A Japanese rock band in America?! Hell yeah!

It was one of my high school dreams: see an ultra-popular Japanese band in concert. With Dir en Grey going on tour in American and my decision to go to an out of Alaska college finally gave way to a glorious opportunity. DeG had decided to add three shows to the end of it's tour, two in LA and one at the Fillmore in downtown San Francisco. Being in the Bay Area, I coughed up the forty bucks left over from my students loans and gleefully headed to the concert.

If you've never heard of DeG, you'll most likely be taken back at first. They're a Japanese rock band that has dabbled in rock-pop to screaming death metal. At first they were classified under “visual kei,” which meant they had a visual emphasis- complete with unworldly hair colors and styles, elaborate make up and costumes, and even a cross dresser who's sex appeal lured even the straightest of men.

Their American style, on the other hand, is much different then how they reached stardom in Japan. They've toned down their visual kei influences and relied more on the alternative rock look. Along with their appearance, the band members worked equally on the new music, as opposed to having each member compose songs individually. The songs ended sounding like screaming metal most of the time, and some of their Japanese favorites, like the piano and ballad driven Ain't Afraid to Die, were lost in the flight over seas.

Any who, the concert still made me jump in joy as I stood in line behind three Stanford students. Not surprisingly, the three of them and the three of us St. Mary's students seemed to be the only normal people around. The crowed was wearing black clothes, black make up, black what-ever-we-could-find. If that's the force that got DeG to come to San Francisco, I'm not going to bash it.

The show opened with the bands Bleed the Dream (a nice little screamo band) and Fair to Midland (a wonderfully done acid rock inspired group). Of course, the crowed participation was floundering until the moments before DeG appeared. Why didn't they care more about the two opening acts? Because everyone was there to see a Japanese rock band, silly!

The show started with the lead singer Kyo cutting himself across his bare chest and letting the blood drip down. Later, he would cut his solar plexus and taste the blood. While we're at it, he adorns a bucket labeled “RAPE ME” after dumping water over himself, and enjoys hitting his head against the microphone and repeating “FUCK” for percussion.

Here's the truth: besides the magically macabre and disturbing video imagery projected behind the band, Kyo's dramatics were the only thing really visually stimulating about the show. If Kyo were to stand still and sing, the entire band would just be playing, not entertaining. But, Kyo's jumping and rocking about provided enough entertainment (if you weren't freaked out) to sustain through the show.

As for the presentation of the songs, I found myself not that intrigued. They're new songs aren't as diverse as some earlier albums. By the end I could only distinguish songs by the intro and whether or not I wanted to bounce up and down at the chorus. Every song involved Kyo's voice screeching, particularly at the end. Never did I hear a song that didn't spring into hard core riffs and beats.

Honestly, Fair to Midland had captivated me more than DeG (even through the antics of last show hooligans). I found myself craving a Fair to Midland CD, not DeG's Marrow of the Bone. I guess it was just the truth of the situation- Dir en Grey had changed itself to fit American audiences and the music had lost some of it's original qualities.

Maybe this is the way their music was supposed to sound form the beginning, or this is the way they wanted it. I can't fight with that. What I can say is how most of the songs blended together. I lacked the ability to say, “I distinctly remember this one song...” at the end of the concert.

The show was worth the $40, though. Downright, and I'd pay it again. DeG will always have a special place in my heart, even if I associated them with Yokan, Embryo, and Garden first. Agitated Scream of Maggots, Dead Tree and THE FINAL just won't stick with me, and I can't say I'm sorry.

The verdict is: go see the show. If you're in anyway a fan of metal, hard core, or any other form of rock, it's worth it. If the fact they sing in Japanese bothers you, set it aside cause you wouldn't understand it even if it were in English. Buy a ticket, support the arts moving across international borders, and enjoy the freakish performances. I doubt you'd find any Western band who can do what Dir en Grey does with such finesse, even if their songs sound the same.

PS- If you ever get a hold of the concert video, look for me in the middle of the crowd, towards stage left.