D'espairsRay @ Toronto Mod Club Theatre, Aug 11/10
A rundown of things.
Doors opened a bit late, around 7:30pm. The opening act, The Set started playing at 8:10pm and wrapped up before 9pm. They were from Victoria, BC, a very obvious indie rock kind of band, but enthusiastic and well-received. The fans were thankfully very encouraging.
D'espairsRay started a little past 9pm and played until 10:25pm for the main set, plus one encore after.
DEATH POINT
Dope
Redeemer
LOVE IS DEAD
Angeldust
13 -thirteen-
Going on!
abyss
Devils’ Parade
PROGRESS
Human-clad Monsters
Infection
FALLING
Sixty nine
Mirror
Hollow
Crossed Arrows
Garnet
Encore:
Reddish
BORN
This is probably a bit out of order (I'm useless without 2ch) in the middle of the set, but you get the gist of it. I was Karyu side and didn't see too much of Zero unless he came over (which he did a lot). The crush was pretty mad, but nothing I didn't expect, and considering Dir en grey will be here in 2 weeks, I need to seriously count my blessings while I can. There was, however, more shrill random screaming than I am used to, and less roster-calling as it happens in Japan (i.e. nobody does it here). Of course, for our own shits and giggles, we did it. There was a Japanese fan on my side, who must've flown in for the gig especially... she was doing her own thing and all the furi, hahaha. Kind of heartwarming and weird. I can understand how she felt, though. I've gotten too used to their shows in a way, so it's easy to revert to old comfortable fan-behaviour, especially for older songs. (I was so grateful they played Garnet and BORN.)
I had a hard time recognising the newer songs and I'm guessing most people had this problem since the album was released very recently. Everyone loved LOVE IS DEAD, but I am disappointed they didn't do stupid stuff like putting on animal masks like notafanboy said they do in Japan. Their dumb antics are half the reason I like them, but I guess they wanted to be a little more "professional-seeming" to their North American fans (and first time in Canada). Older songs didn't get too much treatment-- nothing pre-Garnet. I am eternally disappointed that the Fascism days are over, and so's the crowd violence that comes with that song. They played HOLLOW, the endless loop song, and to my surprise, they looped it last night. Even though the fans didn't have the same history with the song (thank god, no gyaku-dives), it was still a LOOONG and brutal song. I thought they were going to finish the main set, but there were another two songs after.
Sound was loud as fuck nearer to the front. Hizumi was drowned out half the time, and of all the much-too-loud shows I've been to, this was one of the few times I actually think I needed earplugs. I am making a promise to myself to bring a pair for Apo/Diru. As for the members, they were VERY enthusiastic, but like I said, toned down in their antics. Hizumi was shirtless, black vest, red balloon pants with a low-as-hell crotch, and chin fuzz. I can't say it's one of his best looks, but he looked comfortable anyway. Zero was in a lot of black and what looked like leather. Tsukasa I don't actually remember... and Karyu had that weird beaded hair thing going on, a glittery sleeveless shirt, black slack jeans. Hizumi spoke in rehearsed English ("Welcome to Human-clad Monsters!"). He was a little hard to make out, but everyone loved it anyway.
There was no bar, so people were able to feel up the band members pretty well. I didn't see anything too dangerous at least, and the members got up and personal A LOT with the crowd, so they were encouraging it. No dives, unsurprisingly. At the end, lots of picks being thrown out and Zero doing his human-fountain impression, and Hizumi slapped people's hands. People were a bit frantic about catching stuff, but the excitement is understandable. I think the crowd was actually younger last night than usual though there were a few conspicuous older fans. I feel like the clock is ticking on me. However! There are at least probably more boys in the audience in NA.
Posters bought at the show were autographed by the band (so everyone basically bought one) and there was a raffle for Tsukasa's drumhead so the whole thing didn't wrap up until later than a normal show. I think the autograph signing was a very sweet (and financially savvy) decision, and the guys were real good sports about it. I hope the band was impressed enough to come back to Canada. The show wasn't sold out, but it was a good 300 people at least, and lots of people drove in. Heard a lot of francophone accents, in fact.
A very lovely time, made more the fun with my companions, J. and A. :)
Doors opened a bit late, around 7:30pm. The opening act, The Set started playing at 8:10pm and wrapped up before 9pm. They were from Victoria, BC, a very obvious indie rock kind of band, but enthusiastic and well-received. The fans were thankfully very encouraging.
D'espairsRay started a little past 9pm and played until 10:25pm for the main set, plus one encore after.
DEATH POINT
Dope
Redeemer
LOVE IS DEAD
Angeldust
13 -thirteen-
Going on!
abyss
Devils’ Parade
PROGRESS
Human-clad Monsters
Infection
FALLING
Sixty nine
Mirror
Hollow
Crossed Arrows
Garnet
Encore:
Reddish
BORN
This is probably a bit out of order (I'm useless without 2ch) in the middle of the set, but you get the gist of it. I was Karyu side and didn't see too much of Zero unless he came over (which he did a lot). The crush was pretty mad, but nothing I didn't expect, and considering Dir en grey will be here in 2 weeks, I need to seriously count my blessings while I can. There was, however, more shrill random screaming than I am used to, and less roster-calling as it happens in Japan (i.e. nobody does it here). Of course, for our own shits and giggles, we did it. There was a Japanese fan on my side, who must've flown in for the gig especially... she was doing her own thing and all the furi, hahaha. Kind of heartwarming and weird. I can understand how she felt, though. I've gotten too used to their shows in a way, so it's easy to revert to old comfortable fan-behaviour, especially for older songs. (I was so grateful they played Garnet and BORN.)
I had a hard time recognising the newer songs and I'm guessing most people had this problem since the album was released very recently. Everyone loved LOVE IS DEAD, but I am disappointed they didn't do stupid stuff like putting on animal masks like notafanboy said they do in Japan. Their dumb antics are half the reason I like them, but I guess they wanted to be a little more "professional-seeming" to their North American fans (and first time in Canada). Older songs didn't get too much treatment-- nothing pre-Garnet. I am eternally disappointed that the Fascism days are over, and so's the crowd violence that comes with that song. They played HOLLOW, the endless loop song, and to my surprise, they looped it last night. Even though the fans didn't have the same history with the song (thank god, no gyaku-dives), it was still a LOOONG and brutal song. I thought they were going to finish the main set, but there were another two songs after.
Sound was loud as fuck nearer to the front. Hizumi was drowned out half the time, and of all the much-too-loud shows I've been to, this was one of the few times I actually think I needed earplugs. I am making a promise to myself to bring a pair for Apo/Diru. As for the members, they were VERY enthusiastic, but like I said, toned down in their antics. Hizumi was shirtless, black vest, red balloon pants with a low-as-hell crotch, and chin fuzz. I can't say it's one of his best looks, but he looked comfortable anyway. Zero was in a lot of black and what looked like leather. Tsukasa I don't actually remember... and Karyu had that weird beaded hair thing going on, a glittery sleeveless shirt, black slack jeans. Hizumi spoke in rehearsed English ("Welcome to Human-clad Monsters!"). He was a little hard to make out, but everyone loved it anyway.
There was no bar, so people were able to feel up the band members pretty well. I didn't see anything too dangerous at least, and the members got up and personal A LOT with the crowd, so they were encouraging it. No dives, unsurprisingly. At the end, lots of picks being thrown out and Zero doing his human-fountain impression, and Hizumi slapped people's hands. People were a bit frantic about catching stuff, but the excitement is understandable. I think the crowd was actually younger last night than usual though there were a few conspicuous older fans. I feel like the clock is ticking on me. However! There are at least probably more boys in the audience in NA.
Posters bought at the show were autographed by the band (so everyone basically bought one) and there was a raffle for Tsukasa's drumhead so the whole thing didn't wrap up until later than a normal show. I think the autograph signing was a very sweet (and financially savvy) decision, and the guys were real good sports about it. I hope the band was impressed enough to come back to Canada. The show wasn't sold out, but it was a good 300 people at least, and lots of people drove in. Heard a lot of francophone accents, in fact.
A very lovely time, made more the fun with my companions, J. and A. :)