Ok, here is my report. Spelling and grammar mistakes probably abound, but I don't care and I'm tired. So make of it what you will. If you have questions or want more information about anything let me know. A photo of the live costumes will probably be posted to the Moi dix Mois twitter sometime soon. If you're all feeling spicy and Flowers allows it then I'll try and get some images from the pamphlet up, it has photos of the new costumes, 20 questions with each member and a roundtable discussion. I think it sold out at the show so I guess no love lost.
- entering -
Premium seats were admitted first at 5:00, followed by reserved at 5:20 and general admissions at 5:40. There was a delay though and the actual admission time was closer to 5:15 or so.
I had a premium seat so, so after admission I was given a blue slip of paper that allowed access to the premium seating area and was to be exchanged after the show for memorial goods. The foyer was decorated with the flower displays and a selection of posters from over the years.
- The Stage -
I posted a photo of it before, but there was two levels, the lower level where the band played and a second level where Kami's drum set was set up. A row of pillars were at the back of the stage.
There was also a projector screen.
- ZIZ -
The show seemed to start a little late, but eventually ZIZ began playing. I don't know anything about them so I can't really comment on their performance. The sound mix was absolutely awful though, the guitars were way too loud and the drums sounded like an electric kit. There was also a lot of unpleasant clipping present too. Közi was awesome and they closed with Seraph, it was great. Apart from the sound problems they put on a great show, even if it wasn't my cup of tea.
Projector showed the ZIZ image through the set.
- MdM -
Audio mix problems persisted, Seth had some sharp clipping on the mic and everyone looked... really bored, like they didn't want to be there. It was a little surreal. After they played Solitude there was a short MC and began the Moi dix Mois version of 真夜中, I guess K was playing tricks again and the intro to Solitude came on, cut off, everyone laughed and then 真夜中 began. It was... not good. The heavy guitars really throw the mood of the song off and Seth's voice just doesn't suit it at all. The spoken French part was a mess too.
They closed with Gardenia, which again, like 真夜中 had the guitar work swapped out for a more 'heavy' version and it didn't work for me. It was nice to hear it... but I don't know how I felt about their performance.
Ryux was awesome.
Projector showed a spinning decagram which eventually stopped.
- Malice Mizer -
The sound mix was perfect, guitar tones were accurate, bass was really audible and sounded GREAT, drums sounded fantastic too.
They opened with 再開の血と薔薇, the MKY stood together holding roses aloft, which they tossed into the crowd, then they quickly went into 虚無, which I wrote about above.
There was an MC, Shuji appeared, his costume and hair looked like something straight out of 1994, it was amazing. 記憶と空 was amazing.
I don't care much for Illuminati, they did the ménage à trois, it looked extremely awkward. Just like 虚無、the synths didn't sound as good as the album, maybe they put it onto new software or hardware for the live? But Yu~ki's bass sounded fantastic.
Kamijo looked like Kamijo. Whatever he was saying during the MC had Mana tittering and turning his back to the audience to contain himself. Many times. It was pretty funny.
The projector showed images of France, roses, roses burning etc. during Apres Midi. It sounded excellent.
They went straight into the music box intro of Bel Air, everyone cheered. The projector showed images of church and cathedral interiors. It was amazing. I don't think any concert experience will surpass that moment.
Hitomi's costume looked like Gackt's white jacket from the Voyage DVD, but black and not as voluminous. I feel like I've seen it before but I'm drawing a mental blank. I can't remember the MC.
Madrigal was great, basically a reenactment of Voyage DVD. Mana put flowers into guitars, boogied with his tamborine and his keyboard wasn't plugged in.
NPS NGS was awesome, the original version, not the N-TYPE. They shot smoke up just like the good 'ol days.
- Encore -
The projector descened, 運命の出会い began playing and a Kami slideshow was played. Some old photos, but a lot of photos that I'd never seen before. It was very emotional.
Au revior was next, no singers, just the audience, I cried, everyone cried, MKY looked pretty unsteady too.
Finally Ma Cherie, everyone sang, it was amazing. The cannons fired at the same point (final guitar solo) as the Voyage DVD. Coloured foil ribbon shot everywhere (red, blue, yellow, purple and silver, I think there was a black too but I'm not sure). I realised they were coloured and grabbed one of each just before everyone else around me did and the mad scramble began. A rather rotund Japanese woman came barreling down the aisle pushing people aside to grab almost all of them.
They bowed, said their farewells and left. Kami's drums were illuminated in the stagelights and the PA informed everyone in Japanese and English that we were permitted, for the next 10 minutes, to take photos of the stage, but to stay in our ticketed areas.
- Leaving -
Lined up, swapped my slip for my memorial goods, went home. The poster display from the lobby was now outside the venue. (they were keeping all the memorial goods behind it in the lobby).
I know I saw at least a few scalped tickets on YJ that just said "Go on in, they probably won't check you" XD
They're killing me here. Metal versions of the classics? I don't know why they didn't just play those straight as part of the Malice Mizer set.
