[Live Report] Dir en grey
Apologies & Disclaimers
First off, I'd like to apologize to everyone who went with me. You guys are so awesome and wonderful, it pains me to think I might have gotten you all sick. T-T I can't regret the way things fell out though and you guys of all people would know that. Can you imagine what might have happened if I'd stayed home and found out what I'd missed? I would have gone ballistic. Beyond insane ballistic.
Anyway, it must be some kind of rule that I have to be in not-so-optimal physical condition whenever Dir en grey comes to town. The first time (Showcase @ The Wiltern), I was just out of major surgery and had to be in a wheelchair. The second and third (The Wiltern & Avalon), I was fighting a cold. Last Saturday though, felt the worst of them all, even post-surgery. I think I had the flu. I was on medication so it was somewhat bearable but my throat still hurt and I had a fever by the time we walked into the venue.
Though I'd like to blame some of my incoherency during the live to that, once the lights went down and the band came on, I was riding an adrenaline rush so high almost nothing mattered. It made no difference that I deliberately had not listened to Dir en grey in over 3 months, focusing my obsessive nature on something else entirely. I had listened to Uroboros once, while I was getting ready for the show but I didn't actually process it. Once the music started though and I saw the band in front of me, it was as if I'd never left. Every emotion I'd ever felt concerning them and their music came surging back in full force. Nothing else mattered.
DIR EN GREY (with The Human Abstract)
[ November 29, 2008 ] 20:00
The Wiltern LG - Los Angeles, CA
Arrival & Pre-show
We arrived about 2 hours before doors opened- late considering this is a Dir en grey show- so I was surprised to see the line not even past the parking structure. When I had lined up about the same time for Jrock Revolution, the crowd was almost completely around the building. The bus was parked in its customary spot and we ended up in line near the entrance of the parking structure, a little behind the bus. When night fell, we noticed flashes going off from the photography lights set up near the front end but didn't investigate. We munched fried chicken from Ralphs and chatted, watching people go by.
Our entire group had gotten floor tickets but due to my quickly deteriorating condition (I had been prepared at that point to huddle against the back wall and just listen without seeing anything) and the fact that decent tickets still seemed to be available in the Loge section (we pretty much couldn't get in the pit anyway), we decided to try to switch our tickets for seats. That gambit paid off swimmingly as we were given practically front row seating in the lowest balcony section (Loge). I could curl up and still have the best view. CDs for the signing and other merch procured, jackets and hoodies in coat check, we headed to our seats and settled in, amusing ourselves as everyone else did with the giant text screen set up in front. That was new. I'd seen them at larger venues but this was the first time in one this size.
The Human Abstract seemed interesting at first- certainly I was drawn to some of the guitar work in the first two songs- but something about the vocalist's voice wasn't helping my oncoming headache so I had to step outside. Some of my friends followed and we hung out in front of the bar for the rest of their set.
We returned to our seats sometime during intermission. Everyone was still reading and reacting to the texts flashing onscreen. On stage, Shinya's drumkit had been assembled. It's steadily gotten bigger and more complex as the overseas tours go on but now it's truly a monstrosity- surrounding him on all sides. There was even what looked like a third bass drum hanging behind him on his right side. I marveled at the fact that he not only could use all that equipment, but that he was going to do it live. Kuroo seemed to have things well in hand for Kaoru and Toshiya as Kenji made final adjustments on the behemoth drum set up. Die's non-Japanese roadie (not sure if it was Rick again or what) tested his guitars and mic, then brought out his acoustic which had me squeaking to the rafters in glee. Another guy came out to help with the mic and I prayed they would keep Die's equipment well in hand. The Wiltern has traditionally not been a good venue for Die and I wanted him to have at least one good night there. I knew it was close to starting time when the water bottles appeared- two for Kaoru, one water and one beer each for Die and Toshiya.
There were a few chants in the audience of "Dir en grey!" as the roadies completed setup. I remember my friend and I being amused at the various pronunciations. The stage finally emptied, and the lights went down.
Setlist:
Sa Bir
OBSCURE
GRIEF
Agitated Screams of Maggots
Disabled Complexes
The Fatal Believer
蜷局 [toguro]
凌辱の雨 [ryoujoku no ame]
Agitated Screams of Maggots -unplugged-
Conceived Sorrow
Glass Skin
The Final
- Kyo a capella -
Hydra -666-*
audience KILLER LOOP*
Dozing Green
Merciless Cult
REPITITION OF HATRED
Encore
鼓動 [kodou]
凱歌、沈黙が眠る頃* [gaika, chinmoku ga nemuru koro]
朔-saku-*
CLEVER SLEAZOID*
IIID EMPIRE
*unsure of exact order
--
The show started with Sa Bir which would have been a good choice to set the mood had it not been drowned out with screaming by the time the guys made it onstage. Shinya walked in first and it looked like he had to be helped into the center of his monstrous drum set up. Kenji assisted and took his place on the floor to Shinya's left (Die side), in front of a laptop. I'm assuming he's in charge of the BGM as well. Kaoru sauntered in next, followed by Toshiya who immediately took a swig of beer as soon as he reached his post. Die came in after that, riling us up a little before falling back to his beer as well. I almost missed Kyo's entrance but he made me sit up and notice when he screamed "EEEEERRRRRRUUUUUUUUUEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!!!! (LA)" from his platform. I was surprised but pleased he made the effort before launching into the first song.
I'd briefly skimmed through a few live reports so was unsurprised when they kicked off with OBSCURE. It's never really been one of my favorites so I was able to sit back a little and observe the band- well, in my case, mostly Die. Despite being dressed in the same white Chrome Hearts tank top and dark jeans, he bore little resemblance to figure he cut at the hide memorial live. I could still make out vague outlines of ribs beneath his shirt, but he'd filled out a bit. Truth be told, he looked fantastic and better than I'd seen him in a while. With a red bandanna tied around his wrist and fringed belt swaying at his backside, he bounced around making me wonder for a split second if his jeans had holes in the rear. I think they just had white back pockets. Kyo was shirtless and blonde, clad only in black track pants with white running stripes. Shinya was in a white tank top, possibly a shirt with the sleeves cut off. Toshiya was also in a white shirt, pony hair flailing everywhere. Kaoru was in black, I think a button up, short sleeve shirt and jeans.
The backdrop was gorgeous- I wish I had taken pictures of it. I didn't pay much attention to the video feed after that, only noted the giant Mayan eye obscuring everything including the OBSCURE vid funnily enough.
It was GRIEF that woke me up. I wasn't expecting it at all. The violence in the music was only accentuated by the exploding Mayan eye and the insane headbanging onstage that drove everyone to do the same. The audience managed to chant most of the "SHUT UP" and "FUCK YOU!" parts and got the scream right. Kyo led us in clapping as usual- it's really one of the most fun parts of the song. Die and Toshiya came close to the edge of the stage right before the high-pitched scream to egg us on.
Refusing to let up on the momentum, they plowed right into Agitated Screams of Maggots, easily one of my favorites since I love hearing Die growling his part. Both he and Toshiya have greatly improved since they first started performing it. From the first grating guitar riff to Kyo's opening scream, the pit was in a frenzy. A mosh pit started near the back of the 1st tier. I was glad to not be anywhere near it.
As intense as the first set had been, the short break that followed was surely a welcome one. Next up, was Disabled Complexes which was again a surprise to me. Another favorite since I'd first heard it in Yokohama, it was good to experience it again. Kyo's added a few dance moves to his repertoire, his sinuous body undulating with the music. I think he even threw some subtle hip hop footwork in there. His voice was truly eerie during the first "because you exist, because I was raped by you" line. The song was heavy and chill-inducing, especially when the audience joined him chanting "PSYCHO KILLER!" in the end.
Due of my recent abstinence of Diru, I didn't recognize The Fatal Believer when it started. I could sing it fine, I just couldn't remember the title for the life of me. It was Toshiya who impressed me with his backup screams during his parts. I had a note on my phone about Die during this song but I can't remember what he did exactly. Perhaps he was just really into it. "KILL MYSELF!" and "KILL THEM ALL WITH THE CRAZY HAMMER!" were the chants here.
The only reason I recognized 蜷局 [toguro] was because Kaoru started it and it was unfamiliar. I'd heard the song once, maybe twice tops but I was struck by its driving bassline and moving refrain. This was another song Kyo allowed his body to positively groove through- an entirely successful endeavor given the screams in the crowd. The wailing guitar towards the end of this was so mesmerizing I neglected to check which guitarist was responsible. Excellent performance though, and brilliant execution.
Something about the way Die plays 凌辱の雨 [ryoujoku no ame] makes it very compelling to watch. Apparently this was the Kyo dance set because he was able to do that to this song as well. I've actually seen this type of dancing before- I just can't place it. It's very primal. This is still one of my favorites live for some reason. Maybe because I just love watching Die.
The next segment sounded like Agitated Screams of Maggots -unplugged- since I heard the piano in the background but I'm honestly not sure what Kyo was doing here. I remember him curled up on his platform. Toshiya and Shinya stayed onstage for most of it. Kaoru disappeared and Die went off with his beer. There were... faces projected on Shinya's drums. They looked vaguely feminine and their mouths were moving, almost as if they were singing along with Kyo. The effect was singularly creepy. Toshiya went offstage for a while near the end.
When the acoustic was set up, I immediately screamed, knowing Conceived Sorrow was next. I hadn't had the pleasure of hearing this live and it did not disappoint. For one heart-stopping moment, I thought Die's guitar was off because it was so loud but it was fine. I loved the interplay between Kaoru's intricate guitar lines and Die's answering acoustic. And of course, there was Kyo's off-mic performance. Absolutely breathtaking if you're able to ignore fans screaming at odd times. I'm thoroughly impressed with Kyo's lungs- he's able to project much louder than I've heard him in the past.
Not every setlist on this tour has included Glass Skin so I was ecstatic to hear the first strains of it when it started. I fell in love with the song the minute I heard it and was curious to see how they would perform. It was as beautiful as I could have imagined, Die's rhythm anchoring Kaoru's soaring notes. The last chord just hung in the air. Gorgeous.
Ever since I heard that they stopped playing The Final in Japan (or at least minimized it), I had resigned myself to the idea that this live would be my first ever without hearing it. I knew they started playing it sporadically on this tour but I didn't think we would get it. I was wrong. I screamed when it started and just let go. I hadn't heard this in almost 6 months yet I still knew the words. My hand still went up during the refrain. It was like coming home. The arrangement was a little different, adding an interesting flavor to it. This song has never failed to touch me emotionally whenever I hear it live or otherwise. That night was no exception.
According to my haphazard notes (texted into my phone when I had the presence of mind to think about it), Kyo's second solo was next. I've seen other live reports that place audience KILLER LOOP after The Final though so I don't know. For now, I'll go by my notes but feel free to make corrections if I'm wrong. Die disappeared again during the solo. I was absently watching his side, absorbing Kyo's dissonance when I saw Nora dart in to snatch Die's beer bottle off his cabinet. Briefly, I wondered why he couldn't get it himself but figured he might have just forgotten it. I'm glad they kept this solo in as I think I like it better than ASOM -unplugged- but I'm curious why Kyo has to continue performing while the others get a to rest. One would think he would be the one who needed the break the most. Then again, maybe that's the point. He wants to keep up the intensity. Moving on.
Die came in from the break chugging a fresh bottle of beer. Again, not sure of the order here so please correct me if I'm wrong. Hydra-666- was the second song I couldn't name at the time. I remembered most of it though and noticed (with a little glee) that Die's sound seemed to have gotten turned up. His parts were coming in much clearer and louder than the rest. It could have been because we were closer to his side but I hadn't noticed it until he started ripping into this song. Toshiya's growl again made itself evident. I hadn't realized how low his voice could get. This song is like a wolf snapping and shredding you with its teeth. Though I was sitting down, I still felt a little shaken up when it was over.
audience KILLER LOOP could have been before or after that but my notes had it after. This was the last of the songs I couldn't remember. In retrospect, I don't know how I could have forgotten with the twin tremolos starting that sweet guitar solo but out of the entire playlist, it was probably the song I hadn't heard in the longest time. Unfortunately, I was too distracted trying to name it to pay attention to much else.
Shinya of course had been a driving force all night but he really made me sit up and take notice during Dozing Green. The guitar work here was excellent as well, especially towards the end. Die's tremolo in the 2nd verse seemed a little slower or more muted than usual but it sounded fine overall and was still fun to watch. I can't get over how fast his hand has to move to pull it off. This was the third song in a row he'd had to do it and I wondered if he was starting to tire. Kyo's screams at the end still make my hair stand on end.
Merciless Cult was another surprise. It translates wonderfully live with easy to remember chanting sequences. I'm not sure if I just didn't hear anything because we were in the balcony but it sounded like no one else was screaming "GASP FOR BREATH." I hope there were some in the pit. I think this was the song Kyo tried to let us sing a part of (aside from "The Final" of course) but I couldn't hear much response. Again, Die's parts were loud and clear- I love his chords in the 2nd verse. He had to do some fast strumming here but that sounded fine.
REPITITION OF HATRED heralded the return of the twin guitar gods. Back in the 2006 Showcase show, I noted Kaoru and Die anchoring each side of the stage during Spilled Milk as mirror images of each other. Whether it was on purpose or not, they did it again at some point during this- both turned either towards or away from the stage (I can't remember which), one leg bent (possibly up on respective amps), guitar necks up at nearly the same angle. At this point, I was starting to realize that Toshiya's growl has truly become an animal of its own. This was also the song where Die for some reason decided to SIT on the side of the stage behind one of his huge amps so that all that was visible of him- if you where looking straight on- were his legs from the knees down, kicking a little up and down. He seemed fairly amused about something but I don't know if he was just tiring out or what.
The best bit was towards the end- everyone left the stage save the two guitarists, continuing to duel but grinning at each other the whole time. It's the first time I've seen them play around like that and their dynamic was fascinating. Die seemed to defer to Kaoru, glancing over at him at least twice- either that or he was checking to see if he was winning the impromptu battle. Finally, Kaoru cut out and Die followed a second later, guitar wailing as it faded. Die threw out his pick immediately and headed off seemingly in good spirits. It was nice to see him somewhat happy for a change as he's always seemed grumpy at the Wiltern. Last year, he even threw his guitar down after the show. Kaoru tossed out his pick as well and pointed in our direction on the balcony before disappearing with a wave.
Interestingly, there were no shouts of "ENCORE" or "AN-KO-RU," at least that I could remember. I was a little amazed. Did everyone collectively agree not to do it? The only chant that started up was "DIR EN GREY" and a few clapping patterns. Eventually, the band reappeared wearing the same clothes as earlier. This is the first time I'd seen them not change for an encore. Interesting.
鼓動 [kodou] could not have shocked me more than if they played undecided or something from kisou and earlier. If I'd read more live reports, I probably would have had more warning but as things stood, it was one of the last songs I thought I'd hear. For some reason, I also love watching Die and Kaoru between verses, rocking out with the pedals. I screamed when Kyo screamed, sang when he sang. This song almost generates the same reaction now as The Final for me. It just completely takes me over.
The next three songs again could be in any order. I wasn't noting much down during the encore (I'd pretty much only been typing in song titles anyway) so I could enjoy the final moments. 凱歌、沈黙が眠る頃 [gaika, chinmoku ga nemuru koro] started off with a pretty little melody but quickly descended into a series of growls and snarls to pounding drums. I'd have to be deaf not to take note of Shinya here. Despite his quiet demeanor and slight frame, he is a madman unleashed back there given the right song and this was definitely one of those. I'd only heard the song once before (and wasn't paying attention) but I knew it was coming from previous live reports. The guitar work surprised me here- in between the crazy shredding and pounding were some really interesting little runs.
Like OBSCURE, I've never been able to muster up much enthusiasm for 朔-saku-. It's a good live song- certainly an audience favorite but it just doesn't do much for me. So I dutifully headbanged- killing my neck in the process (but I wouldn't find that out until the next day)- and waited it out.
CLEVER SLEAZOID is probably one of the two songs I miss being in a Japanese audience with the most (the other being "THE IIID EMPIRE"). The scream and answer, the "HOI!" addition in the refrain- it's just so much more engaging when all of you are interacting with the band instead of just letting them perform for you. Anyway, enough of that. With the screaming and the lyrics, sometimes it's easy to overlook the brilliant guitar work running through this entire song. Since Die's setup was still amplifying every single note he played over everyone else's, I could hear every little flourish and nuance he added- and absolutely loved it. There's so much going on with the guitars, the magnified performance made it that much more fun for me. This is also when I screamed myself raw. Apologies yet again to my friends, one of whom said they could hear me louder than Kyo at one point. ^^ Sorry.
Part of me wondered if they were going to end here since they'd played 4 songs already but I didn't want them to. Aside from it signaling the end of the show, I really really wanted to hear THE IIID EMPIRE. But then Kyo stood up on his platform and screamed "RASSST SONNNGGGG!!!!" multiple times. I knew I was thrashing my throat when I screamed back. I didn't care. Die's guitar pierced the air. I forgot I had a fever as I jumped around in my seat to Kyo's prompting. "KOKKAHANEIKOKKAHANEIKOKKA!!" Even if I was the only one doing it, it didn't matter. Kaoru and Die finally switched sides and spent a riff or two playing to each other. Toshiya snarled and growled into his mic like he was going to crunch it up and spit the pieces at us. And that was before the epic "SPAAAAAAAARK AND SPAAAAAAAAAAAAAARK!!!!" which all but shook the rafters. There is absolutely no other feeling that comes even close to the pure rush this song forces out of me. The fact that it's now usually the last song adds an even more frenetic edge to it. Every high point, every conjured moment of agony induced during the entire live coalesced into that final scream which was echoed by almost everyone in the audience. Relief, joy, pain, and sorrow blended into that one release. And hope- that they would return and we could go through this entire thing all over again.
All three guitarists gathered at the drumset for the final crashing note. Kyo walked off almost immediately afterwards. I hoped he was okay. Die sprayed water (had he even drunk any?) over his faithful and sent the bottle flying towards us up in the balcony. It fell short of course but I laughed and screamed anyway, appreciating the gesture. On the other side, Toshiya was busy throwing picks and spraying water as well. His bottle attempt didn't get even anywhere near Die's. I doubt any of them saw but I gave him two thumbs down. I think he went off after that because the next thing I remember was Kaoru on Kyo's platform, raining picks over the center crowd. Die stood behind him, patiently waiting for his turn it seemed, a smile brightening his features. With one last fist pump, Kaoru headed off as well and Die sauntered front, tossing out pick after pick, even going to his mic stand and running his hand over the red row to collect the rest before walking the length of the stage to distribute. This was probably the most animated I've seen him in this venue after a live and I was so happy to see him looking pleased with us for once.
Then came my third biggest surprise of the night so far- the first being The Final, the second being 鼓動 [kodou]. Because we were in the balcony, I was resigned to not getting water splashed on me. It was virtually impossible, right? It made me a little sad since I'd gotten used to the cool after a live but it wasn't like I needed it anyway since I wasn't in the pit. Apparently (though he was completely unaware), Die had other ideas. He had one more water bottle. He picked it up and started tossing out water as usual and I thought he'd throw it close to the front since he'd already tried for distance the first time.
I was wrong. He looked up, his expression almost impish, maybe even calculating. I screamed and taunted him to get it up to us. I'm not sure what everyone else around me was doing- possibly the same- and I wasn't sure how much he could see but eventually he stepped back a little to gain momentum and hurled the thing straight in our direction. Cold water splashed us as the bottle emptied and wobbled, eventually landing not more than two seats away from me. I was too shocked to move. I couldn't believe it. He'd done it. Not wanting to fight, I turned to watch the girls next to me squabble over the prize, grinning when one came out the victor. I remember that feeling a little. A friend had fought for a similar bottle a year ago and had given it to me. I looked back in time to catch his final wave as he headed off. I hope he was pleased with himself. I was certainly impressed. All this time, Shinya had been waiting patiently for his turn. He paced forward and threw three (I think) drumheads like giant frisbees out into the audience. If he threw drumsticks, I didn't see them. We jumped up and ran for the cd signing.
Random Notes
- Die switched out guitars after almost every song. As soon as he would finish, he'd be over on his side, getting helped into a different guitar, sometimes even before the rest of the band stopped playing.
- Kaoru was the only guitarist tethered to a cord. Die and Toshiya were both free. I have no idea why.
- Die kicked at something behind his amp a few times during a song.
- Kaoru walked back to talk to his tech a few times during the show.
- Die's tech crept out at least twice to adjust cords and mess with things while Die was out front.
- This likely only makes sense to me and my friends but the rooster flap was well in place, accented by the new duck swagger.
Meeting Shinya & Die
There was some confusion as to where the line was going to be (signs at the merch stand still said they were doing it from the stage) but we eventually made it to the right spot and waited. There were no screams to announce the band- something that surprised me again. The line started moving forward and I caught my first glimpse of Shinya's wavy hair as we neared. Then, as if my night couldn't get any better and as if he hadn't surprised me enough, I realized it was Die who had showed up, sitting next to Shinya with that big grin of his, chatting and signing away. Those of you know know me can probably imagine my reaction at that point. I don't think I embarrassed myself but I wasn't really thinking much either. He seemed relaxed and happy; even some of my friends were drawn to his smile. It was a perfect end to an almost perfect night.
Afterwards, we headed to Little Tokyo for some fantastic food. I couldn't have been happier. Well, two things could have made me happier- 1) if I wasn't sick and 2) if they had played 艶かしき安息、躊躇いに微笑み. All in all though, I couldn't really complain. It had been definitely one of the best nights with some of the best friends I could have asked for.
THANK YOU GUYS! THANK YOU DIR EN GREY! And thank you for reading. :) Hope it was marginally enjoyable.
xposted @ dir_en_grey
First off, I'd like to apologize to everyone who went with me. You guys are so awesome and wonderful, it pains me to think I might have gotten you all sick. T-T I can't regret the way things fell out though and you guys of all people would know that. Can you imagine what might have happened if I'd stayed home and found out what I'd missed? I would have gone ballistic. Beyond insane ballistic.
Anyway, it must be some kind of rule that I have to be in not-so-optimal physical condition whenever Dir en grey comes to town. The first time (Showcase @ The Wiltern), I was just out of major surgery and had to be in a wheelchair. The second and third (The Wiltern & Avalon), I was fighting a cold. Last Saturday though, felt the worst of them all, even post-surgery. I think I had the flu. I was on medication so it was somewhat bearable but my throat still hurt and I had a fever by the time we walked into the venue.
Though I'd like to blame some of my incoherency during the live to that, once the lights went down and the band came on, I was riding an adrenaline rush so high almost nothing mattered. It made no difference that I deliberately had not listened to Dir en grey in over 3 months, focusing my obsessive nature on something else entirely. I had listened to Uroboros once, while I was getting ready for the show but I didn't actually process it. Once the music started though and I saw the band in front of me, it was as if I'd never left. Every emotion I'd ever felt concerning them and their music came surging back in full force. Nothing else mattered.
DIR EN GREY (with The Human Abstract)
[ November 29, 2008 ] 20:00
The Wiltern LG - Los Angeles, CA
Arrival & Pre-show
We arrived about 2 hours before doors opened- late considering this is a Dir en grey show- so I was surprised to see the line not even past the parking structure. When I had lined up about the same time for Jrock Revolution, the crowd was almost completely around the building. The bus was parked in its customary spot and we ended up in line near the entrance of the parking structure, a little behind the bus. When night fell, we noticed flashes going off from the photography lights set up near the front end but didn't investigate. We munched fried chicken from Ralphs and chatted, watching people go by.
Our entire group had gotten floor tickets but due to my quickly deteriorating condition (I had been prepared at that point to huddle against the back wall and just listen without seeing anything) and the fact that decent tickets still seemed to be available in the Loge section (we pretty much couldn't get in the pit anyway), we decided to try to switch our tickets for seats. That gambit paid off swimmingly as we were given practically front row seating in the lowest balcony section (Loge). I could curl up and still have the best view. CDs for the signing and other merch procured, jackets and hoodies in coat check, we headed to our seats and settled in, amusing ourselves as everyone else did with the giant text screen set up in front. That was new. I'd seen them at larger venues but this was the first time in one this size.
The Human Abstract seemed interesting at first- certainly I was drawn to some of the guitar work in the first two songs- but something about the vocalist's voice wasn't helping my oncoming headache so I had to step outside. Some of my friends followed and we hung out in front of the bar for the rest of their set.
We returned to our seats sometime during intermission. Everyone was still reading and reacting to the texts flashing onscreen. On stage, Shinya's drumkit had been assembled. It's steadily gotten bigger and more complex as the overseas tours go on but now it's truly a monstrosity- surrounding him on all sides. There was even what looked like a third bass drum hanging behind him on his right side. I marveled at the fact that he not only could use all that equipment, but that he was going to do it live. Kuroo seemed to have things well in hand for Kaoru and Toshiya as Kenji made final adjustments on the behemoth drum set up. Die's non-Japanese roadie (not sure if it was Rick again or what) tested his guitars and mic, then brought out his acoustic which had me squeaking to the rafters in glee. Another guy came out to help with the mic and I prayed they would keep Die's equipment well in hand. The Wiltern has traditionally not been a good venue for Die and I wanted him to have at least one good night there. I knew it was close to starting time when the water bottles appeared- two for Kaoru, one water and one beer each for Die and Toshiya.
There were a few chants in the audience of "Dir en grey!" as the roadies completed setup. I remember my friend and I being amused at the various pronunciations. The stage finally emptied, and the lights went down.
Setlist:
Sa Bir
OBSCURE
GRIEF
Agitated Screams of Maggots
Disabled Complexes
The Fatal Believer
蜷局 [toguro]
凌辱の雨 [ryoujoku no ame]
Agitated Screams of Maggots -unplugged-
Conceived Sorrow
Glass Skin
The Final
- Kyo a capella -
Hydra -666-*
audience KILLER LOOP*
Dozing Green
Merciless Cult
REPITITION OF HATRED
Encore
鼓動 [kodou]
凱歌、沈黙が眠る頃* [gaika, chinmoku ga nemuru koro]
朔-saku-*
CLEVER SLEAZOID*
IIID EMPIRE
*unsure of exact order
--
The show started with Sa Bir which would have been a good choice to set the mood had it not been drowned out with screaming by the time the guys made it onstage. Shinya walked in first and it looked like he had to be helped into the center of his monstrous drum set up. Kenji assisted and took his place on the floor to Shinya's left (Die side), in front of a laptop. I'm assuming he's in charge of the BGM as well. Kaoru sauntered in next, followed by Toshiya who immediately took a swig of beer as soon as he reached his post. Die came in after that, riling us up a little before falling back to his beer as well. I almost missed Kyo's entrance but he made me sit up and notice when he screamed "EEEEERRRRRRUUUUUUUUUEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!!!! (LA)" from his platform. I was surprised but pleased he made the effort before launching into the first song.
I'd briefly skimmed through a few live reports so was unsurprised when they kicked off with OBSCURE. It's never really been one of my favorites so I was able to sit back a little and observe the band- well, in my case, mostly Die. Despite being dressed in the same white Chrome Hearts tank top and dark jeans, he bore little resemblance to figure he cut at the hide memorial live. I could still make out vague outlines of ribs beneath his shirt, but he'd filled out a bit. Truth be told, he looked fantastic and better than I'd seen him in a while. With a red bandanna tied around his wrist and fringed belt swaying at his backside, he bounced around making me wonder for a split second if his jeans had holes in the rear. I think they just had white back pockets. Kyo was shirtless and blonde, clad only in black track pants with white running stripes. Shinya was in a white tank top, possibly a shirt with the sleeves cut off. Toshiya was also in a white shirt, pony hair flailing everywhere. Kaoru was in black, I think a button up, short sleeve shirt and jeans.
The backdrop was gorgeous- I wish I had taken pictures of it. I didn't pay much attention to the video feed after that, only noted the giant Mayan eye obscuring everything including the OBSCURE vid funnily enough.
It was GRIEF that woke me up. I wasn't expecting it at all. The violence in the music was only accentuated by the exploding Mayan eye and the insane headbanging onstage that drove everyone to do the same. The audience managed to chant most of the "SHUT UP" and "FUCK YOU!" parts and got the scream right. Kyo led us in clapping as usual- it's really one of the most fun parts of the song. Die and Toshiya came close to the edge of the stage right before the high-pitched scream to egg us on.
Refusing to let up on the momentum, they plowed right into Agitated Screams of Maggots, easily one of my favorites since I love hearing Die growling his part. Both he and Toshiya have greatly improved since they first started performing it. From the first grating guitar riff to Kyo's opening scream, the pit was in a frenzy. A mosh pit started near the back of the 1st tier. I was glad to not be anywhere near it.
As intense as the first set had been, the short break that followed was surely a welcome one. Next up, was Disabled Complexes which was again a surprise to me. Another favorite since I'd first heard it in Yokohama, it was good to experience it again. Kyo's added a few dance moves to his repertoire, his sinuous body undulating with the music. I think he even threw some subtle hip hop footwork in there. His voice was truly eerie during the first "because you exist, because I was raped by you" line. The song was heavy and chill-inducing, especially when the audience joined him chanting "PSYCHO KILLER!" in the end.
Due of my recent abstinence of Diru, I didn't recognize The Fatal Believer when it started. I could sing it fine, I just couldn't remember the title for the life of me. It was Toshiya who impressed me with his backup screams during his parts. I had a note on my phone about Die during this song but I can't remember what he did exactly. Perhaps he was just really into it. "KILL MYSELF!" and "KILL THEM ALL WITH THE CRAZY HAMMER!" were the chants here.
The only reason I recognized 蜷局 [toguro] was because Kaoru started it and it was unfamiliar. I'd heard the song once, maybe twice tops but I was struck by its driving bassline and moving refrain. This was another song Kyo allowed his body to positively groove through- an entirely successful endeavor given the screams in the crowd. The wailing guitar towards the end of this was so mesmerizing I neglected to check which guitarist was responsible. Excellent performance though, and brilliant execution.
Something about the way Die plays 凌辱の雨 [ryoujoku no ame] makes it very compelling to watch. Apparently this was the Kyo dance set because he was able to do that to this song as well. I've actually seen this type of dancing before- I just can't place it. It's very primal. This is still one of my favorites live for some reason. Maybe because I just love watching Die.
The next segment sounded like Agitated Screams of Maggots -unplugged- since I heard the piano in the background but I'm honestly not sure what Kyo was doing here. I remember him curled up on his platform. Toshiya and Shinya stayed onstage for most of it. Kaoru disappeared and Die went off with his beer. There were... faces projected on Shinya's drums. They looked vaguely feminine and their mouths were moving, almost as if they were singing along with Kyo. The effect was singularly creepy. Toshiya went offstage for a while near the end.
When the acoustic was set up, I immediately screamed, knowing Conceived Sorrow was next. I hadn't had the pleasure of hearing this live and it did not disappoint. For one heart-stopping moment, I thought Die's guitar was off because it was so loud but it was fine. I loved the interplay between Kaoru's intricate guitar lines and Die's answering acoustic. And of course, there was Kyo's off-mic performance. Absolutely breathtaking if you're able to ignore fans screaming at odd times. I'm thoroughly impressed with Kyo's lungs- he's able to project much louder than I've heard him in the past.
Not every setlist on this tour has included Glass Skin so I was ecstatic to hear the first strains of it when it started. I fell in love with the song the minute I heard it and was curious to see how they would perform. It was as beautiful as I could have imagined, Die's rhythm anchoring Kaoru's soaring notes. The last chord just hung in the air. Gorgeous.
Ever since I heard that they stopped playing The Final in Japan (or at least minimized it), I had resigned myself to the idea that this live would be my first ever without hearing it. I knew they started playing it sporadically on this tour but I didn't think we would get it. I was wrong. I screamed when it started and just let go. I hadn't heard this in almost 6 months yet I still knew the words. My hand still went up during the refrain. It was like coming home. The arrangement was a little different, adding an interesting flavor to it. This song has never failed to touch me emotionally whenever I hear it live or otherwise. That night was no exception.
According to my haphazard notes (texted into my phone when I had the presence of mind to think about it), Kyo's second solo was next. I've seen other live reports that place audience KILLER LOOP after The Final though so I don't know. For now, I'll go by my notes but feel free to make corrections if I'm wrong. Die disappeared again during the solo. I was absently watching his side, absorbing Kyo's dissonance when I saw Nora dart in to snatch Die's beer bottle off his cabinet. Briefly, I wondered why he couldn't get it himself but figured he might have just forgotten it. I'm glad they kept this solo in as I think I like it better than ASOM -unplugged- but I'm curious why Kyo has to continue performing while the others get a to rest. One would think he would be the one who needed the break the most. Then again, maybe that's the point. He wants to keep up the intensity. Moving on.
Die came in from the break chugging a fresh bottle of beer. Again, not sure of the order here so please correct me if I'm wrong. Hydra-666- was the second song I couldn't name at the time. I remembered most of it though and noticed (with a little glee) that Die's sound seemed to have gotten turned up. His parts were coming in much clearer and louder than the rest. It could have been because we were closer to his side but I hadn't noticed it until he started ripping into this song. Toshiya's growl again made itself evident. I hadn't realized how low his voice could get. This song is like a wolf snapping and shredding you with its teeth. Though I was sitting down, I still felt a little shaken up when it was over.
audience KILLER LOOP could have been before or after that but my notes had it after. This was the last of the songs I couldn't remember. In retrospect, I don't know how I could have forgotten with the twin tremolos starting that sweet guitar solo but out of the entire playlist, it was probably the song I hadn't heard in the longest time. Unfortunately, I was too distracted trying to name it to pay attention to much else.
Shinya of course had been a driving force all night but he really made me sit up and take notice during Dozing Green. The guitar work here was excellent as well, especially towards the end. Die's tremolo in the 2nd verse seemed a little slower or more muted than usual but it sounded fine overall and was still fun to watch. I can't get over how fast his hand has to move to pull it off. This was the third song in a row he'd had to do it and I wondered if he was starting to tire. Kyo's screams at the end still make my hair stand on end.
Merciless Cult was another surprise. It translates wonderfully live with easy to remember chanting sequences. I'm not sure if I just didn't hear anything because we were in the balcony but it sounded like no one else was screaming "GASP FOR BREATH." I hope there were some in the pit. I think this was the song Kyo tried to let us sing a part of (aside from "The Final" of course) but I couldn't hear much response. Again, Die's parts were loud and clear- I love his chords in the 2nd verse. He had to do some fast strumming here but that sounded fine.
REPITITION OF HATRED heralded the return of the twin guitar gods. Back in the 2006 Showcase show, I noted Kaoru and Die anchoring each side of the stage during Spilled Milk as mirror images of each other. Whether it was on purpose or not, they did it again at some point during this- both turned either towards or away from the stage (I can't remember which), one leg bent (possibly up on respective amps), guitar necks up at nearly the same angle. At this point, I was starting to realize that Toshiya's growl has truly become an animal of its own. This was also the song where Die for some reason decided to SIT on the side of the stage behind one of his huge amps so that all that was visible of him- if you where looking straight on- were his legs from the knees down, kicking a little up and down. He seemed fairly amused about something but I don't know if he was just tiring out or what.
The best bit was towards the end- everyone left the stage save the two guitarists, continuing to duel but grinning at each other the whole time. It's the first time I've seen them play around like that and their dynamic was fascinating. Die seemed to defer to Kaoru, glancing over at him at least twice- either that or he was checking to see if he was winning the impromptu battle. Finally, Kaoru cut out and Die followed a second later, guitar wailing as it faded. Die threw out his pick immediately and headed off seemingly in good spirits. It was nice to see him somewhat happy for a change as he's always seemed grumpy at the Wiltern. Last year, he even threw his guitar down after the show. Kaoru tossed out his pick as well and pointed in our direction on the balcony before disappearing with a wave.
Interestingly, there were no shouts of "ENCORE" or "AN-KO-RU," at least that I could remember. I was a little amazed. Did everyone collectively agree not to do it? The only chant that started up was "DIR EN GREY" and a few clapping patterns. Eventually, the band reappeared wearing the same clothes as earlier. This is the first time I'd seen them not change for an encore. Interesting.
鼓動 [kodou] could not have shocked me more than if they played undecided or something from kisou and earlier. If I'd read more live reports, I probably would have had more warning but as things stood, it was one of the last songs I thought I'd hear. For some reason, I also love watching Die and Kaoru between verses, rocking out with the pedals. I screamed when Kyo screamed, sang when he sang. This song almost generates the same reaction now as The Final for me. It just completely takes me over.
The next three songs again could be in any order. I wasn't noting much down during the encore (I'd pretty much only been typing in song titles anyway) so I could enjoy the final moments. 凱歌、沈黙が眠る頃 [gaika, chinmoku ga nemuru koro] started off with a pretty little melody but quickly descended into a series of growls and snarls to pounding drums. I'd have to be deaf not to take note of Shinya here. Despite his quiet demeanor and slight frame, he is a madman unleashed back there given the right song and this was definitely one of those. I'd only heard the song once before (and wasn't paying attention) but I knew it was coming from previous live reports. The guitar work surprised me here- in between the crazy shredding and pounding were some really interesting little runs.
Like OBSCURE, I've never been able to muster up much enthusiasm for 朔-saku-. It's a good live song- certainly an audience favorite but it just doesn't do much for me. So I dutifully headbanged- killing my neck in the process (but I wouldn't find that out until the next day)- and waited it out.
CLEVER SLEAZOID is probably one of the two songs I miss being in a Japanese audience with the most (the other being "THE IIID EMPIRE"). The scream and answer, the "HOI!" addition in the refrain- it's just so much more engaging when all of you are interacting with the band instead of just letting them perform for you. Anyway, enough of that. With the screaming and the lyrics, sometimes it's easy to overlook the brilliant guitar work running through this entire song. Since Die's setup was still amplifying every single note he played over everyone else's, I could hear every little flourish and nuance he added- and absolutely loved it. There's so much going on with the guitars, the magnified performance made it that much more fun for me. This is also when I screamed myself raw. Apologies yet again to my friends, one of whom said they could hear me louder than Kyo at one point. ^^ Sorry.
Part of me wondered if they were going to end here since they'd played 4 songs already but I didn't want them to. Aside from it signaling the end of the show, I really really wanted to hear THE IIID EMPIRE. But then Kyo stood up on his platform and screamed "RASSST SONNNGGGG!!!!" multiple times. I knew I was thrashing my throat when I screamed back. I didn't care. Die's guitar pierced the air. I forgot I had a fever as I jumped around in my seat to Kyo's prompting. "KOKKAHANEIKOKKAHANEIKOKKA!!" Even if I was the only one doing it, it didn't matter. Kaoru and Die finally switched sides and spent a riff or two playing to each other. Toshiya snarled and growled into his mic like he was going to crunch it up and spit the pieces at us. And that was before the epic "SPAAAAAAAARK AND SPAAAAAAAAAAAAAARK!!!!" which all but shook the rafters. There is absolutely no other feeling that comes even close to the pure rush this song forces out of me. The fact that it's now usually the last song adds an even more frenetic edge to it. Every high point, every conjured moment of agony induced during the entire live coalesced into that final scream which was echoed by almost everyone in the audience. Relief, joy, pain, and sorrow blended into that one release. And hope- that they would return and we could go through this entire thing all over again.
All three guitarists gathered at the drumset for the final crashing note. Kyo walked off almost immediately afterwards. I hoped he was okay. Die sprayed water (had he even drunk any?) over his faithful and sent the bottle flying towards us up in the balcony. It fell short of course but I laughed and screamed anyway, appreciating the gesture. On the other side, Toshiya was busy throwing picks and spraying water as well. His bottle attempt didn't get even anywhere near Die's. I doubt any of them saw but I gave him two thumbs down. I think he went off after that because the next thing I remember was Kaoru on Kyo's platform, raining picks over the center crowd. Die stood behind him, patiently waiting for his turn it seemed, a smile brightening his features. With one last fist pump, Kaoru headed off as well and Die sauntered front, tossing out pick after pick, even going to his mic stand and running his hand over the red row to collect the rest before walking the length of the stage to distribute. This was probably the most animated I've seen him in this venue after a live and I was so happy to see him looking pleased with us for once.
Then came my third biggest surprise of the night so far- the first being The Final, the second being 鼓動 [kodou]. Because we were in the balcony, I was resigned to not getting water splashed on me. It was virtually impossible, right? It made me a little sad since I'd gotten used to the cool after a live but it wasn't like I needed it anyway since I wasn't in the pit. Apparently (though he was completely unaware), Die had other ideas. He had one more water bottle. He picked it up and started tossing out water as usual and I thought he'd throw it close to the front since he'd already tried for distance the first time.
I was wrong. He looked up, his expression almost impish, maybe even calculating. I screamed and taunted him to get it up to us. I'm not sure what everyone else around me was doing- possibly the same- and I wasn't sure how much he could see but eventually he stepped back a little to gain momentum and hurled the thing straight in our direction. Cold water splashed us as the bottle emptied and wobbled, eventually landing not more than two seats away from me. I was too shocked to move. I couldn't believe it. He'd done it. Not wanting to fight, I turned to watch the girls next to me squabble over the prize, grinning when one came out the victor. I remember that feeling a little. A friend had fought for a similar bottle a year ago and had given it to me. I looked back in time to catch his final wave as he headed off. I hope he was pleased with himself. I was certainly impressed. All this time, Shinya had been waiting patiently for his turn. He paced forward and threw three (I think) drumheads like giant frisbees out into the audience. If he threw drumsticks, I didn't see them. We jumped up and ran for the cd signing.
Random Notes
- Die switched out guitars after almost every song. As soon as he would finish, he'd be over on his side, getting helped into a different guitar, sometimes even before the rest of the band stopped playing.
- Kaoru was the only guitarist tethered to a cord. Die and Toshiya were both free. I have no idea why.
- Die kicked at something behind his amp a few times during a song.
- Kaoru walked back to talk to his tech a few times during the show.
- Die's tech crept out at least twice to adjust cords and mess with things while Die was out front.
- This likely only makes sense to me and my friends but the rooster flap was well in place, accented by the new duck swagger.
Meeting Shinya & Die
There was some confusion as to where the line was going to be (signs at the merch stand still said they were doing it from the stage) but we eventually made it to the right spot and waited. There were no screams to announce the band- something that surprised me again. The line started moving forward and I caught my first glimpse of Shinya's wavy hair as we neared. Then, as if my night couldn't get any better and as if he hadn't surprised me enough, I realized it was Die who had showed up, sitting next to Shinya with that big grin of his, chatting and signing away. Those of you know know me can probably imagine my reaction at that point. I don't think I embarrassed myself but I wasn't really thinking much either. He seemed relaxed and happy; even some of my friends were drawn to his smile. It was a perfect end to an almost perfect night.
Afterwards, we headed to Little Tokyo for some fantastic food. I couldn't have been happier. Well, two things could have made me happier- 1) if I wasn't sick and 2) if they had played 艶かしき安息、躊躇いに微笑み. All in all though, I couldn't really complain. It had been definitely one of the best nights with some of the best friends I could have asked for.
THANK YOU GUYS! THANK YOU DIR EN GREY! And thank you for reading. :) Hope it was marginally enjoyable.
xposted @ dir_en_grey