Yesterday I left the house around 4:50AM to collect Christie and Benita. We made it to the venue around 7:00AM (after missing a few turns, to say the least), and after 11.5 hours of waiting, bitching, and dirty looks, we claimed our spot on the barricade. We made it a point to get the same spot. This time, we promised no mercy.
Once the lights went out, indicating that Dir en grey was about to perform, we felt a surge behind us. Bodies were rubbing against us, sweat and stink and all. Kyo cried out “Dallas” and we got excited.
Something I love about seeing Dir en grey live is that there aren’t many breaks between songs – most of them just go straight into the next. This makes for bodies tired from relentless jumping, throats raw, but willing to keep on. About half way through I wasn’t nearly as ready to jump, partially because I was tired, partially because all the bodies squishing me limited my movement (when I pushed back, the bodies pushed harder), and partially because I wanted to take the time to look at Die, Shinya, Kyo, Toshiya and Kaoru. And I’m glad I did – they had amazing stage presence. As it turns out, we were allowed to take pictures, but because I had expected not to be allowed, I didn’t bring my camera. I regret it, but not too much.
There was head-banging and screaming and crying out and hair-pulling and scratching and pushing and punching and pinching and hate and violence and music and silence and utter adoration and fighting and more dirty looks. Christie was getting crushed so she asked to be taken out, but she was still able to thoroughly enjoy the show without fear of getting lost in the folds of a fatty. To protect my comrades, I started pushing around. Eventually, a large Indian girl started rubbing against Benita and scratching us and generally rubbing her large breast-arms against us. All to try and usurp our spots on the barricade. Her hand had forced itself on the rail between us, so with arm-pumping we made it a point to hit our elbows against her fingers, hoping the pain of being crushed would make her release. But the mighty fortress would not be persuaded. So we started elbowing her and pushing and punching and beating her to shit. Girl must be made of pillows or something because she wouldn’t budge. But neither would we. We owned our spots at the barricade until the end.
I can’t remember the set list order exactly, but once it is made available on the internet I’ll put this in the proper order.
Sa Bir:
OBSCURE:
Grief:
Agitated Screams of Maggots:
Agitated Screams of Maggots UNPLUGGED:
Ryojoku no Ame:
Repetition of Hatred:
Disabled Complexes:
Clever Sleazoid:
Merciless Cult:
Saku:
Kodou:
THE FINAL:
The Fatal Believer:
Hydra -666-:
The IIID Empire: Kyo preceded this by repeating “Last song!” over and over while pointing to the cieling. Eventually the remainder of Dir en grey and the audience followed suit, and they jumped into this old gem.
Kaoru and Die did autographs afterwards, but it wasn’t very intimate. They only allowed us to get the CD discs signed. But I’m still grateful.
Last night’s show was an amazing experience, and I can’t properly communicate everything that happened, but I have my memories and that’s all I need.
Dir en grey Inward Scream Tour ’07 – Dallas, TX – February 19, 2007
