Last night I went to a D’espairsRay concert. While I was expecting something like, say 200 people at least, the amount seemed more like 120 on a good day. They don’t attract such an audience, which makes me wonder why. Basically, the crowd was small enough for me to spot my friends in less than five seconds. Oh, and also a jerk who kept on ignoring me. He deeply offended me, not because we’re such good friends, just because he deliberately ignored me.
Pumpehuset is unusually small and has a strange configuration. The stage is on the second floor. According to the sign the place can hold up to 500 people. Imagine 500 people headbanging and jumping around on the second floor. Well, it held so far, so it’s probably good enough.

My main complain about J-music is that it’s too perfect. No notes being missed, no contamination, no tape hiss, it’s perfect. Too perfect. What I really like about Joy Division for instance is that their pieces are not always 100% harmonious, but Japanese music is simply so square that it’s almost sickening most of the time. Which is why I thought I should see them live, can’t play it perfect when you’re on stage, right?

Well, I was half right. Either they’re really good at this playback thing, or they really really hate to be innovative. Almost record-like from what I could hear out of the maximized compressed sound. I can still hear a low buzz over 12 hours later.

I was surprised to see only about two other long haired men. Most people were at the ages between 14 to 20 mostly, dyed hair, dark eyeliner (including males) - they have adopted the Visual Kei style. Their hair was considerably longer than than your average skinhead, but hardly as long as what you would call long. Only one or two smokers.

Concerts are the only form of music I’m willing to pay for. It’s been ages since I bought a CD, and I get all my music lossless. That’s the way it should be. However, if one of those musicians whose music I listen to came by touring in Copenhagen, I’d be the first one to buy a ticket. Similarly, when I go to watch a movie, I don’t pay for the movie, but for the experience in general, the big screen, the superb sound et cetera. If I just wanted to watch the movie, I’d download it. Data is data, no point in selling it, since it can be replicated freely and easily (and perfectly.) I hope my 200 DKK would help D’espairsRay get new dresses and make-up or whatever they’re planning to do with it.

The hilight of the show, for me at least, was getting spat on by a hot Japanese guitarist, Karyu, kill me, but it was awesome. A friend of mine in fact managed to catch a bottle tossed by Karyu to the audience, from which he drank. How lucky of her.

Per se, I enjoyed the concert, and although it ended before 11pm, and I was expecting to go get drunk with a few friends (which never worked out unfortunately), and besides getting ignored, it was worth it.

Don’t pay for information, pay for experience.