Visual Grey
No one can who has more than a passing interest in the Japanese
music scene can have failed to have the noticed the hugely
popular visual-kei
bands.
Characterized more by their elaborate make-up and
and costumes than the music they play, Japan's visual-kei
bands add an extra fantastical dimension to their
performance.
The mix of feminine make-up, costumes that pull in elements
of fetish wear, "gothic diva" and anime,
and gravity defying hairstyles in a whole gamut of
colors, certainly appeal to Japanese youth and the whole genre is hugely popular here.
Their popularity is now
spreading outside of Japan through the rest of Asia
and onto the West. Testimony to this is the fact the author of this
article is making the trip all the way from the US to catch
her own favorite band Dir en grey here in Hiroshima.
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With a massive fanbase in Japan as well as many other
countries around the globe, it's no wonder that Dir en
grey is able to play sold out shows at arenas all
across the country. It is every fan's dream to attend one of
their lives (even if the band members are nothing more than a few specks
on a stage which seems a million miles away).
There are plenty of visual kei bands,
so why would Dir en grey be so unique and
popular?
...It's their music.
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Watching the performance
is also a big part of the attraction. To watch them
constantly
moving about, randomly jumping off the stage
into the audience, foaming at the mouth, and
spitting out mass quantities of fake blood
in-between songs... And that's just vocalist, Kyo!
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Yes, the few who are lucky enough to obtain seats
within the first few
rows certainly get their money's worth. And the
rest of us? Well, the
recordings of their live performances are always
interesting... Unfortunately, the chances of seeing
a band with as many fans as Dir en grey
play anywhere other than huge venues are slim.
Slim, but not impossible.
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The band surprised fans by announcing that they would
be touring small clubs throughout Japan following
the January release of their fourth album Kisou.
Two at the recently
opened Club Quattro,
in downtown Hiroshima.
Seeing a major band like Dir en grey play a gig at a
smaller club such as this one is quite an event.
One that most fans will be sure not to miss out on.
While two out of the six shows require you to be a
member of their fanclub in order to purchase tickets,
the Hiroshima shows do not. They have increased the
tour to include 2
shows in every city. And the entire tour is still
sold out!
With lyrics that are full of emotion and amazing
guitar chords that really
bring the band's powerful songs to life, they
definitely deserve to be seen.
Once you've had the chance to experience one of
their concerts, you can truly appreciate just how
much feeling Kyo puts into each song, as well as
how
much the band members enjoy playing live for their
fans.
You can never be sure of what's going to happen at a
Dir en grey show.
Their songs are powerful enough to bring out a variety
of mixed emotions,
and the ways in which they interact with each other
and the audience
is interesting, to say the least.
One thing IS
for sure - if you are at all interested in this genre
this is definitely not a show to miss.
Music has been important to me since I was very
young. So, it means a lot when I say they are my
favorite band and I'm willing to spend this much
time and money and go to so much trouble to see
them. Really, I am just some poor girl trying to save
up so I can eventually move to Japan and start a
band of my own!
They are amazing, what else can I say.
Becki 02/2002
Dir en grey play at Hiroshima Club Quattro March 16 and 17.
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