VAMPS at Rams Head Live, Baltimore

On Saturday, May 6th, VAMPS took the stage at Rams Head Live in Baltimore, MD after their two opening bands had warmed the crowd up. This was their first headlining date after a couple of performances opening for I Prevail's LIFELINES TOUR.

VAMPS had played nine songs each night as the opening act for I Prevail, but this headlining live offered their enthusiastic fans 16 songs, not only from their new album UNDERWORLD, but from their previous works too.

Red lights came on and a siren began echoing throughout the concert hall while smoke filled the stage. The band members entered the stage, vocalist HYDE speaking through a megaphone, adding to the sense of emergency created by the siren and lights. Fans were now captive and about to start descending into VAMPS' underworld.

The live began with INSIDE OF ME, a fast-paced song that is part of VAMPS' new album. It carried along the previous siren sound and had all the band members, especially drummer Arimatsu due to the level of drumming this song has, moving to the rhythm. Still with the megaphone and on top of his riser, HYDE chanted the chorus with it, encouraging the audience to scream "INSIDE OF ME" along with him.

The next two songs, LIPS and EVIL, were from previous album BLOODSUCKERS. They showed the audience a more playful and sexy style of music, accompanied by the band members' movements on stage, their interactions with one another and the crowd. Bassist Ju-ken cheered during the songs and encouraged fans to clap and move along.

Fans were next treated to VAMPS' new single CALLING, followed by BREAK FREE where fans screamed "Break free, break!" during the chorus, and then SIN IN JUSTICE. For SIN IN JUSTICE, HYDE waved around a flag attached to his microphone stand and carried the stand on his shoulders during parts of the song. Meanwhile, the crowd danced along to Ju-ken’s movements and K.A.Z’s guitar riffs as he sang the chorus “Lose your sin in justice” that was followed by the melody of cellos.

BLEED FOR ME and IN THIS HELL were heavier than the previous songs and had an hypnotic quality to them. Before carrying on with the live, HYDE spoke to the crowd, saying the band had been looking forward to playing in Baltimore and had finally arrived. Properly welcomed, it was time to play UNDERWORLD, the title track of their new album that carries the same name. The crowd screamed along to the chorus in agreement to the band's offer to take them to the UNDERWORLD.

DON'T HOLD BACK brought a fast-paced rhythm led by drummer Arimatsu and had the remaining band members headbanding to the beat. DEVIL SIDE had K.A.Z trading positions with HYDE on stage, the singer moving around to later lie on the floor; the guitarist did a solo during this fun-to-watch song from their previous album BEAST.

BLOODSUCKERS from the album of the same name came next, a short but energetic song that is repeated in order to get the fans reeling and shouting along. The main set concluded with another song from the album, WORLD’S END, keeping the band and fans moving before the band left the stage for the encore.

After the encore break, the fans called the band back on stage. VAMPS returned with REVOLUTION, a feet-stomping, hand-clapping singalong that showed the band can’t be trapped by a single genre or style. The encore songs were a fast and energetic ride, VAMPS giving a new meaning to “B.Y.O.B.” with their own rendition B.Y.O.B. (BRING YOUR OWN BLOOD). Finally, the band finished the concert with their hymn SEX BLOOD ROCK N' ROLL.

Set list

01. INSIDE OF ME
02. LIPS
03. EVIL
04. CALLING
05. BREAK FREE
06. SIN IN JUSTICE
07. BLEED FOR ME
08. IN THE HELL
09. UNDERWORLD
10. DON’T HOLD BACK
11. DEVIL SIDE
12. BLOODSUCKERS
13. WORLD’S END

Encore

01. REVOLUTION
02. B.Y.O.B. (BRING YOUR OWN BLOOD)
03. SEX BLOOD ROCK N’ ROLL

VAMPS are currently finishing their tour in the United States, but they won’t be gone for long. Per latest interviews they may be back during the fall, so follow them on social media for their latest announcements.

VAMPS' official Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/VAMPSofficial/
VAMPS' official Twitter: https://twitter.com/VAMPS_JPN

Read our Boston live report at http://www.jame-world.com/us/articles-125695-vamps-at-the-middle-east-downstairs-boston.html.