DIR EN GREY live in London

DIR EN GREY
Koko - London
03 August 2010

The atmosphere inside of Camden’s KOKO is so tense it's palpable, as just under one and a half thousand people count down the final minutes before Dir en grey's much awaited performance in London is due to take place. It was 2007 the last time the band played a headline show in the UK, and for a fan base this passionate, it's clearly been a difficult wait. Agitation amongst the already tightly packed crowd grows, and calls for the band roar through the building with desperate regularity as the hour draws near. Yet despite being pressed tightly against the front barrier, there are smiles of excitement on the faces of those that have queued long enough to get the much coveted places on the front row, when the lights dip and the first deep, intense sounds of SA BIR rumble to life.

Dir en grey are eagerly welcomed back to heartfelt cheers of adoration that don't die down until the band rip full force into RED SOIL, and the audience begin thrashing and jumping along with equal vigour to that of the band. It seems these guys certainly know how to get the most out of this audience, as they treat the mobbing hoards to a good 20 minutes or so of violent, energy fuelled, mosh-inducing songs. With heads whipping and circles of guys throwing themselves at each other in a frenzy, it's quite a staggering moment when almost the entire audience suddenly still in order to sing along to the opening lines of 'Hageshisa to ...' ; over a thousand voices all in unison with vocalist Kyo. As the aggressive songs continue on, the heat down on the floor gets so great that anyone not held in place by the squashed crowd, is risking life and limb trying to stay upright on the sweat soaked floor.

Having demanded what was probably enough energy to fuel a small city for a year from their audience, Dir en grey offer a small respite in the form of an incredibly executed version of Inconvenient Ideal; yet despite the change in atmosphere, the arms of hundreds of devoted fans remain raised high in the air. While what was a solid performance from the entire band finishes to rapturous applause, the lights dim for an incredibly emotive a capella from their enigmatic front man, as the band gear up and show what else Dir en grey have to offer, with a more poignant and stirring side to their set.

It seems that vocalist Kyo has made a complete recovery from the illness that affected his voice last year, as his expressive screams and chants captivate the occupants of the entire building through each of the various vocal interludes; the backdrop and dim lighting adding perfectly to the mysterious ambience created by the sounds onstage.

Dir en grey make their exit while the dying notes of Vinushka ring out, but soon return after a resonating request for an encore takes hold. Somehow looking as fresh as they did at the beginning of the night, Dir en grey give even more back to their demanding audience. Never once during the final three songs does the energy wane, but it's when Kyo screams 'Last Song', riling up an already feverish crowd, that the entire band really pull out all the stops in a last ditch effort to rid the concert goers of their remaining strength with 'Rasetsukoku'. Guitarists Kaoru and Die, and bassist Toshiya, make their way across opposite sides of the stage, thrusting their hands in the air and pulling yet more shouts and screams from an ever moving crowd; while Kyo balances himself on the very edge of center stage almost within grasp of his hungry fans, screaming 'LONDON' before throwing his head into a blur of movement causing the audience to follow suit.

It's an awesome noise that follows the drawn out, final moments of this last song, the lights turn to show the band a venue filled to the rafters (literally) of grateful fans, cheering and applauding with all they have left.

Dir en greys music is most often criticized for being unusual or difficult to understand, but somehow, in a live setting, everything really becomes clear as the band give new and changed interpretations of their songs, while Kyo expresses each sentiment with both his voice and body. The result is an audience left physically drained yet emotionally charged, as is proven tonight when the exhausted bodies slowly peel themselves away from each other and make their way lethargically towards the exits; a unanimous 'wow' written all over their tired faces.

Setlist

• SA BIR
• Red Soil
• Agitated Screams of Maggots
• The Fatal Believer
• Hageshisa to kono mune no naka de,...
• Stuck Man
• Gaika Chinmoku ga Nemuru Koro
• Inconvenient Ideal
• - Voice Delay -
• Dozing Green
• Rotting Root
• Shokubeni
• Obscure
• - Voice Delay -
• Bugaboo
• Reiketsu Nariseba
• Vinushka

Encore

• The Final
• Zan
• Rasetsukoku