A dream come true...and oh so much more...
In order to describe last night accurately, it would take a complete recount of every action of every band member, fan, staff member, and crew person. It's almost surreal how this concert went on. I can't really recall a lot of it, but the feeling was priceless and more than the word 'amazing' could even describe. I'm not fangirling here, I do believe that it was an experience of a lifetime and one that amazed even the most unloyal and disrespectable of 'fans'.I think I will attempt to carry on with the day's details, highlights, and anything extra if I can manage it.
Thursday morning - beginning at 6:00 a.m.
I woke up and looked around for the right clothes to wear, and settled on something I wasn't afraid of messing up. Mainly the usual black t-shirt and jeans + converse. Began to get everything ready to bring (i.e. camera, food, gift and letter type things for the band, and for some reason a Japanese dictionary...but whatever. Then got a call from Bille saying she'd be over in a few minutes around 7:30 or so...She got here and we finished getting ready with makeup and other random shit such as hair spiking. Waited a little bit while she sketched a picture of the band to give to them. And then took off around 7:55 or 8:00 ish.
The ride there
The ride to the venue seemed to take forever considering we took the streets. It consisted of lots of stories about sex, drugs, and violence told by my dad. Yes, I'm serious. We talked a bit about Dir en grey, and about how the concert was going to be conducted, and then the rest of the way we cracked rather unruly racial jokes at one another. It was fun I guess. Anticipation hadn't really hit me outside of "god, I hope we are within that first 200 people who get into the pit" and "I really hope the line isn't stretched around the block by now". By the time these thoughts ended, we had hit KTown. It felt like the Puffy concert again...same venue and area, but of course...Dir en grey isn't a couple of puny Jpop girls that happen to play electric guitar. No, Dir en grey is composed of legends. Led by the voice of a god equal to no other. We had arrived. The marquee above the entrance said it all.
The arrival, the horrid line, and the 12 hour wait
When we were dropped off, the first thing Bille and I did was take a look at the line...which suprisingly hadn't yet reached the Denny's. We took a quick trip to the bathroom and headed out to look for Sarah and Bianca or anyone else who we I knew. We happened upon Sarah and Irene after about a minute of walking down the line and sat with them. They had been there since 6 am. A good 10 - 20 minutes later, Bianca came along with her group and nearly passed me up when I grabbed her foot and she realized who was latching onto her. We hung out for a while in different places and took small walks as people saved our spots and stuff.
Bianca then proceeded in painting my black pants and shoes with silver paint...turned out kinda cool. That wasted about....no time. grr. Yeah, and then me and Bille helped Sarah with the Postcard project and stuff. I don't know, it's really difficult to account for the time in line because time passed SO FUCKING SLOWLY. I know Sarah agrees, right? sheesh.
I mean, really...it was worth it in the end by all means...but that was killer. We went and looked around Ralphs to find food and came back with the unlikely combonation of chicken and tic tacs. =D tee hee. that made around a half hour go by...really not enough to matter. I walked up and down the line meeting new people and snapping line pics(see below) as well as recognizing a lot of familiar internet faces such as thechexican, bass_no_toshiya (who was first in line and got there at 8 pm the day before), as well as my random hot friend Jesse from MySpace. And some construction guy cam along as we were eating our chicken shouting and preaching the word of Jesus. Which was great...I showed him up by stating Kyo was god, not Jesus. After laughs, all was chill and pretty patient until...a lot of line drama began.
Order of Happenings in line:
1. First count put us at 60 - 64th persons in line...within a good hour, people who were bunching together, meeting their friends, and cutting, put us at #s 97-101. Which was absolutely ridiculous.
2. We spent the next two hours or so devising a plan of how we were going to regain our spots in line.
3. Finally came up with something and I moved up to fill in a rather large gap in front of the Cingular Wirless store. Putting us back at about 60 and slowly started moving our stuff in and greeting the pople in front of us who gladly let us stay there after we explained our predicament.
4. The nice people in front of us said they would verify and claim us if anyone gave us any trouble for 'cutting'. Which well, was bound to happen and did.
5. The people behind us (a fat chick with bright red hair and this rat nosed white girl with orangey pigtails) began to bitch and complain quietly.
6. What began as quiet complaining turned into rather loud bitching where they would point and namecall quite harshly. They continued this from 12:30 to around 2:00 p.m. while we TRIED to ignore them.
7. They finally approached us and said they had called security because THEY had been there since 3 a.m. which, by all means is unfair and wrong on our part...but the whole line was really a free for all. They just happened to target us and put my little group at fault. Maybe we looked to innocent and they thought we'd be easy to boss around, ne?
8. Security approached us and told us of the complaints, threatening to break up the whole line. We stood our ground making up the story that we had been there with the group ahead of us since 2:40 a.m. Security went for it and let us be while the people behind us continued glaring at us while we took trips between bathroom breaks and went on with calling us such things as "douche bags". Not to mention the like 3 times we went back and forth after Bille almost lost her ticket in the bathroom. Glares were exchanged quite harshly then.
9. We all became very tired of the drama and just all around exhausted from the shit they were giving us. We sat there and made friends with the Cingular staff and tried to make due with the situation. Caren started crying from the pressure of people being mean and what not. And Sarah was like...all guilty and stuff. But personally, we got our spot, and I wasn't going to give it up. Especially since the line really wasn't supposed to start forming until about 4 or 5p.m. We had just as much right to be there as them, and besides...we all were going to get into the pit anyway at that rate.
10. After that, a couple of cool people started groups of shouting waves where people shouted their favrite band member's name followed by "HAI!!!!". which was enjoyable. I watched as people did it, saving my voice for Diru.
11. After the breakdown and calm down of most people, Kat and Derek showed up and we went through a whole new ordeal with them standing there talking with us. We had to explain to security that they had reserved seating anyway and were just talking to us...not cutting. Either way, it turned out alright. Aside from this black (chick? person..? couldn't tell) refused to leave after cutting, and got in trouble for it. As well as these really hot Japanese guys who people let cut for the sake of hotness. I took a trip out of line to visit Bianca and Jessica person and talk while eating her spicy and rather refreshing pho XD.
um...yeah. And so...after all that waiting and drama, 6:00 rolled around. In which everyone was warned that chains and cameras and a load of unessecarily confiscated shit was not aloud. We all rushed to Bianca to store shit in her/Mike's rental Scion (sp?) dealers. And then went back to the line and waited for the doors to open at 7:30...which was supposed to happen at 7, but oh well.
Anticipation and nervousness escalated. And then it finally began.
Entrance to concert
As I said, at around 7:30 they opened the doors and slowly started checking people's tickets. Sarah and Irene were going to buy merchandise but only Irene got some. We lined up and traded our tickets for wristbands to get into the pit. Bille and I secured our spots and got a firm spot right in front of the stage where Kaoru and Toshiya were to be. Second "row" but basically against the baracade. Sarah and Irene soon followed and I believe Bianca and her crew were led to the floor section row 1, where i later found them during the performance.
It Begins
It literally seemed like forever for even the opening band to come out. To be honest, I was less than excited to see Opiate for the Masses but, I wanted them to hurry up so that Dir en grey would take stage even sooner. Besides, my feet were fucking killing me by then.
After a good 45 minutes of standing in the pit talking and listening to the opening NIN music (o_O supposedly Kaoru chose it or something), the band was finally announced.
Opiate for the Masses took stage and quickly got their act going, shouting and trying to get the crowd going. There was lots of spit and sweat from them...and the drummer was wild eyed and practically nutso looking. I believe it was the bassist who rolled around on the ground playing, but for me that was more amusing than cool. The vocalist was pretty attracive, but for the most part their performance was just -alright-. It didn't really get me going outside of the vocalist jumping down into the crowd. He visited the center and right section but showed us no love. It's alright though...we had a decent view of him.
After their 3 or 4 songs, they gave some random mention to Dir en grey and got everyone excited. And they thanked us and left stage as the set up began.
set up
not a very important or mentionable thing, but it was another painstaking wait as they brought out Kyo's table/stand thing and secured it to the stage. The equipment was brought out and tested as well...people went all joyous as they brought out Totchi's bass and Die and Kao's guitars. We watched and waited as they did mic and sound checks, hoping for a glimpse of the band members. And then...they began to clear stage after a good 20 minutes...the music cut and all went black.
Finally, what we waited for takes it's place in history
The faint sounds of a synthesizer began to come into hearing range...and then the techno-rockish beat started up as everyone lifted themselves and began jumping and yelling with the "OIs!" and "KILL!!!s" of G.D.S.
It was like people were suddenly brought to life after that intermission...the lights flashed wildly, the speakers boomed...my heart as I'm sure everyone else's around me began to race. This is what we had been waiting for....and it was finally real. I think...it really hit people that this wasn't a DVD...it wasn't just the music...within seconds, each member would take their place on stage and the magic would begin.
I don't remember what order they came in...I really don't...so many lights. I remember Shinya making his entrance and taking his place behind the drums. His hair was beautiful...I really like it. He's not as skinny as everyone makes him out to be. It may have been the clothes, but he seemed average. I didn't really see much of him since he was behind the drums the whole time.
And then I remember Toshiya and Kaoru getting into their positions and giving that whole smirk and ROCK ON attitude to us all. And Die was on the other side grabbing his guitar with a hood over his head.
And then Kyo made his entrance. I hate to sound weird...but it's like we felt his presence when he took stage. From the moment he gave that wild eyed stare to the crowd, he commanded our complete attention. I couldn't take my eyes off of him. G.D.S was coming to it's end and I waited for his roar at the end....which he hit so precisely that all I did was let it resound through my ears and get me going. We were all jumping and yelling his name and the names of the others...Kaoru was towering right above/in front of us...it was so great.
From what I remember they first played Clever Sleazoid. Which hasn't always been a favorite of mine, but if that didn't get the crowd on their feet (literally) I don't know what did. Kyo's Engrish was like heaven...as we all shouted the lyric clearer than him (lol). He hit the "wither wither wither wither" part and I almost started crying. By the time the Japanese verse came along, it was so accurate, so real, so there in my face all around me...that my excitement can't even been described. The pain and emotion in his voice was so powerful. His facial expressions showed every bit of it. Such an evil look in his eyes, but it was so much for show that he had you believing his anger. "ONE DAY I WILL FUCK YOUR PARENTS!" Oh yeah, the whole crowd had that one accurately. No doubt about that.
We all looked at him mesmorized and smiling and shouting his name. I have a feeling that the people around me really felt it. As did I. They wasted no time as the song ended and Kaoru led into the next song. I will have to get the setlist later, because it was really difficult to keep track of the order and which songs they played. I know that after that...was Saku which was fun as hell to yell along to. There was something about the song that makes it a better live song than anything. I think the actual singing was what I was amazed with the most....drums kicked ass in it too. Poor Shinya, I really wish I could've seen more of him. He deserves more support.
And if I remember right, that song was followed by Jesus Christ R&R. Oh my god. I love that song. It's just so great to hear Kyo talk so clearly, and letting the crowd sing the 'ominous communication' portion. I was shouting at the top of my lungs with him "JESUS CHRIST ROCK N' ROLL!!!" I've never roared so loudly in my life. It made all of the random outbursts I do with Kyo screaming more justified. The "wow" sounds that Kaoru helped Kyo along with were amazing and amusing in a very energetic happy way. I'm just so glad that song was pulled off proffessinally, I couldn't have asked for more with it. Kyo's face was lit up by the lights and all definition was gracefully showing as he crouched on the stand. It was just....there isn't even a word for it...I'm really searching for one because amazing doesn't cut it.
I don't remember what came next (as if I could write it down or something) but I think for the rest of this...since I'm whiped out pretty badly, I'm just going for highlights of each song I can remember off hand.
Machiavellism was just like I had imagined. With the fast guitar and Kyo's really awesome shouting of SHOWTIME. There is like nothing better than that...and the really fast chorus. Dakedo motto motto motto leading into hurry up hurry up wrist-cut show was like listening to the track itself...with the pleasure of watching Kyo perform his heart out. It was as if he was truly speaking to the crowd. And he really does sound like he's saying the whole Kaoru eating cashews line...I guess there was some truth to it...I mean, I almost slipped and sang that lyric instead. MY PLEASURE....
Beautiful Dirt was like the ultimate thrashing song.
It was so fast with such heavy guitar and bass...Toshiya was woo-ing the crowd and Kaoru had that \m/ feeling going on. Kyo just freaking screamed his heart out. What really got me was how high he went and how hard Shinya was banging those drums.
Garbage...as difficult to understand as it was, that's what made it great...we all just roared along with it and shouted "PLEASE DIE" with Kaoru and Die. Fucking Kyo and his insane baby killing voice...that was the greatest thing on Earth. Man..."I WANT TO BECOME HAAAAAPPY -ROAR THRASH-" O_O that was so so so awseome...I have a new found love for that song...and the "wasuretai...daikirai" part was amazing. It was all purely magnificent.
The Final and it's glowstick plan completley fizzled out. I'm not suprised, anyone who did break them open got them confiscated. I don't think most people tried anyway because it wasn't dark enough to pull off. So overall, unsuccessful. That song has meaning for me. And memories between me and Bille that brought out the best of us...we both like sang our hearts out arms around shoulders in the pit yelling that famous "TE NOOOOOO NAKA NI WA" That was gratification right there. Kyo sang it beautifully, the man really does have a way with the crowd...my eyes were stinging on the verge of tears again. I can't express how each song was pulled off so precisely.
Dead Tree had the best coreography. Xd you heard me, coreography...Kyo and his dances...are like watching Moses divide the Red Sea. And his whispering only made us shout louder when it came to the "no one wants the present" part. My throat was aching by then but I kept it going and roared with him. He slid his hand down his pants and the crowd went wild. That was like porn 3 feet in front of me. Sex, I tell you.
HIGEKI WA MABUTA WO OROSHITA YASASHIKI UTSU was the most quiet of the songs. Kyo got really emotional and looked like he was crying...I really felt it. That man takes a toll on you. He sat on the stand thing for like 2 minutes after the song was over just hanging his head and it looked so...painful from the inside. I love his expression of emotion, it's just like when a poet writes something beautiful and you KNOW it's from the heart. He acts out every bit of it...and I applaud him for that.
III'D Empire was another scream and shout and jump song. I enjoyed it to the best of my ability. Simple as that...I really liked the lighting as well.
There's a gap in my mind for now...but the encore was cool. Their attore was laid back and made them look even hotter. And Kyo, despite his constant effort to be bloody and scary, is adorable.
I know C was part of the encore...but the mix of roaring and singing was beautiful...Dead Freedom indeed. I loved it. I can't even point out the highlights because every bit of it was just as great as the others. I mean, I remember certain instances...but it's seperated between what the band did and the songs they played.
I missed most of Mr.Newsman but slightly recall some of it. I was one of the crazy idiots getting smashed by the domino-like wall of people after Totchi's water bottle got thrown out there. I felt it, but whoever was next to me grabbed it before I could...and as a result I had three people on me on the wet floor of the pit.
The new song was hardly capable of being made out. I couldn't really hear it that well...maybe a mic issue? I was right there too...I wonder if the people in the back heard it. Regardless, the music was good...but I have no idea of the lyrical sounds or content.
And the most memorable song for me was Child Prey. Kyo stepped up and shouted "LAST SONG!" I didn't want it to be over, but it had to come to a close. We were all very tired anyway...them especially. Everything about this song was great...the crowd involvement was astonishing and I went to bed last night with the chorus still ringing in my ears. Kyo went wild...the band showed they still had energy left. Kaoru moved up front and Toshiya too. By the end, Kyo was wild. He ripped up the stand and threw it...started trashing some of the drums (though I missed that and heard about it afterwards) and then went for thewhole bucket deal and dumped water on his head before throwing it out to some lucky fan. In that time, I also wrestled someone for Die's pick that had landed in the trashcan...she socked me in the face and got away with it...my eye hurts from it and my glasses are super bent...my dad did the best he could to fix them...gah. Outside of that...cuts on face = ouch. They're from the glasses being shoved into my eye. Just peachy. The "wooooah OOOOHHHHHoooooh" done by the rest of the band was enough to get everyone to jump and go insane. It was the best choice for last song, I can't think of a better way to end the night.
What really stuck with me
+Kaoru towering over me and Bille and getting us going...
+Toshiya kneeling down near us and showing us how gorgeous and talented he truly is
+Die...giving those stearn looks...unenthused but sexy.
+Shinya playing those drums like there was no tomorrow...his style is truly unmatchable.
+Kyo sticking his hand in his pants and having a jolly good time teasing the crowd as we all went wild and nearly fainted from the godly sex.
+Kyo doing the whole mouth bleeding act. It was truly great. Smearing blood all over his face and chest and abs. You could see his scar from the New York show as he cut himself with as safety pin he pulled from his pocket.
+Kyo's jacket coming off after like the 4th song...his body is another thing to gawk at in wonder of how such a small man can be so appealing and seem so tall.
+Kyo with the bucket on his head. HYSTERICAL.
+So many people fainted and were carried away...it is a shame that they couldn't hold up to see all of it...I really couldn't take my eyes off the stage once it started. One girl had an asthma attack before it even began...I felt really bad for her. And I saw like at least 8 others being carried off limp in wheelchairs and by staff. Such a powerful crowd for a wonderful band. Both sides gave it their all, audience and performers.
We got souveniers. t-shirt and poster. Don't know what everyone else got...it was rather difficult seeing as they were running out of swag. I almost collapsed in line for it while I was dropping off the band's gifts.
Dir en grey was amazing. IS amazing, astonishing, wonderous, godly to say the least. A 'religious' experience. It was worth every penny, every minute, every ounce of pain I recieved, the deafness in my ears, and the bitching and fight for placement in the line. It was worth it all and so much more. I cannot tell any of you enough that my gratitude towards them is 100% honest and I don't need to exaggerate. They were truly everything I expected and far more exceeding. Going into the concert, I had no idea what to expect but a show...I came out with the pleasure and happiness caused by something that can only be seen and heard and felt rather than described. Coming out, it felt like I had experienced a breath taking wonder. It was surreal...it really was. It's almost as if it never happened, but it was right there in front of me. And I wouldn't change any of it for the world. My compassion for those boys is beyond belief. They are something I could never stop admiring, they've come so far.
Those of you who have lost your taste for their more recent music have yet to feel the rush of the unique metal sound they've created. Headbanging has never been my thing, but my neck is sore and my arms are tired from waving them in the air. My voice is cracked, my feet are in pain, my eyelids are heavy, and my throat hurts; all because they demand it. They pull you in and you can't not sing, you can't go without screaming. It was an indescribable feeling. I only hope that sometime soon they will bless us with such an experience again. I am honored to call myself a fan and to have had this oppurtunity.
And on another note, I would like to thank all that attended the show and displayed their love for the band so graciously. You all did your part in showing Dir en grey that they are welcomed here with open arms. A heartwarming thing it was to see those on the balcony stand and cheer even after the warning of it possibly collapsing.....dangerous but loyal.
Lastly, to those of you who were with me.
Bille, you already know my sentiments exactly. We literally crashed talking about it afterwards in bed. It was the most awesome memory to date. And I'm glad to have brought you along for the ride...we stuck with it together. And didn't end up having to get carried off like those who fainted. I'm proud =D
Sarah, that was probably like the last time I'll see you in a while. It's one hell of a memory to share and the whole experience in line and inside the venue is something niether us are going to forget. ever. Take it in for now, but let's hope we get the chance to do this again. I'm up for it...and I have no doubt you will be too.
Bianca, I've spent over like 2 hours discussing this with you already. Out of all the things we've done together, this tops it. And yes, I do agree with the bonding deal, despite the fact that I spent a lot of time a head of you in line and with other people. It was just great. We've seen Diru, can you believe it?
Irene, since you're now apart of my LJ possy of friends, it was great meeting you after having heard/read Sarah talk about you. Quite good, don't you think?
Derek + Kat (who probably won't see this), It was great hanging outside with you guys when you arrived. The anticipation was nice to share. Even though we weren't togeth r in the pit...we have more than enough to look back on later. I'm glad you two could make it.
I can't thank you guys enough. I couldn't have made it through that long ass day without you.
now to put an end to this ridiculously long account with pictures from the wait outside (it was forbidden to take cameras into the venue but I'll post the official ones later).
Sarah and Irene
Bille
Me n Billers
group shot...without me o.o;
owari.
With a newly refreshed appreciation for the effects of music on the human soul,
- Momo.
edit: Sarah says set list was...probably:
- G.D.S.
- Clever Sleazoid
- Saku
- Garbage
- Jesus Christ R'n R
- Machiavellism
- Kodoku ni Shisu, Yueni Kodoku
- dead tree
- The Final
- Itoshisa ha Fuhai Nitsuki
- Higeki ha Mabuta wo Oroshita Yasashiki Utsu
- Kodou
- Merciless Cult
- Spilled Milk
- Beautiful Dirt
- The IIIRD Empire
encore:
- Mr. Newsman
- NEW SONG! XDD
- C
- Child Prey
edit again:
more pictures from Bianca's camera:
