Kirito – KIRITO tour 2006 EXISTENCE PROOF

Released in late 2006, KIRITO tour 2006 EXISTENCE PROOF is the second – after KIRITO TOUR 2005 'The Fef of Hameln' LIVE & DOCUMENT - live DVD of PIERROT’s former vocalist, which was filmed during a tour of the same name. Another of PIERROT’s former members, drummer Takeo, also took part in it. With this concert, fans had an opportunity to get to know vocalist’s solo works as he performed almost all of the songs from his album Hameln, his singles DOOR, TEAR and DECIDE, and several songs that appeared later on album NEGATIVE.

The DVD starts with an interesting intro followed by the explosion of GARDEN’s strong rhythm, stirring from very beginning. Throughout the whole concert, slower and faster numbers are intertwined, which keeps everyone's attention. However, there are a few highlights. One of them is PLOT, a song with an expressive beat and catchy tune which makes it simply impossible for one to stand still – a fact well illustrated by the fans gathered that day in Nakano Sun Plaza. The audience had also a chance to dance during the energetic Suicide View and the first version of DECIDE, with its strong drums and heavy guitar riffs seasoned by some electronic effects.

Ballads like Saisei no asa (Single Version), which only Kirito knows how to write, add a kind of magic to the show. This very romantic song puts the audience in awe, and fans in front of their computers or TVs can’t take their eyes off the screen either. DOOR makes similar impression – even after the end of this composition, the crowd stayed silent for several minutes. The live version of HAMELN is equally incredible, gaining more emotional depth.

The entire performance itself is pretty peaceful, like the overlying theme found in Kirito’s music. The great mood is created by the lighting, which is usually monochromatic and changes with the rhythm and intensity of the music. The camera angles change frequently, and they add even more dynamic. Moreover, the editing of the DVD is rather interesting – Kirito is in the middle of the action and the rest of the musician are shown less, allowing you to follow all of the vocalist's gestures, which are sometimes amusing. The camera also often turns to the crowd, interested in their reaction and how they dance and jump to faster songs or stand still during slow ballads. There are also MCs, during which Kirito thanks everyone for their support and talks about the songs.

Since this DVD contains a complete recording of the live, there are also encores. At the end of the event, the crowd is treated to a few B-side tracks such as Cherry trees and another version of DECIDE - which is not much different from the first, but the audience enjoys it very much. But the real bomb blasts later: it's an acoustic performance of ANSWER, one of PIERROT’s songs. It gets a big emotional reaction and Kirito, who is left alone on stage, ends the show with a bow.

This DVD probably wouldn't be enjoyable to people unfamiliar with Kirito’s works. The concert doesn’t attract attention with overblown visuals because that isn't the point. Its strongest quality isn't in the visuals, but in the performance of the songs. That’s why it will be certainly a great feast for the ears to both PIERROT’s and Kirito’s fans.