V-Love Live International at Rock Meikan

Just two days after V-ROCK FESTIVAL ‘11, V-Love Live International featured some of the brightest (and darkest) Japanese and international visual acts. On October 25, six bands rocked Rock Meikan with diverse performances that included swingy visual pop, European metal, and even a touch of Disney.

DNR

Italy’s DNR (Dreams Not Reality) came out dancing and wasted no time heading into “When you fall apart.” Vocalist AXIA possesses a real old-school rock voice, and the song had an equally classic feel. Bassist KIRA clapped overhead, encouraging the audience to do likewise, as Sieg worked his guitar. “Come on, Tokyo!” AXIA called. “It’s a big pleasure to be here tonight!” He bowed to the crowd so that even those who couldn’t understand the English words could feel his gratitude. “The next song is ‘Breakout and live,’ enjoy!” The piece had a darker feel, measured and rhythmic, and the audience pumped their fists as AXIA leaned out into the crowd. Keyboardist SEBA bounced with the beat behind his keyboard, electronic notes joining with the sound as the bass came in hard, driving the final verse.

AXIA took a short break to introduce the members–jokingly pretending to skip bassist and leader KIRA. Meanwhile, SIEG changed out his usual instrument for one everyone in the audience recognized–a copy of hide’s Yellow Hearts guitar. “This guitar has brought us a lot of luck,” AXIA explained as they launched their first single, “Beyond This World.” The audience clapped in time with the heavy beat, and the members accentuated the passionate chorus with posing and gestures. AXIArocked the mic stand back and forth hard as the song hit a high note and finished with a sound like a beeping heart monitor, perhaps a nod to that other meaning of “DNR.”

“This is a special moment,” AXIA announced. “This is not a DNR song, it’s from X JAPAN. When I joined DNR, I asked that they let me play even just this one song from X JAPAN. Please forgive me if my Japanese is not perfect, but I put all my passion into it.” And so they began the legendary “Tears,” AXIA singing with just the slightest accompaniment on cymbals. In the audience, some tears flowed and KIRA reached down for a quick hug before the rest of the band entered the number. Then, SEBA shouted “Last!” from behind his keyboard. “Rock Princess” was heavily reminiscent of Japanese rock princess, Tommy. The song was easily the most upbeat and poppy number of the set and also the most catchy, carried by a leading guitar line.The crowd pumped their fists to the catchy chorus of “Go! Go! Rock Princess!” and at the end. AXIA broke out his Japanese with a thank you before resuming in English, “Thank you so much, we want to come back soon!”

Set List

1. When you fall apart
2. Break out and live
3. Beyond this World
4. Tears (X JAPAN Cover)
5. Rock Princess

There are 37 photos in this visual kei exclusive.

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