench on the other side. There were also stairs leading to a mezzanine. I quickly went to the merch table while my boyfriend went to buy a couple drinks (one drink was for me). The guy was also at the merch table. We got a couple things and went back to the standing area where my boyfriend met with the couple of friends we were supposed to meet up with earlier.

The guy noticed that some of the VIPs were standing on the mezzanine. I was a bit surprised. The view would be great for sure, but the mezzanine was much farther from the wolves. Wouldn't a VIP want to be as close to the stage as possible? 

Close to 8 PM (show time), I went to the washroom. I decided to use one attendee holding a MWAN plushie as a "landmark" to help me find my way back to my boyfriend and friends. Sadly, I didn't see that person at all when I came back to the standing area. I weaved into the crowd and then saw a friend's head some rows in front of me. So I weaved out of the crowd and gently pushed my way back in. 

Around 8 PM, some attendees were howling (like wolves), I guess hoping it would encourage the wolves to come out.

A couple times, an announcement came on telling the attendees that it was very bad luck to take photos and videos during the concert. I laughed. I thought it was cute.

The merchandise shop! It was pretty small.

The stage but with a different image.

8:15-ish PM -- Music START!!

It -- was -- fantastic! MWAM really knows how to keep a crowd pumped up. Throughout many of the songs, one of them would make hand motions (like clapping or waving the arms) and we'd follow along. My feet were already starting to ache after the 3rd song (please keep in mind that I was standing since 5:15 PM), but I kept going, cheering and moving my arms.

Aside from hoping my favourite songs would be performed, there were two things I was hoping would happen: that moment of being motioned to sit and jump all at the same time (something that happened at the last concert), and chances for wolf pats. The wolf pats did not happen this year (understandable since COVID is still a thing), but the sitting and jumping did! I got so excited when one of the wolves made hand motions for us to "sit"... XD

Halfway through the concert, the wolves left and we were shown a short video clip of Spear Rib (drummer) in a meeting with an executive. Spear Rib wanted to draw some wild animals so they were on a roadtrip to the safari. Little did they know that Tokyo Tanaka (lead vocalist) was the driver! They ended up at an F1 track (I think it was F1) and Tanaka suggested that Spear Rib try drawing him while he was driving fast. It was pretty hilarious -- and very random XD

At some point, one of the wolves (maybe Jean-Ken Johnny? If I'm wrong, please correct me) said they tried the sushi in Toronto and said we really screwed it up (jokingly, of course). He also encouraged us to visit Japan to try out the sushi there.

The only other time things slowed down a bit was when Jean-Ken Johnny (I think?) performed an acoustic version of "Change the World". It was great.

Any Demon Slayer fans watching season 3 probably went wild when familiar string rhythms to "kizuna no kiseki" began (I'm still a couple seasons behind so I didn't recognize it). 

After the last song, they thanked us and walked offstage. My feet and arms were so sore, but I didn't want it to end. The crowd kept clapping and shouting "Encore!". Then it changed to "One more song!". Then it was just clapping. We were all probably so dead tired but we all wanted more.

The wolves came back on and did two more songs. The last song was "FLY AGAIN -Hero's Anthem-", which I thought was very fitting for a last song.

When it was over, some of the wolves wrapped their open mouths with scarves (to hide their faces) and then told us it was okay to take pictures and videos.

The show ended around 10:05 PM.

The wolves. The only time we're allowed to take photos.

Another shot. Don't they look ferocious and adorable?

Setlist

Here is the setlist for MWAM. Unlike the last time, it was much easier to put together. For this tour, MWAM had a Spotify playlist that changed to match the setlist of the current concert. So after the concert, I quickly copied the setlist for Toronto before it changed to the next concert.

Here's the Spotify playlist for Toronto if you want to check it out:

https://open.spotify.com/playlist/1ivgEQ9jo3Mmfcd7Hc0PIu?si=f12405cd8a2f418a

-database
-Get Off of My Way
-Merry-Go-Round
-Thunderstruck
-Emotions
-Seven Deadly Sins
-evils fall
-Dark Crow

----short video was shown----

-Change the World (Acoustic)

-Between fiction and friction I

-Hey Now

-Smells Like Teen Spirit (Nirvana cover)

-kizuna no kiseki

-Dead End in Tokyo

-Raise your flag

-INTO THE DEEP

Encore:
-Take Me Under
-FLY AGAIN -Hero's Anthem-

Overall Experience

This was so much fun. I'm really glad I went in the end. If you want to attend a concert that stays high energy the whole way through, this is definitely one! If you enjoy anime and like upbeat vibes, this concert will satiate. I was so tired and so energized at the same time. The next day I didn't want to move, hahaha.

A special thanks to the guy who chatted with me and my boyfriend during the 2-hour long line into the club, for telling me where to find MWAM's setlist for the night, and then sticking with us through the concert. If he happens to be reading this blog (almost 100% unlikely), feel free to drop a comment or send a message through the contact form and say "hi". I'd like to talk some more anime! May we possibly meet again at another MWAM concert! XD

MWAM, thank you for coming to Toronto! Please come again soon! <3 <3 <3

I swear... I'll be able to tell you guys apart at the next concert! XD

My swag. A t-shirt plus their 10 year anniversary "Best Mission" CD.

Total cost was $90.

Thank you so much for reading!

If you have any questions / comments, feel free!

Take care, stay safe, and until next time! :)