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
Labels: Boston, Concert, Dir, Dir en grey, grey, J-METAL, J-ROCK, King Baby Duck, Live, Pink Taco, Uroboros
