INTRODUCING: EYESHINE

Hey folks, happy thanksgiving. Hope you all havve a good time enjoying your turkey and your family. Thank you for having me as a writer on the blog, and now I'd like give my thanks to some very special people that though some of you may heard of once or twice, but probably don't know very well.



(left to right: Polo Yazaki, Johnny Yong Bosch, Maurice Salmin, Crystal Mesina)

As some of you may know, Johnny Yong Bosch, after leaving power rangers, became an anime voice actor, and a rocker. But what is this band that he is a member of? well, as stated in the eyeshine panel at PMC3, after having financial problems, Johnny had to make a decission with one of his last possessions (a guitar): play it or sell it. Of course he chose to play it. eventually he met drummer Maurice Salmin, and became the "Lennon/McCartney" of modern rock (though this was still sort of in their "Lennon/Sutcliff" stage). Much like how the Beatles were originally called the Quarrymen, Eyeshine were originally called "Partly cloudy", but then decided the name was stupid. After watching an episode of "Crocodile Hunter", having the late Steve Irwin talk about looking for a crocodile's eyeshine at night, they decided, that should be their new name.

The band mainly consisted of four members, who changed at various points, leading to Johnny with lead vocals/rhythm guitar, Maurice on drums/backup vocals, Crystal Mesina on bass, and Eddie Colmenares on lead guitar. At that point, they've performed at many anime conventions, at PMC1, and released their 4th LP album "Tone of Echoes" (the first three being "How About That", "Red Stripes and White Lights" and "My Paper Kingdom"). In their whole career they did a number of music videos, including "Our Whole Lives Tonight", directed by my good friend, Jason Narvy.

Sometime after losing the first Gimme The Gig competition in 2011, Eddie left the band, and was replaced by their sub guitarist, Masataka "Polo" Yazaki. Eddie then joined another band, and on occasion comes to the band's regular venue to perform, and give friendly support to the band. At that point, Eyeshine were at their best. The music blended so perfectly, and teamwork was just phenomenal. Now, i'm not saying that they were worse before or after, but to ever fan, there is one era in a band's carreer that they find most savoury, and for me, that was it. At that point, they finished their acoustic album "Afterglow", and started working on their 5th LP "Revolution Airwaves". After being reinvited to Gimme The Gig II in 2012, the band scored an amazing victory in the finals, granting them a chance to perform a music video for their song "Stratosphere" under the direction of Don Was. Sadly, this led to the dark age of the band.

Sometime after the competition, Crystal tragically left the band due to family and financial reasons. without a bassist, they had to work around gigs they've already booked by doing accoustic instead of full electric. Luckily, while searching for a replacement, Eyeshine's sister band, Service Interuption lended them their bass player, Zack Duncan. Thanks to Zack's help, they were able to perform to their fullest, even in PMC3, and from the fans' reaction (which I was a part of), they did not disappoint. before the actual concert at PMC, they had a panel with Q/A and music in the background. the next day there was an accoustinc Q/A where they answered in song form, but sadly i can't come because it was a gold event and and a communication error made me short one guest pass. but here's the the basic panel:

Recently, they've been able to find a perminant bassist in Ginny Eck. who joined the band sometime between PMC3 and Sept 5th. Now that the band is complete again, they are trying to rock out harder than they ever could, including a 2nd accoustic album, 2 new music videos "Consuming Fire", and "Broken and Abused", and a special surpise that I promised Johnny I wouldn't tell, but stay tuned for it when it comes. They still play at 2nd St. Jazz club every first Wednesday of the month (the next being Dec. 5th)

How I came aquanted with the band? Well, as some of you may know, Jason Narvy is a friend of mine, and both of us are huge Shakespeare buffs. On my 19th birthday, he got to hang out while he was playing a comedy version of hamlet (which if you really think about it, is a comedy....tragic...but a comedy). but right before he left home to pack for Chicago, he told me to check out the band. Of course I did, and was exited to find johnny was in it. I didn't put too much focus on them just yet but it was kinda cool that my favorite ranger was a rocker. But then last October, I was attending the opening of a toku art museum, and heard a band performing outside. I was surprised to hear it was the band that featured my hero from age 3. After the show, we got to chat for a bit, which was awesome. Afterwards, I started going to gigs, and I was even recognised as the "fedora guy" (long story).....anyways, a whole year has passed, and Johnny and Maurice are now good friends of mine. Looking back, it's funny when your classmates pretend to be friends with rangers, and then you become actual friends with one....and your all-time favorite no less. Granted, I don't go to gigs because he's a ranger....I do it because he's part of an awesome band, and i see a lot of friends rocking out with me. In fact when I watch PR episodes with him in them, it's hard to believe that guy in the show is a personal aquaintance.

Eyeshine is a local LA band, and aren't signed by a label. Not many people know them, but millions of PR and anime fans have heard of them through Johnny's wikipedia, PMC, anime conventions, youtube, or happen to have friends who already listen to them. You can check the band out on youtuble, eyeshine.net, like them on facebook, or follow on twitter, and follow their adventures on their documentary series "Eyeshine Experience". And if they happen to perform in your home town, like Tampa FL last weekend, for example, be sure to check them out.

EYESHINE HOME PAGE

EYESHINE FACEBOOK PAGE

EYESHINE YOUTUBE PAGE

 

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Henshin0's Universal Rider Forms Terminology

A while ago I wrote a post about Kamen Rider OOO and Fourze 2012 MEGAMAX, and made a question about dbl-rocket stats, and realised that i have my own terminology for all rider forms, which probably aren't the same ones used by most KR fans. So I made a flow-chart with my terms for rider forms, under which all forms of all riders would go under. This is based on all material as of september 2011, so one form on the chart is not quite accurate, and as the show progresses (given the new stages added by decade and w), i will update the chart whenever a new rider shows up with a form that doesn't fit in the chart (most notably fourze dble rocket and rocket drill state). This chart and post is to introduce a universal terminology for the forms so that if I, or anyone else, mentions "mid-" "side-" or "final-" forms of any given rider, old or new, everyone else would understand what is meant by it. ex: if I ask "what is W's mid-form?", you'd be easily able to understand that the answer is "fang-joker". Though some recent riders have different names for their forms such as "combo" or "state", my universal terminology will use "form" since it's been used so much in pre-decade era. Even gatakiriba combo and elec states would both be side-form in my chart. Anyways, here it is:

Incuded in each catagory, is an example or two of rider forms that fall under each catagory.

The main form for all riders, I call base form....no particular reason, but it was the first that came to my head (fourze base state might have influence over the name). All riders have a base form.

Proto form is a weaker stage that some riders have. Often when they first transform, they start off in this form before going to base form. the only to have that are kuuga growing, ryuki plaid, kabuto masked, and den-o plaid.

Sub-base is a weaker version of base form. usually it is used when a rider can't go to base form and uses an alternative transformation. riders who use this include w joker form, skull crystal form, and birth proto version (though it's called proto, do not get confused and put it in the proto-form catagory).

Super-base, in contrast to sub-base, is a powered up version of base form. as of 9/2011, there are only two riders who can use it: kuuga rising-mighty form, and decade fury form.

Side is when the rider dons an alternative form (almost always changes colors) with new powers and changes to statistics such as power, stamina, speed, etc. Side forms were first introduced in black rx with robo and bio rider, the the trend continued with kuuga, agito, den-o, kiva, w, ooo, and fourze.

Super-side is a powered up version of a coresponding side form (the side form equivelent of super-base form). the only rider so far to have any is kuuga with rising dragon, rising pegasus, and rising titan.

Sub-side was first introduced in W, and W and OOO are the only riders so far to have them. With their skill being combinations of two or three sideforms respectively, they can use slightly less powerful cobinations to get out of a pinch in fast pace melee combat. for example, w has two side forms, heatmetal and lunatrigger, but if he were using heatmetal, and needed an extra reach, he would have a lower division of form change by swapping out heat for luna, so that he would still have his metal rod, but with the elongation capability of luna. In addition, each complete combo has an added ability when all three medals are of the same color, but sometimes, he'd need to swap out sonic chest bongo and seismic stomping for cheetah speed for example by going from saigorzo to saigortah.

DCD is a form that was only used in kamen rider decade and his movies by all main heisei riders up to w. They can only be accessed by decade or diend when using a FINAL FORM RIDE card (not to be confused with the term "final form" in my chart). Though it's called final form, I see it as an alternative side form in decade's era. the riders and their forms go as follows: kuuga gouram, agito tornado, ryuki dragredder, faiz blaster, blade blade, hibiki ongekkido, kabuto zecter, den-o liner/momotaros, kiva arrow, decade decadriver-jumbo formation, and w cyclonecyclone/jokerjoker

Mid form for some riders is their second strongest form. it is first introduced in kuuga and reaccurs every other season. Somewhere between the mid teens and mid 20's of the seasons, the main rider fights an enemy that they can't win against in base or side forms, so they a much more powerful form that gives the the strength to win. Examples of such forms include agito trinity, blade jack, hibiki kurenai, w fangjoker, the wildly popular ooo tajadol, and the very recent fourze magnet.

sub-mid and side-mid follow the same meaning as sub-base and side forms, exept they are mid level instead of base level. I made these two levels in precaution for ooo burakawani and four

Final--Since the avent of the heisei era, this is the most anticipated form of main riders. THE FINAL FORM. Save a few movie-exclusive power-ups, final form is the ultimately most powerful form they have.

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HENSHIN0's PMC Experience

Hey everyone. As you may know, this was Lavender's 1'st PMC, but it was also my 2nd. I will share some of my own. First, I'm sad to say that I didn't upload any photos yet, so I can't show any just yet; but I might add some later editing. Another thing is that this post is about my general experience altogether, while I'll cover panels on another post.

Much like with PMC2,  one of the greatest annoyances was driving from Encino to Pasadena and back for 3 days in a row, and of course paying for parking. However, one of the greatest benifits of making friends in conventions and other toku events, is having someone giving you "backcutsies" in long lines. one particular example was on the first day before reds were permited to enter, a friend of mine gave me backcutsies as close as 12 people in front of me. and in this convention, i got a total of 12 backcutsies, beating my record from the last PMC by 5 lines. Aesthetics were different between the two conventions. PMC 3 was in a completely different room  than PMC2, allowing for more room for toy sellers and guests. It was a great feeling meeting old friends whether fans or actors. Catching up with Jason Narvy (Skull), (whom I haven't seen since my birthday in 2011) was a blast, as well as Blake Foster (Justin), Paul Shrier (Bulk), and Masaki Seike (Mr. S from CS Toys). There were many new guests with whom I've also managed to come close with such as Ted, Tim, and Tom DiFillipo (three trey's of triforia), Ron Rogge (Capt. Mitchell), Mike Ginn (Gem), and a few others that I've only talked with on facebook, or met at PMC2, but didn't get to talk to as much as I did. There were some people that didn't come, but would have really wanted to meet, most notably Matt Austin (Bridge), Selwin Ward (TJ), and Sean Johnson (Carter), who are some of my most all-time favorite red rangers...I even made toast....yes, it's buttery -wiggles fingers-

Ron Rogge was particularly interesting to meet because with Carter Greyson being one of my all-time favorite rangers, how can I not indulge in meeting the actor that played the hero of my hero. Paradoxically, he, simultaniously, was both everything and absolutely nothing you'd expect from Captain Mitchell. He is smart, wise, and has somewhat of an aura that makes you (or me at least) awestruck to just so much as being in his presence. Just as soon as he said hello to me (from behind; I was facing away from him at the moment), I turned and said "hello" calmly, but in my head, I was thinking "OH MY GOD!!!!! IT'S CAPTAIN (bleep)ING MITCHELL!!!!!! MY HERO'S HERO!!!!!!". I'm suprised my head is still in tack, because it felt like it was exploding. As i got to know know him, I also found out that he is also way more easygoing than his tv role; a total fun and chill guy, and even a bit crazy and party-animalistic. I swear if I spent 24 hours with in a non-convention evironment, the end result would resemble the plot of a raunchy comedy (which I am now intending of writing).

The Triforians were interesting to talk to, but what was really fun was discussing and debating about PRZ, which ended with them having me give them a brief history lecture on the first 6 seasons of power rangers and their sentai counterparts (even showing footage of riki/kingranger from ohranger). We've became good friends (Tim even sent me a friend request on FB), but the best part is the three of them, using the golden staff of triforia, have knighted me as their personal unofficial toku advisor (which is kind of epic).

Mike Ginn....thank god nothing went boom...Just kidding. He is really deep. Ironically, he's a lot more like Hiroto than like Gem (no, he's not a jerk if that is what you think). As soon as we found out we both were named "Mike", we actually got into a discussion about the historical origin of the name, and its odessy to the present, ranging from Catholic Rome, to Soviet Jewdaism. One particular discussion we had actually started off with a question I asked in the SPD/RPM panel, where in our one on one discussion we were talking about the serious Hiroto in the goofy go-onger vs the goofy Gem in the darker-toned PR RPM, how there is a need to be a balance between lighter and darker tones in a show to be good, and how these tones are balanced in the two shows. What was really impressive is that though he never actually watched go-onger, he's really knowledgeble about hiroto and what he calls "talking googly-eyed cartoon cars".

One visitor that I was particularly mutually happy to be reunited with was Masaki Seike aka Mr. S from CS Toys. We got along famously in PMC2, and appearantly I stood out to him enough to be remembered for another 2 years. I got to cosplay as Akashi Satora (Boukenred) and be on camera, talk to the CS toy fans watching his stream, play with some of his new merchandice, and essentially relive gokaiger episode 21. But of course I was mostly discussing kamen rider with him and actually got my name kanji'd by the lady that made the "shippu" and "kirafuda" talismans from kamen rider w episode 29. Hilariously, while the lot of us were talking about my obsession with kamen rider kabuto, I pulled out a random core medal from his promotional gift box, and I end up pulling out the kabuto medal. (if they make an akiba rider, Seike himself confirmed I should play him XD). But seriously, I'll miss him, and untill next time, I'll continue to watch his youtube channel in support.

Eyeshine.....the weirdest thing about seeing Cathrine's and Nakia's (Cat and Tonya) tables is seeing Johnny Yong Bosch in the zeo/turbo days. Knowing Johnny as Johnny, the lead singer of eyeshine, and being fully accoustomed to that, it's hard to believe he played Adam in power rangers...I suppose I now know how Kira from dinothunder felt when she saw tommy from highschool.

Me-I'm so used to the Johnny from right now, it's hard to believe this was Johnny from back then.
Cat-Welll, I'm so used to the Johnny from back then, that it's hard to believe that is Johnny now.

It was also Surreal to see people I know online such as a friend from youtube, a few people on facebook, and

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