Dir en grey @ Palladium Ballroom, Nov 26
I haven't updated about Dir because I didn't keep a setlist and I didn't want to update without knowing it. But then I forgot that no one in America keeps setlists ~_~ I tried really hard but without writing them down I just can't remember that much in order xD But I want to at least get something down. If someone comes up with a setlist that I think is right I can edit.
So: The story of my 15th Dir live :D
Anyway though so rephemeral and I set out on Tuesday morning for Dallas and spent Tuesday just hanging out. We had dinner with Sara and her boyfriend and oshima... it was like being in college again. Except, like, with Sly and without a lot of excess drama xD That's the way it should be.
Wednesday was the day of the show but Rachel and I both woke up at like 7 xD So we spent some time around Arlington before heading to Dallas, and then somehow managed to find the venue with amazing ease. There really weren't that many people lined up even around 3:30 when we arrived; I was pretty surprised-- there were surely more when Sly and I went 2 years ago. But there were quite a few when Sly arrived at around 5. Anyway if I thought I was old 2 years ago, I was a grandma this time xD I want to say that American Dir fans keep getting younger, but it's just me getting older. And also my patience with kids is really thin xD
Doors opened at 6:30 and for some reason the show started almost 2 hours later. That's definitely not something I'm used to >_> We were almost asleep by the time the opening band went on, but I think that's due in part to the alcohol and Pink Floyd...
The Human Abstract is certainly not my taste. At least they weren't particularly violent, as a lot of people had reported them as being-- no crowd surfing or anything like that. Although, the ratio of males at this show was shockingly high (or maybe I'm just used to the 10 girls to 1 guy thing in Japan).
Anyway Dir started with Sa Bir and led into OBSCURE, a great opener. Maybe the best thing ever was Kyo screaming "DALLAS!" because he pronounced it so perfectly. If he'd been one of my students I'd have given him a gold star xD They started off heavy as usual, ASOM and the like leading up to TOGURO, which is absolutely one of my favourite songs (and GLASS SKIN is still holding as one of my favourites also). People screamed through Kyo's a cappella as expected :\ But even worse than that is that they don't scream when they're supposed to xD Like during Hydra-666-, you're supposed to scream the "SIX - SIXSIX" part! And go "OI!" in Merciless Cult. I felt kind of dumb but it's too hard to break a habit when you know the right place to shout :B So my lone voice pathetically filled the air. At least they knew someone was trying >_> My addiction to Ryojoku no Ame burns strong, because Shinya was just as graceful as ever. I was surprised-- pleasantly-- with The Final, which I haven't heard live in a while.
One of the good things about an American show is that you don't have to clap your hands and shout for literally 20 minutes to get the band to come back. The encore was really high octane and finished off with The IIID Empire, always good fun to jump around to.
Shinya was amazing of course, as always. Toshiya's hair looks a little strange growing back in-- well, Texas-appropriate I guess, since it looks like a bizarre mullet; but actually it looks great when he's headbanging so I guess it's ok. It's also sort of endearing in that dorky Toshiya way. I certainly wouldn't want to see it on anyone else. Kyo certainly spent a lot of the show doing his sexy dancing. I was a little shocked by the fangirl-squeal/wolf-whistle reaction he got for it, but he did it more than he does in Japan so maybe that's what he wants! xD Kaoru was motionless as ever, Die was really smiley and bouncy. When they left they all seemed to be in good moods :) But Shinya didn't throw a damn thing to my side, which is his side... hope I didn't scare him off >_> He was prolly like, whew, no more death screams until we get back to Japan. And then, oh damn, I was wrong.
Once the show was over and we were all about to die we lined up again for the signing :P I was hoping and hoping for Shinya, but I had already heard that he and Toshiya had signed the night before, so I knew it was unlikely. We ended up with Kaoru and Die, which is certainly not a bad thing, it's just not Shinya xD And anyway I always meet Kaoru :P But this was my first time to meet Die. Kaoru was too cool for much interaction but Dir was amazing, big puppy eyes and a carefully-pronounced "Thank you" for each individual xD He must have learned English the eikaiwa way and had eye contact-eye contact-eye contact! drilled into his head xD
Anyway, the fruit of the labor:
They got my cd booklet all fingerprinty D: But I forgive them xD
Rachel and I parted with Sly and ended up at IHOP for late-night tea. All together a well-balanced day xD
So! That's my really belated report. I wish I could go on another stop of the tour TAT It's a nice way to escape reality >_> But why is it soooo expensive to travel, argh. Or rather, why is everything so far apart. *sigh*
Anyway if anyone got a complete setlist, gimme! ...Or at least wants to work together organizing one, I would be glad to help xD
So: The story of my 15th Dir live :D
Anyway though so rephemeral and I set out on Tuesday morning for Dallas and spent Tuesday just hanging out. We had dinner with Sara and her boyfriend and oshima... it was like being in college again. Except, like, with Sly and without a lot of excess drama xD That's the way it should be.
Wednesday was the day of the show but Rachel and I both woke up at like 7 xD So we spent some time around Arlington before heading to Dallas, and then somehow managed to find the venue with amazing ease. There really weren't that many people lined up even around 3:30 when we arrived; I was pretty surprised-- there were surely more when Sly and I went 2 years ago. But there were quite a few when Sly arrived at around 5. Anyway if I thought I was old 2 years ago, I was a grandma this time xD I want to say that American Dir fans keep getting younger, but it's just me getting older. And also my patience with kids is really thin xD
Doors opened at 6:30 and for some reason the show started almost 2 hours later. That's definitely not something I'm used to >_> We were almost asleep by the time the opening band went on, but I think that's due in part to the alcohol and Pink Floyd...
The Human Abstract is certainly not my taste. At least they weren't particularly violent, as a lot of people had reported them as being-- no crowd surfing or anything like that. Although, the ratio of males at this show was shockingly high (or maybe I'm just used to the 10 girls to 1 guy thing in Japan).
Anyway Dir started with Sa Bir and led into OBSCURE, a great opener. Maybe the best thing ever was Kyo screaming "DALLAS!" because he pronounced it so perfectly. If he'd been one of my students I'd have given him a gold star xD They started off heavy as usual, ASOM and the like leading up to TOGURO, which is absolutely one of my favourite songs (and GLASS SKIN is still holding as one of my favourites also). People screamed through Kyo's a cappella as expected :\ But even worse than that is that they don't scream when they're supposed to xD Like during Hydra-666-, you're supposed to scream the "SIX - SIXSIX" part! And go "OI!" in Merciless Cult. I felt kind of dumb but it's too hard to break a habit when you know the right place to shout :B So my lone voice pathetically filled the air. At least they knew someone was trying >_> My addiction to Ryojoku no Ame burns strong, because Shinya was just as graceful as ever. I was surprised-- pleasantly-- with The Final, which I haven't heard live in a while.
One of the good things about an American show is that you don't have to clap your hands and shout for literally 20 minutes to get the band to come back. The encore was really high octane and finished off with The IIID Empire, always good fun to jump around to.
Shinya was amazing of course, as always. Toshiya's hair looks a little strange growing back in-- well, Texas-appropriate I guess, since it looks like a bizarre mullet; but actually it looks great when he's headbanging so I guess it's ok. It's also sort of endearing in that dorky Toshiya way. I certainly wouldn't want to see it on anyone else. Kyo certainly spent a lot of the show doing his sexy dancing. I was a little shocked by the fangirl-squeal/wolf-whistle reaction he got for it, but he did it more than he does in Japan so maybe that's what he wants! xD Kaoru was motionless as ever, Die was really smiley and bouncy. When they left they all seemed to be in good moods :) But Shinya didn't throw a damn thing to my side, which is his side... hope I didn't scare him off >_> He was prolly like, whew, no more death screams until we get back to Japan. And then, oh damn, I was wrong.
Once the show was over and we were all about to die we lined up again for the signing :P I was hoping and hoping for Shinya, but I had already heard that he and Toshiya had signed the night before, so I knew it was unlikely. We ended up with Kaoru and Die, which is certainly not a bad thing, it's just not Shinya xD And anyway I always meet Kaoru :P But this was my first time to meet Die. Kaoru was too cool for much interaction but Dir was amazing, big puppy eyes and a carefully-pronounced "Thank you" for each individual xD He must have learned English the eikaiwa way and had eye contact-eye contact-eye contact! drilled into his head xD
Anyway, the fruit of the labor:
They got my cd booklet all fingerprinty D: But I forgive them xD
Rachel and I parted with Sly and ended up at IHOP for late-night tea. All together a well-balanced day xD
So! That's my really belated report. I wish I could go on another stop of the tour TAT It's a nice way to escape reality >_> But why is it soooo expensive to travel, argh. Or rather, why is everything so far apart. *sigh*
Anyway if anyone got a complete setlist, gimme! ...Or at least wants to work together organizing one, I would be glad to help xD