D'espairsRay Played a Real Rock Show in Moscow!

After two years D'espairsRay returned to Europe. This event pleased the fans inexpressibly, but as it turned out the band likes to perform overseas very much. They also took some time to answer a few of our questions while they were in town.


How do you feel about performing abroad?

Karyu: It was very interesting to get acquainted with people from other countries.
HIZUMI: It is always something special, preparing for a new gig. That’s why I like all that running around in new places.

ZERO, you have a birthday coming up. How will you celebrate?

ZERO: We’ll return to Japan the day before my birthday so I'll probably be getting some rest. I won’t be able to organize a party. But the most important thing is that we had the European tour and our fans could come and see our concerts. It’s more fun for me than the party.

Once you said that your latest album REDEEMER is the real D’espairsRay sound and many fans tag it as a musical change. Do you also think like that? Who or what is “Redeemer” for you?

Karyu: We were writing each song separately. HIZUMI composed all the lyrics, and he put in each song the things that were most important for us. “Redeemer” – it’s not only a person but also things that are dear to us.
HIZUMI: It’s our adult work, our achievement in music.
ZERO: We’ll release a new single in September. It has an absolutely new sound, a new creation. The album REDEEMER has inspired us.

Karyu, you stated in an interview that before MaVERiCK came out, the group was about to disband. How did you get through that period?

Karyu: We were a visual kei band and it was really hard. At that period we had some difficulties and decided to release a CD that would be available only at concerts. We wondered whether the public would like our new sound or not.

ZERO, you decided to open a blog on Ameblo for a limited time, the closure being on September 9th. Why this decision? Do you know that there are a lot of oversea fans who read your blog every day?

ZERO: I thought it'd be fun to write in a blog, that’s why I decided to open it. Now there are a lot of fans reading it so I really don’t know what to do, whether to close it or not.

When and where was your first gig, and what were your feelings about playing your songs in front of an audience for the first time?

HIZUMI: Our first concert was in Takadanobaba AREA. It was the very first performance, that’s why if I remember correctly no one came up.
TSUKASA: No, I guess there were around ten people. (laughs)
Karyu: We were not nervous at all. It usually works like that: you come on stage, start playing and forget about everything.

What do you think about the evolution of rock music in Japan?

TSUKASA: So, what's it about?
Karyu: We don’t understand how it is ourselves. (laughs)
HIZUMI: Mm…I don’t know.
(all laugh)
Karyu: It’s really hard to say. We just play the music we like. And I don’t even know what’s popular in Japan now.

How do you see yourselves in ten or twenty years?

Karyu: Ten or twenty years …we want to go on performing.


The doors of Ikra club were to open only at 7 p.m., but in the early morning people coming for the concert of D'espairsRay in Moscow had already shown up. In the evening, the line was stretched along the whole street. Despite some hours spent under the scorching sun, everyone was excited about the forthcoming concert.

Finally, at 8:30, the French manager in the red army pilot cap appeared on the stage with a little boy by his side. The man greeted everyone and didn't forget to mention that it was D'espairsRay's first concert in Russia, and hardly had he disappeared before the stage was clouded with smoke. The lights went out, and flickering lasers created a sensation of the surrealist event to come. One by one musicians appeared on the stage, making the crowd move forward to the stage, shout and wave their hands. All of the members were in black clothes, except HIZUMI who was in a semi-unbuttoned grey shirt. The band welcomed the fans with gestures and smiles; ZERO was especially good at it. He sat down at the edge of the stage and waved his hand, encouraging the crowd to shout louder and involuntarily making them press forward to come some centimeters nearer to the stage

Lizard opened the concert. The audience went totally wild as the air split with the energetic sound of Karyu's guitar. TSUKASA concentrated completely on his drums while ZERO had time to flirt with the fans, smiling to them and squatting at the edge of the stage. TSUKASA and Karyu's parts created a very powerful and energetic sound, and the voice of HIZUMI was hardly audible, however, his vocal was so emotional everyone listened entranced.

Without any break between songs the musicians started to play REDEEMER. Karyu joined ZERO, approaching the edge of the stage, and received a vigorous reaction from the fans. Soon Karyu returned to his position, but ZERO still remained at the edge actively communicating with the crowd. Despite the difficult vocal part, HIZUMI did not forget to encourage the audience, and had them take over the singing in the chorus. Apparently, everyone knew REDEEMER perfectly and sang it from beginning to end.

As soon as the song ended, a short MC followed during which HIZUMI greeted the audience. ZERO helped him out, not with words, but with gestures and smiles sent to the crowd. The third song was TRICKSTeR. While ZERO sang his back-vocal part, Karyu rushed to the stage edge as if replacing the bassist who wasn't able to communicate with the fans. The guitarist knelt down and played almost within a hand length away from the front rows. The stage was clouded with red-yellow smoke, creating an atmosphere that fit well with the tremendous voice of HIZUMI.

The next song was unexpectedly slow. The band stood still on the stage, and the figure of HIZUMI sank in the green-blue luminescence of lasers. His voice filled the venue and unexpectedly absorbed all other sounds. Having begun with so exciting a vocal part, KOHAKU proceeded with the thunderous beat of drums stirred with powerful guitar riffs from Karyu. The movement in the crowd stopped and the fans were silent, amazed with the act on the stage. The song seemed almost infinite as it rumbled hard and unexpectedly hit high notes, and then it calmed down and burst out again. When the song ended, a storm of applause was aimed at HIZUMI, who gratefully answered with a bow.

However, hardly had the chords of the previous song ceased before Karyu unexpectedly went to the center of the stage for his guitar solo. During this solo Karyu showed incredible speed and professionalism, and brought wild delight to the spectators. ZERO didn't lag behind and joined Karyu with his part. It seemed as if the solos of both musicians formed a single whole. Entering the melody for the second time Karyu quickly played the top frets, making his guitar sound as high as possible. The act on the stage carried away the spectators so much, they were standing still again and not even shouting.

In a couple of minutes the sound of guitars was interrupted with the amazing beat of TSUKASA's drums and powerful growl of HIZUMI. The stage was clouded with greenish smoke. So, that was the start of SIXty∞NINe. ZERO began to dance to its rhythm, while Karyu stood on the edge of the stage flirting with the girls in the first rows.

The song was followed by a short break during which HIZUMI communicated with the audience, asking about their mood and expressing his joy about the concert in Moscow. After this, Infection began. This time, unlike all the previous songs, HIZUMI sang very low and quietly, however, his voice excited everyone's souls. Then everything stopped once more. Now only Karyu's guitar was audible. Its sound grew louder and more powerful, and at the peak of this intro MASQUERADE started. This time Karyu and ZERO communicated with the crowd together, encouraging people who were a bit tired from standing so long. But they obviously were not going to lose their spirits and started slamming. Hardly had the last notes fallen silent when the venue sank in the squall of applause.

The next song began and the audience, despite being crammed in, tried to start a wave. It was in vain. The song ended and the crowd, on some single impulse, started to scream "ZERO!" and then "D'espairsRay." Garnet caused a new flow of delight. Everyone knew lyrics very well and from time to time HIZUMI stopped singing and simply listened to the fans singing in perfect harmony. Even ZERO interrupted his back-vocal parts and smiled. Spectators headbanged wildly and their powerful impulses transferred to the band.

During HORIZON both the band and the fans had some rest as the main parts of this song belonged to Karyu's guitar. This time Karyu was a back-vocalist and the active movement burst out in the crowd once more. The delight of the fans was so strong, that when the song ended, they again started to shout the band name. The next song SCREEN was very slow, but despite his weariness, HIZUMI sang it very emotionally. His voice was perfectly accompanied with the melodious and heavy guitar of Karyu. The flickering lasers were penetrating through the darkness of the hall.

Without any break the musicians started to play Bullet. ZERO again used his charms, flirting with the crowd below the stage or suddenly approaching the VIP seats above it. People there didn't intend to miss the chance and tousled his hair. When it was time for the chorus everyone started headbanging. The fans again sang along with the vocalist, and HIZUMI seemed very pleased. The song was unexpectedly interrupted by the drum solo, and the admirers answered by shouting the drummer's name "TSUKASA!" Meanwhile HIZUMI began to present the musicians. After his phrase "on bass..." there was an answer "ZERO! ZERO!" In the same way, the reply to the powerful guitar bridge was "Karyu! Karyu!"

The musicians didn’t stop playing and after a short intro, Hollow followed. Besides the superb guitar playing, Karyu helped ZERO on back-vocal. While looking at the cheerful HIZUMI , the audience was shouting “Hey! Hey!" and "Lalalalalalala!" Meanwhile both guitarists were walking on the stage, changing their places. During Karyu ’s solo the audience raised their hands in the air. An abrupt back vocal joined the exiting lead vocal.

After a short МС, KAMIKAZE started and it was the only song awarded direct praise from the vocalist – he said that he really liked its beats. Apparently, the audience knew this song well as the chorus of a hundred voices led by HIZUMI was really impressive.

Even after they stopped playing, the band didn’t leave the stage. Karyu clutched his pics between teeth and one by one spat them out into the hall. HIZUMI shouted something, but nobody could hear him because of the terrific noise of the crowd. When TSUKASA left the stage, HIZUMI and Karyu followed him. ZERO, obviously the favourite today, stayed a little longer, talked to the audience, and eventually left the stage too.

But the crowd impatiently waited for more. From the moment the band left the stage, they started to shout "Encore! Encore!" and sang all together “We will rock you.” Fortunately, the waiting wasn’t very long. TSUKASA appeared on stage first, alone. The lights on stage went out except one, which highlighted the drummer. TSUKASA stood in front of the microphone, took out a flute and suddenly started to play the Russian folk song “Kalinka-Malinka." During the first minute the crowd was shocked, but then drowned him in enthusiastic shouts. The surprise from TSUKASA seemed to be a success much appreciated by the Russian audience. After he finished, the other musicians appeared on the stage, wearing black T-shirts. HIZUMI took out a sheet of paper and with a little difficulty, laughing, read a few words in Russian, then Karyu said “Thank you!” in Russian, too. The crowd applauded with enthusiasm.

Starting with Reddish, the encore proceeded to MIRROR. Both songs were favorites, beloved and happily met by the audience. After the end of MIRROR, the crowd started to shout "Arigatou!" The band one by one slowly left the stage to this exclamation. D'espairsRay’s first concert in Russia was over.

The performance took two hours, but those present there just didn’t notice. It seemed like only a few minutes because it was such a bright, rich and powerful concert. The crowd walked out of the hall exhausted, but still carried in their hearts the energy of the performance. Despite the fact that the band will soon celebrate their tenth anniversary, the musicians continue to go forward and surprise their admirers!


Set list:

Lizard
REDEEMER
MC
TRICKSTeR


KOHAKU
Guitar/Bass セッション
SIXty∞NINe
MC
Infection
Guitar introduction
MASQUERADE
in vain

Garnet
HORIZON

SCREEN
Bullet
Hollow
MC
KAMIKAZE

encore

Tsukasa
Reddish
MIRROR