To fully understand what Dir en grey is about, you need to see them live. I did just that last night at Boston's Wilbur Theatre, along with my Boston Bastard Brigade cohost Pink Taco.

We got there 15 minutes late, but all we missed was the first couple songs by DeG's opening act the Human Abstract. They were good, but they were a little bit too strobe light happy. Anyone with Epilepsy going to this show would've probably been hospitalized with the first 3 minutes of what I saw.

After setting up, Dir en grey finally emerged from the darkness. Kyo arrived and stood on his pedestal. No "Hello Boston," no wave to the crowd; just an evil stare towards the screaming fans (mostly from the women). From their first track ("Obscure") to their last ("The IIID Empire") Dir en grey was at their A-game. Kyo's vocals were at full force, screaming from the top of his lungs and singing his heart out. This was best heard in the unplugged version of "Aggitated Screams of Maggot" (which they also played plugged), "Merciless Cult" and "Dozing Green."

Dir en grey - "Merciless Cult" [Live]


The show was filled with surprise tracks, with the band digging through songs that have never even been released in the States yet (such as "Obscure" and "The IIID Empire"). Hopefully, if demand is high enough, we will see Dir en grey's earlier work being released in America. Some of the set introduced new tracks from their recently released "Uroborous," with "Glass Skin" and "Toguro" sounding just as loud and nasty as they do on the CD.

Guitarist Die and bassist Toshiya were having a ball on stage, eating up all the audience's applause and screams; while Kaoru played to the far-right of the stage for the most part until the end. Drummer Shinya proved that he is one of Asia's top drummers, smashing and bashing his way on a drum kit with so many cymbals that it could almost make Dream Theater envious. Kyo, the center of everyone's attention, was a wonder to watch; from his dancing to his five-minute acoustic screaming (yes, acoustic screaming). One may wonder if he'll ruin his vocal chords again, as he did in '06. (He is also partially deaf in his left ear.) He only spoke to the audience once (to introduce "Saku"), but perhaps as a theatrical rocker he did not want to break the fourth wall too much. The fans didn't mind, and I didn't mind either. (I was also shocked that Kyo didn't do his trademark self-mutilation. Maybe he didn't have enough fake blood that night. At least I think it's fake...)

Dir en grey - "Agitated Screams of Maggot" [Live]


Although not the greatest show I've ever been to, Dir en grey put on a memorable and entertaining concert that everyone who was there will remember for years to come. (Pink Taco thought they were "pretty good" too.)

Setlist:
1. Obscure
2. Grief
3. Agitated Screams of Maggots
4. Disabled Complexes
5. The Fatal Believer
6. 蜷局 (Toguro)
7. 艶かしき安息、躊躇いに微笑み (Namamekashiki Ansoku, Tomadoi ni Hohoemi)
8. Agitated Screams of Maggots -unplugged-
9. Conceived Sorrow
10. Glass Skin
11. 凌辱の雨 (Ryoujoku no Ame)
-acapella-
12. Hydra -666-
13. Merciless Cult
14. The Deeper Vileness
15. Dozing Green
16. Repetition of Hatred

Encore:
1. 鼓動 (Kodou)
2. 凱歌、沈黙が眠る頃) (Gaika, Chinmoku Ga Nemuru Koro)
3. Clever Sleazoid
4. 朔 (Saku)
5. The IIID Empire

Dir en grey's new album "Uroboros" is now in stores, and will be continuing to tour America through December 5. Check the dates below and go as if your life depends on it!

11/16 - Kool Haus - Toronto, ON
11/18 - Clutch Cargo's - Pontiac, MI
11/19 - House of Blues - Chicago, IL
11/20 - First Avenue - Minneapolis, MN
11/22 - The Eagles Club - Milwaukee, WI
11/23 - Pop's - Sauget, IL
11/25 - House of Blues - Houston, TX
11/26 - Palladium Ballroom - Dallas, TX
11/28 - Marquee Theatre - Tempe, AZ
11/29 - The Wiltern LG - Los Angeles, CA
11/30 - Warfield Theatre - San Francisco, CA
12/2 - Hawthorne Theatre - Portland, OR
12/3 - The Showbox - Seattle, WA
12/5 - Gothic Theatre - Englewood, CO

This is King Baby Duck: "Ain't born to lose, baby, I'm born to win! I'm so Goddamn slick, baby, it's a sin."

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Now playing: Dir en grey - CLEVER SLEAZOID
via FoxyTunes

Finish What You Start...

I heard some interesting news about Kaiju Big Battel on the radio, and when I checked their site it turns out that it was true.


Kaiju Big Battel is filming a TV pilot at their upcoming fight this Wednesday. That's right, all the mini-giant monsters you know and love will be fighting for honor and glory over the airwaves, assuming they can get their pilot picked up.

For those of you who don't know of Boston's native Kaiju Big Battel here's the short and stupid. Kaiju battles are the epic fights for survival that take place between such famous characters as Godzilla, Mothra and King Kong. Kaiju Big Battel is a motley collection of over 30 heroes, rogues, space bugs and the forces of Dr. Cube all fighting for distinction and glory and a shiny champions belt.

So, for all of you that have seen them at Anime Boston the last few years, you now have the right to say I knew them before they caught their break.

Finish What You Start...

Aqua Teen Hunger Force, Adult Swim and the Cartoon Network have now been added to the terrorist watch list..

Today Boston was veritibly shut down as police and bomb squads investigated some badly planned advertising for the new Aqua Teen Hunger Force movie. Packages with wires and LED lights sticking out of them emblazoned with pictures of the Mooninites caused a panic as people freaked out, thinking that they were bombs.

This was so big even the Department of Homland Security got in on it. Whoever thought this was a good idea should henceforth forfeit the right to think. But at the same time how high do you have to be to mistake some wires in a box for a WMD?

Finish What You Start...

If there’s anything that I’ve learned from being a gamer, it’s that the games you enjoy playing say a lot about you. Here at ESH, we focus a lot of our attention on gaming and anime. Every once in a while we dip our toes into other pools like music and technology. Hey, what’s a true geek without a love for gadgets? Well what about television programs?

When my thumbs are sore from button-mashing on a console video game or I’m just too exhausted to pwn-all on World of Warcraft, I like to unwind with a good snack and a great show. Depending on what day it is, I’m enjoying anything in the realm of action, comedy, and romance. That’s right. I said romance. Even the Douce gets a little sentimental at times. I’d like to take this opportunity to get to know all of you a little better. No, I don’t want you social security number or blood type, but I’ll settle for what television programs you just absolutely can’t wait to watch every week and would kick someone out of your home to tune in for.

To get the ball rolling, I’ll list my favorites and the days I watch them. You’ll probably going to laugh at some of them but don’t worry because I’m sure I’ll do the same to yours. Ok here they are:

Sunday: Robot Chicken, Venture Brothers
Monday: Prison Break, Heroes, What About Brian, The Closer
Tuesday: Nip Tuck, Boston Legal
Wednesday: Bones
Thursday: Smallville, Supernatural, The O.C., Grey’s Anatomy
Friday: Vanished, Las Vegas, Battlestar Galactica
Saturday: Adult Swim (all of it)

There are some shows that I watch that air every day such as Attack of the Show, X-play, and Avatar: The Last Airbender. AoTS and X-play are not absolutes because sometimes they aren’t reviewing anything I’m interested in or just being too stupid to hold my attention.

Who’s next to step up and list their favorites and must-sees’. There’s nothing to be embarrassed about. I got The O.C. on my list. How much worse can yours be?

Finish What You Start...