This year’s Final Fantasy XI Fan Festival took place on December 6 at the Renaissance Hollywood Hotel in Los Angeles, CA. People from all over North America gathered to witness the sights and sounds, including a musical guest whose identity would not be confirmed until the day of the festivities.
I went to the event with my hopes set high: a full performance from the Star Onions… maybe with recording equipment set up so they could later release a live CD, or even DVD, showcasing it. The Japanese version of the event, entitled “Vana’Fest,” had taken place two weeks before and featured a full concert from the Star Onions.
For the North American Fan Fest, however, we got the less (and the more) in one performer. A member of the Star Onions, an accomplished pianist, and co-composer for Final Fantasy XI, Ms. Kumi Tanioka took the stage with a full-sized keyboard, prepared to win over the fans who had, perhaps, pined for a larger show.
Read full impressions of her performance after the jump. (more…)
