If D’ESPAIRSRAY thought LOVE was DEAD, Luv PARADE proved the opposite : their performance at Veats Shibuya (Tokyo) on September 9th (2023) was a real demonstration of that. If you are looking for a way to increase oxytocin, be sure to check them out !
Shibuya Veats, a venue located in the beating heart of Tokyo (JP), was the place to be on September 9th ! A year after its revival, Luv PARADE played there its final show of the year. For reminder, Luv PARADE gathers in its ranks three musicians of D’ESPAIRSRAY : Karyu (guitar), ZERO (bass) and TSUKASA (drums) and defspiral’s vocalist TAKA. The date was important as it marked D’ESPAIRSRAY’s 24th anniversary and the release of Luv PARADE’s debut single, NEW WORLD. The concert was supposed to help the band evolve and spread their wings (read about the whole story, here). Mission accomplished, it was a hell of a show !
While the fans were slowly gathering outside the venue – some had flown all the way from Europe and America, the musicians engaged in warming-up. Focused yet in high-spirit, they were slowly transitioning into their stage persona. As the clock was ticking, tension rose, excitement grew. At 4:45, the venue was packed up and ready to party ! At 5:00 sharp, Luv PARADE made their entrance amidst thunderous applause and explosive cheers from the crowd. Without missing a beat, the band threw themselves briskly and wholeheartedly into the set with DAMNED (D’ESPAIRSRAY). People jumped and clapped with glee to the beat of the song. They handbanged back and forth. Love was in the air and the hair ! After performing pop hits from Western female singers, Poker Face (Lady Gaga), Toxic (Britney Spears), Dub-I-Dub (Me & My) and BAD GUY (Billie Eilish), Luv PARADE played smashing tracks from D’ESPAIRSRAY : DEVIL’S PARADE and DEATH POINT – to the extreme delight of the fans. Despite being introduced as a guest-vocalist rather than a permanent, TAKA took the stage and confidently led the band. The moment he stepped into the spotlight, he immediately captivated the audience with his charismatic presence, versatile voice and speech skills. The man showed undeniable showmanship. After another set of pop covers, HYPER BALLAD (Björk), My Heart Will Go On (Céline Dion), the band gave a little speech. All of the MCs were lighthearted and funny which made the show even more enjoyable. Luv PARADE then performed their debut single, NEW WORLD, which was exclusively on sales at the venue. However, they didn’t forget about the fans that were watching the show online. They made sure to interact with them by approaching the cameras often. Their genuine love for the fans and their enjoyment of being on stage together were so intense as they seemed almost tangible. As promised, the band played many songs from D’ESPAIRSRAY’s repertoire (MIRROR, LOVE IS DEAD, Fuyuu shita risou, Forbidden, Kogoeru Yoru ni Saita Hana, Kamikaze) to the pleasure of the audience. The pleasure was shared on stage too. Guitarist Karyu, drenched in sweat, kept headbanging frantically to the point his head seemed to be about to come off. His energy was as high as the sky. The man, ecstatic and fizzy, must have found the Fountain of Youth ! Meanwhile, bassist ZERO seduced the crowd with his magnetic smile and groovy rhythm. He radiated love towards the other musicans and fans – approaching them, playing with them, looking at them. ZERO was genuinely looking for human connection – all the while showing dexterity. But no one outshined the other, TSUKASA’s drumming was perfectly executed. His roboric playing style left no room for mistakes. His machine-like way of beating the drums completely contrasted with his MC’s. When he talked to the crowd, he was funny and laid-back. The members’ interactions with one another was impeccable, fluid and playful. Before leaving the stage, Luv PARADE performed its debut single, NEW WORLD, once again but let the audience record videos on their cell-phones to spread them on X (Twitter) later on. The band also asked the fans to find a name to call themselves and use the hashtag #LuvPARADE to let them know. If D’ESPAIRSRAY thought LOVE was DEAD, Luv PARADE proved the opposite : the show was a real demonstration of that.
Note that the streaming of the performance, DEVIL’S NEW WORLD, is available until October 9th at 21:00 ! Don’t miss your chance to see the band fly. LINK：https://parade.zaiko.io/e/DNW-0909
Mandah FRÉNOT
(c) VMJ
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[Luv PARADE | SETLIST]
01. DAMNED (D’ESPAIRSRAY)
02. Poker Face (Lady Gaga)
03. Toxic (Britney Spears)
–MC–
04. Dub-I-Dub (Me & My)
05. BAD GUY (Billie Eilish)
06. DEVILS’ PARADE (D’ESPAIRSRAY)
07. DEATH POINT (D’ESPAIRSRAY)
08. HYPER BALLAD (Björk)
09. My Heart Will Go On (Céline Dion)
–MC–
10. NEW WORLD
11. MIRROR (D’ESPAIRSRAY)
12. BITE THE BULLET (The Underneath)
13. LOVE IS DEAD (D’ESPAIRSRAY)
14. Fuyuu shita risou (D’ESPAIRSRAY)
15. Forbidden (D’ESPAIRSRAY)
–ENCORE–
16. Kogoeru Yoru ni Saita Hana (D’ESPAIRSRAY)
17. Kamikaze (D’ESPAIRSRAY)
18. Sk8er boi (Avril Lavigne)
19. THE NEVER ENDING STORY (Limmahi)
20. NEW WORLD
> SEE MORE PHOTOS
Photography by Yoann CLOCHON
