I feel as though there’s an unspoken (and sometimes spoken) sentiment among overseas Visualists (particularly No/So Americans) that falls somewhere along the lines of, we’re unnoticed, our fandom unappreciated, our prayers left unanswered. As I recall, a little bitterness flared up summer of last year when GACKT announced his international debut– in Europe. Oh come on, we’re all a little guilty.

This is more or less a working hypothesis on my part — based on Twitter conversations, mainly, and fleeting observations; it’s somewhat sad, though. I highly doubt any fans are slighted or left unappreciated; actually I’m sure most bands would be stoked to perform for as many audiences as possible all over the world. Touring overseas is a massive undertaking, requiring visas and money – lots of money, as well as time, energy, and enough of a reception to foot the (considerable) bill. It’s a form of promotion a bit pricier than handing out fliers in Shibuya, I’ll say that much.

It’s actually come to my attention the past year or so how much bands are working to overcome this obstacle of time and space. Although I’m sure they understand that nothing, nothing will replace the exhilaration of being crushed up against the stage in a dingy little club, your favorite band inches, feet, yards from you, rocking out before your very eyes. However, there is a way to emulate universal inclusion.

Live-streaming.

Oh the joys of the 21st century. More and more artists and groups are catching on to the phenomenon that is live-streaming. It seems like pretty much anything and everything can, and is, streamed live on the internet. We can now watch real-time interviews, press-conferences, talks, events, and– you guessed it, live concerts.

If this isn’t the most legit use of the internet since its advent, then I honestly can’t tell you what is.

Although the fact of live-streaming via USTREAM doesn’t rate the front cover of The Your- City-Name Times, the content can still be pretty attention-catching. And this week, the content is certainly worth its weight in bandwidth. As it were, this Sunday will see the conclusion of Jrock megastar duo B’z‘s short North America stint,  LIVE-GYM 2011 – long time no see –. The performance, held in Los Angeles at CLUB NOKIA, will be streamed live for free via USTREAM, an answer (compromise) to the prayers of Visualists who don’t count on waking up mysteriously in a hotel in downtown LA on the 24th.

The concert will be streamed at 7PM local time (LA) — following is a list of the corresponding times in the major cities. I don’t envy Paris, but it’s well worth it.

July 24th – 7pm (Los Angeles)
July 24th – 10pm (New York)
July 24th – 11pm (Buenos Aires)
July 25th – 3am (London)
July 25th – 4am (Paris)
July 25th – 6am (Moscow)
July 25th – 11am (Tokyo)

Access the live-stream here. For smartphone (actual intellectual quality of said devices being a matter of opinion) users, go here.