Vinushka

Ever since the show was announced, I ran around like a chicken with my head cut off getting things ready for the street team since I'm president of the NM Dir en grey Street Team. I made a grab-bag of stuff to give away in line, pins for giving out to everyone, made sure to get the information the venue needed and everything else. We brought water for everyone and made sure to keep the line friendly and well-humored the entire time.

In Albuquerque there is no overnight camping allowed, so we showed up at dawn the day of the concert so that we wouldn't be arrested or fined for vagrancy (for camping out that's what they'd label it as). We were in line by 6am. My friend from Canada, vulgarismx decided to come to the show at the last minute and arrived the day prior! I was so excited to meet her finally and it turns out she's a really sweet and amazing person, even in real life! Some people change when you meet them outside of the internet, but she was still just the same amazing vulgarismx as always!

There was one person there before us in line, they'd camped out overnight because they knew the cops that worked the area and wouldn't be picked up or fined. So we were second and third in line. Elyachan showed up about an hour later, making her fourth in line. It was several hours before anyone else came, two more around 9am if I recall and then one more about ten minutes after that. We got maybe fifteen of us by noon. What can I say... it's the land of mañana (literally: tomorrow, but figuratively meaning 'maybe later' i.e. procrastination-city).

By the time the busses arrived, there were still only about fifteen of us. Apocalyptica came first and the bus circled and had issues parking but finally ended up across 2nd street (side of the building away from the line) in a parking lot. A while later Dir en grey's bus showed up and drove the wrong way down the street, away from the venue. We all had a good laugh as Apocalyptica's bus driver had to go to the street corner with his cell phone, waving at the bus to get them to understand where they were. We all just watched the bus leave again and then went back to sit down after getting some of our stuff from the car.

A while later the busses came back and started unloading. Apocalyptica unloaded first and then Dir en grey. During the unloading, Die and Kaoru left the bus and Nora kept running back and forth, waving at us all every time. She's so sweet! At one point George came out the venue doors behind us, passing us by and smiling at us as he went to go get more stuff.

The Street Team (us) gave Nora and Rick the stuff for the boys: a mini-Heineken keg, Green Chili, and mini watermelons (5 of them, one for each of them). Apparently the boys loved them. Rick came out to tell us they were digging in. Ahaha, happiness in knowing the gift went over well! (There were two more Die-sightings throughout the day and some Apocalyptica members asking us for directions on how to get into the venue because the front doors were locked and the back ones were, too. We corrected some Apocalyptica roadies on why Dir en grey doesn't just wander around like Apocalyptica was. - Note they were not even asked anything or squealed at or anything and they passed us about a dozen times through the day. That wouldn't have happened with Dir en grey, I'm sure. And we explained that to the roadies and they seemed to get it after a while and stopped being kinda rude about it. So all the Apocalyptica roadie drama was just a huge cultural and fanbase misunderstanding, that's all.)

More people started showing up shortly after that, carrying the line around the corner of the venue. By 4 the line was probably around 80 people or so when we did the drawing for the gifts. That went over spectacularly and everyone was happy about it. By 4:45 there were probably 150 people. Now... let me say this. There was ZERO line-drama to speak of. Things went beautifully and with ease. Everyone was nice and kind to one another and got along. That was definitely the best line I've ever been in for a Dir en grey concert and I love everyone in that line for that fact! So if you're reading it, thank you, everyone! I made a good amount of line-friends and I saw lots of smiling going on with this line.

By the time we figured out where they wanted us for the VIP meet and greet line, there was an amazing quantity of people in line. We made the announcement since the venue staff were... uh... failing hardcore. They didn't announce it at all and I guess didn't intend to. Who knows. Whatever, everyone just did exactly as was asked, making two lines, one for Apocalyptica and one for Dir en grey going the opposite way down the street from the rest of the line. Everyone stayed in the right order from how they already were in line as far as I could tell and there was no arguing. (Side thanks to Apocalyptica fan's mother who dug the info on what on earth was supposed to go on out of the venue staff since they avoided all fans like the plague.)

Sunshine Theater won no points with the under 21 crowd. They have an un-announced, un-posted rule that all people over 21 can get into the bar that's attached to the venue before the show. There was confusion on if they were allowing them in even before VIPs or not and panic spread through the lines quickly. People under 21 started getting angry because they'd been in line all day while people that showed up 10 minutes before the show were being let in in front of them. I don't blame them a bit. Once it was settled that VIP would be allowed in first, then the over 21 crowd, and then the under 21 people, we started making plans with those who had been around us. We saved spots for people who legitimately deserved them from their line order, ensuring that friends and line buddies got their places like they should. As far as I know, in the end, everyone was in their rightful places and happy. I didn't hear about anyone not getting what they were aiming for because everyone helped everyone else out like reasonable human beings.

I was thrilled to be a part of this line and I really hope that everyone else that went feels that way as well.

VIPs were supposed to be let in at 6:15. By 6:38 we were panicking and wondering if they'd forgotten us or changed the rules or what was going on. They finally let us in a few minutes later and we were rushed through the entire process in a tiny amount of time. Nora handed us the carbineers and George handed us the pre-signed posters while we got crowded into this little area off to the side of the walkway down into the pit. That is where we stayed when the boys came out and the question and answer session started. I couldn't hear anything they said or Nora because of how big the venue floor is, how back the acoustics are under the balcony, and how soft she was speaking. I know she asked what band they should tour with at one point because people started yelling out band names. After that I know she asked what songs we wanted to hear. I couldn't hear the questions or answers for anything else that they asked us; maybe someone else can fill that in for me.

Then they had randomly selected some names to let us ask the members questions. The only three questions I heard were: "What are your musical influences?" "What is your favorite breakfast food?" and "What is your favorite dessert?" but I heard none of the answers and didn't catch the other questions because people up front were asking them and I was furthest away.

I went off right after the meet and greet to go and get my spot on the rail right in front of Die. There wasn't supposed to be a barrier, but they put one up. Kinda sad, but it was a small gap, so not too bad. And, hey... I got rail for the first time ever! Right next to me on rail was sainterre. She is an amazing person and I think we've made fast friends out of one another. Definitely want to go to concerts with her again!

Evaline played and I actually liked them a lot. I think the vocalist chose our area to play with because we'd been talking to them beforehand. He got up on the rail between me and sainterre, singing to people in our area before he finally grabbed my hair and sang in my face. That was highly amusing, if not embarrassing. But still, good fun in any case. The entire set was full of energy and I didn't hear anyone boo them or anything. I honestly think they're under-rating themselves by trying to pimp Dir en grey and Apocalyptica like they do because they're damn good. I really liked the drum-song they did where the vocalist and one of the guitarists went over to help play the drums. Extra awesome points for that and the electric dulcimer.

After their set, we told them they were good and I told the crowd they were extra awesome so far and that I'd mention the awesome crowd in my review. So here you go, guys! You all win awesome points! Don't spend them all in one place! Chants of Dir en grey started up and it wasn't very long at all before Sa Bir came up. It was fucking hard to hear it and at first we were confused because I think it was playing along with the intermission music. Then members started coming out and we went nuts, cheering for them and everything.


Sa Bir
Hageshisa to, Kono Mune no Naka de Karamitsuita Shakunetsu no Yami
Obscure
Red Soil
Agitated Screams of Maggots
Gaika, Chinmoku ga Nemuru Koro
Shokubeni
Rotting Root
Bugaboo
-Inward Scream-
Dozing Green
Vinushka
The Final
Reiketsu Nariseba
Rasetsukoku

Encore:
None

First of all, Die has two friggin fans now. (air fans... not people fans) *laughs* He always had one before this. So I'd been trying all day to psyche people up because in Atlanta his side was abysmal. Apparently in Atlanta he got more love on Kaoru's side of the stage, so I wanted him to have an amazing show. Even the Apocalyptica fans got in on it with us, cheering him along and head-banging with us. The entire show Die was all smiles and happiness. After I was told that our side was even more nuts than the part right in front of Kyo. We did it, guys! We gave Die an awesome time! *bursts with happiness*

We'd reach for him and headbang until the entire venue was spinning around us, scream when it was okay to be screaming and were silent when we were supposed to be... mostly. There's always some idiot screaming during Kyo's inward screams, but that's to be expected when there's booze involved. During Kyo's inward scream, Die continued to play, though he was just making sounds that filled in along with Kyo's inward scream. It was very interesting and not something I'd seen happen before, but cool! He did it for probably half of the inward scream.

Die was right on the entire night. I barely could look away from him and his poses and smiles and everything. When I did manage to look away, Kyo was doing his little belly-dance thing. Shinya had arms like noodles, as usual, making drumming look easy. Kaoru just looked very Kaoru-ish, mostly hidden at my angle by Kyo though. But Toshiya... he wasn't acting very Toshiya-like. In fact, he looked really down in comparison to usual and the blog he posted today makes it very obvious that I was right about that. He was barely doing any of his usual movements, like Toshiya-coptering or anything like that. In fact... Die seemed to be doing more Toshiya things that Toshiya was. Odd, but true. Maybe Die was trying to make up for it.

As far as I know, no drumsticks were thrown and only one pick per member were thrown out. No water bottles were emptied on us at all. I think most of the members were expecting an encore but then it was decided not to backstage. Because I'm sure Die was feeling it enough to come back out with how he was acting. Kyo didn't seem mad, though he did remove his in-ears at some point. Judging by Toshiya's post, I assume it was either him or Shinya that didn't want to come back out for an Encore, even though we chanted for it.

I am a little sad there was no encore and more sad about Toshiya's assessment that the show was the worst this tour. But I have to say that I wouldn't have wanted them to come back out for an encore and feel worse about the whole thing than they already did. I guess we'll probably never see them at Sunshine Theater again and probably never in this city again. But I got it once... so, I should be happy about that.

We were told after the show by Rick that they didn't do an encore because the band wasn't feeling it. But when we asked why, he said the in-ear monitors were having problems.

I didn't stick around for Apocalyptica because I was dying. I went outside to where the venue's back exit was. Apparently I missed Kyo, Kaoru, and Shinya coming out. We kept being told by venue staff that Die and Toshiya were already gone, but no one saw them leave. Oh well, I tried.

At one point while we were back there, one of the Apocalyptica roadies came running out of the back saying he needed ice and an EMT immediately. Elyachan got them the ice from the cooler in her car because the security guard couldn't leave his post. EMTs showed up a few minutes later and we found out that it was one of the members of Apocalyptica. He collapsed on stage from severe dehydration is what we learned.

According to friends who stayed inside, he did go back in after the IV he got out back and played the encore. So I think he's okay. But after the drummer's sprained ankle, they're just not having an easy time of this, apparently. I feel bad for them on that account.

In conclusion, I had a wonderful time, but Toshiya's blog has already plunged me down into post-concert lows. I also have acquired a post-concert cough. Oh yeah, I was gonna do damage assessment from being in the pit and line!

Damage assessment: huge blister on right middle toe, bottoms of feet are bright red and swollen, my nose and forehead are sunburned, have the cough from nowhere, bruise from the rail on my ribs and bruises all the way up and down my arms from the rail as well. My neck feels like it needs to be taken off of my body and replaced with a new one, and my back is killing me.

Photos