D'espairsRay Live in Warsaw

Despite the bad weather, plenty of people gathered in front of Progresja Club in Warsaw, many of them waiting long before the concert. The live started nearly on time and the throngs of people bouncing and screaming their lungs out all the way through were the best proof that the concert was successful.

The members came on stage with screams and clapping welcoming them. Without further ado they kicked off the first song, BORN. The song was off to a good start until something unexpected happened - the excited crowd suddenly collapsed without any apparent reason. The first couple of rows just fell on the ground, surprising the members, who didn't know how to react. Still they continued the show without pausing.

The whole concert was full of awesome moments provided by both fans and the band. The interaction between the stage and the audience was great. The members were cheering the fans, coming closer to the audience, smiling and making faces all the time. The crowd gave it their all, jumping, clapping and singing together with HIZUMI every time it was possible - and there were many chances.

The third song, REDEEMER, was actually a good chance to sing along, when everyone was chanting the chorus and pumping their fists while jumping in certain moments. ZERO interrupted his bass line to make a gesture, showing he wanted to hear more and more.

The tour was held to promote the album MONSTERS so songs from this release were obligatory. They came out quite well played live and the fans were enthusiastic about the new songs, which was proved by their enjoyment all night.

The first of those new songs played in the concert was DEATH POINT. Before it, HIZUMI called to the fans in English: "I want to see you scream! I want to see you jump! I want you to go fucking crazy!" The audience enthusiastically fulfilled his every demand so the satisfied band could start the first song from MONSTERS. The fans, cheered by the members, were bouncing and screaming the title phrase together with HIZUMI.

During dope, the vocalist pulled his hood up over his head and moved around the stage in hip-hop style. Everyone was chanting and pumping their fists in this rhythmic song. But the most rhythmic song that night was obviously the next song, 13 - Thirteen -. Its marching style made all hands go up, clapping. The fans were singing with the vocalist, raising their fists in the air.

Apparently, LOVE IS DEAD was the greatest hit of the night. Clapping, jumping, singing and fun, it was the fans who took over the song but the band was enjoying it too. ZERO and Karyu were running through the stage, changing their places and coming closer to the edge, reaching the crowd. Every face looked pleased.

Later that night, more songs from MONSTERS appeared. Human-clad Monster was announced as the song from which the tour took its name. Then HIZUMI invited everyone to join DEVILS' PARADE. The whole audience was singing the magic spell invented by D'espairsRay, "NaNaReMiLaMiNa", which really seemed to have the power to drive everybody crazy.

abyss was the only really slow song. It started with TSUKASA who, showered with blue light, played a wonderful drum solo. Then spotlights fell on HIZUMI, who was singing the beautiful song, grasping the microphone stand. Here people were also able to focus on the guitarists and pay attention to their beautifully designed instruments.

Although there were plenty of new songs, the band didn't forget about their classics. Accordingly, there were songs from Coll:set, MIЯROR and as mentioned above REDEEMER. In the beginning of the live, Marry of the blood appeared, and then some darker songs like DAMNED and Infection were played. During the latter HIZUMI was singing standing at his microphone stand and other members become more serious. Karyu played an impressive solo, bending over his guitar. Lost in Re:birthhad the band and the fans headbanging. During TRICKSTƏR the members were changing their places again, playing face to face, coming closer to the audience who was chanting a lot.

On the other hand, the next to the last song of the main set, Hollow, was one of the most entertaining from D'espairsRay's repertoire. Throughout the song the tension was impossibly higher. The audience was aching to sing along, screaming not only the title "hollow" but also the great "lalala…" part. Last but not least, Garnet was played and the main part of the set was over.

Some picks and bottles were thrown out to the audience. TSUKASA, stepping out from behind his drumset, waved to the fans. As soon as the members left the stage, the fans started calling the band's name. It quickly became calls for an encore and the band without hesitation fulfilled the audience demand, appearing on stage for the second time.

The encore contained three older songs. The members came out wearing black tour t-shirts and started from Reddish, a song full of screams and chanting. A lot of fans congratulated the band on a very good and surprising selection. The second song for the encore was "Forbidden", during which the audience was singing along with the band. Karyu and ZERO switched places and the bassist was spinning on the stage.

MIЯROR was an impressive way to finish the show. Once again the fans' voices united with HIZUMI's vocals. Although the members were very tired and their wet hair stuck to their faces, they were still running all over the stage, bending over the audience. Finally HIZUMI screamed "Thank you, Poland!" and the live was over.

The members seemed to hang back before they left the stage. They were tossing some stuff to the crowd and some fans were actually really fighting to get the goods. The guitarists held their picks in their mouths and then dropped them into the audience. HIZUMI spilled water over the heated crowd and threw them bottles.TSUKASA was also spilling water but on himself. Not leaving his drumset he gestured to the fans who responded with loud screams.

Suddenly ZERO tossed a bottle that got stuck on the ceiling. The bassist was surprised and looked as though he were hoping it would fall back down anyway, and the delighted audience laughed before a round of applause broke out in celebration of the incident. Embarrassed, ZERO stepped back.

The fans gave HIZUMI signed Polish flags, so he was waving them above his head as he ran about the stage. The members slapped hands with the people standing near the stage, and it took a long while for them to say goodbye to their fans. Even after the concert they spent some time signing posters and CDs.

During the concert HIZUMI talked to a lot of the fans, but the most meaningful sentence was the statement that he was very glad D'espairsRay could came back to Poland. We are thankful too and we hope that they will visit us very soon. After such a good live, a hiatus is hard to imagine. Hopefully it won't take long for them to resume activity and come back on stage full of new strength and enthusiasm.


Setlist:

01. BORN
02. Marry of the blood
03. REDEEMER
04. DEATH POINT
05. dope
06. 13 -Thirteen-
07. LOVE IS DEAD (ClubDANCE style song)
08. DAMNED
09. Infection
10. Human-clad monster
11. DEVILS' PARADE
12. abyss
13. Lost in re:birth
14. TRICKSTƏR
15. Hollow
16. Garnet

BIS
17. Reddish
18. ''Forbidden''
19. MIЯROR


For more photos from concert go on JaME PL Facebook profile