Rockstar Taste of Chaos's Triple Threat!

As the gates to Concrete Street Amphitheater opened, a slow stream of concert-goers made their ways toward the partition meant to separate the fans from the stage, waiting calmly for the show to get started on the damp April afternoon. Members of the audience came and went throughout the performances, pushing forward to get a closer look at their favorite bands and drifting away again to check out the many tents and booths set up around the concrete dominated venue. The sky was gray, clouds indicating the chance of rain, though the event claimed it would take place rain or shine.

The first of the Japanese acts, D'espairsRay, took the stage to a wave of cheering, not only from the obvious visual kei fans, but also from the people there to see the various other bands performing at the event, people simply eager to see what the band was all about. It was easy to pick out the D'espairsRay fans in the audience, the people squeezing toward the front and calling out the names of their favorite members. The band was energetic as they launched into their set, giving it their all. The easily recognizable start of Garnet got a rise out of those familiar with the song and engaged even those unaccustomed with the band. Fans of the band were prepared to sing along with the chanting that closes out the song, a mysterious feeling occupying the air, probably due in part to the questioning looks this ritual garnered from those not in the know. Karyu enthusiastically growled out his backing vocals during the heavier songs, occasionally flipping his hair in the sultry air. HIZUMI spoke briefly to the fans between songs, introducing the band in English and stating that they were all happy to be there. Also among the songs on D'espairsRay's set list was SCREEN, the sincere rendition of which silenced the audience as HIZUMI's voice soared into the sky and dissipated along with the threat of rain. Though the crowd was, by and large, calm, SIXty∞NINe got people moving around, pumping them up for the remainder of the performance. TSUKASA played passionately throughout the show and ZERO was flirtatious, as always, smirking at the fans as he crouched down to get a better look at them. D'espairsRay finished their set with Fuyuu Shita Risou and, after a few more words from HIZUMI, exited the stage to much cheering.

MUCC came out next, and with them, the sun. Tatsuro looked up at the sky as if to say, "Bring it on," before the band started their set. The audience's excitement seemed to rise as MUCC performed, a few people starting to jump up and down and throw their fists in the air. Fuzz was a definite crowd pleaser, more movement rippling through the group of onlookers as the band put everything into their performance. Miya played with fierce concentration, offering his voice as backing vocals as well. Tatsuro, running maniacally back and forth across the stage, utilized the space well and made sure that he was seen by all. As the band launched into Libra, a few excited yells rose up from the fans, those familiar with the song. YUKKE showed himself to be a true performer, charismatically playing and dancing around with his bass throughout the set. The audience members seemed to get ever more pumped up as the show progressed, Tatsuro speaking to them in English and informing everyone that, "We are MUCC, from Japan". Apparently the sun had brought, not only light to the previously cloudy day, but new life to the crowd and an extra burst of energy to the band, SATOchi pounding away at his drums for most of the set. Their performance of Ranchuu was full of energy that radiated out to the mass from the dynamic group of artists, a few amongst the throng of people lining the security partition head banging as Tatsuro growled out his lyrics. As they finished their set, Tatsuro said a few more words in English before the band exited the stage, taking the sun with them.

Up next was the final Japanese band of the show. Rather than getting full reign of the spacious stage, the Underneath was set up to perform on a small section of stage to the audience's left. As the band members took their little spot in the limelight, the sun slowly sinking into the horizon, the spectators crushed to the left to get a better view of this mysterious new band made up of seasoned performers. Something about the Underneath really got the crowd charged. Whether it was the rush that came with fighting for a good view, the fact that this was the final taste of Japanese rock that the audience would be left with, or the undeniable presence that each member brought to the stage with him, the fans surely recognized something special about the band. They opened with Getting closer, TAKA's powerful voice projecting into the sky as he looked out at the crowd with a dangerous look. It was hard to tear eyes away from TAL as he energetically played his guitar, even venturing to the empty side of the stage so that everyone got a look. He kept up that same energy through every song the band performed. The band members made great use of the small space that was available and didn’t drop the energy, but rather raised the bar despite the restrictions. Even when they played Konpeki -DEEP-, a more subdued song, the audience did not go without feeling something, the earnestness in TAKA's heartfelt vocals seeming to send a wave of calm over them. As with the other vocalists, TAKA spoke a few words of English to the throng and expressed the band's happiness over being on the tour and hoping to do it again in the future. The catharsis brought on by Konpeki -DEEP- didn't last long as the heavy sounds of Houshoku no buta -FAT FATTY F**KING PIGS- once again got everyone's heart pounding and blood rushing, ready to enjoy the rest of the show. Once they'd finished their set, they said their goodbyes and thanks and left the stage to a flurry of applause and cheering.

The three Japanese bands that took part in this nationwide tour certainly gave the American audiences a good taste of what the Japanese music scene has to offer. A certain feeling of revelry swept through the venue during these, what could be considered, exotic performances from bands that the majority of the mass had never heard of. After all three bands had completed their sets, the English-speaking headliners preparing to take the stage, they made way to various tents to sign autographs for the multitude of new and longtime fans who had waited, under ominous skies, for the experience.


Photos by Lacy.