the GazettE at PlayStation Theater, New York City

Fans lined up early outside PlayStation Theatre in anticipation the GazettE's return to New York City, three years after their last New York performance. As the line stretched along 7th Ave, the excitement for the show was palpable amidst the hustle and bustle of Times Square. The doors opened on time and despite being on their feet for many hours, any weariness was washed away as fans enthusiastically entered the concert hall. The energy continued to climb as they lined up to purchase band merchandise and populated the theater.

Screams filled the air as each of the band members entered the stage, and they immediately broke into Falling, the first track of their newest album, NINTH, released last year. Heavy bass, rhythmic distorted guitar chords, and the clash of cymbals combined with the driving beat of KAI’s drums reverberated throughout the theater, propelling the sea of bodies into action. Head banging and fist pumping ensued until the end of the song, when RUKI finally screamed out a greeting to the crowd, “What’s up New York?!”

Just like the order of tracks in the NINTH album, NINTH ODD SMELL followed. RUKI roamed the stage as his gold embroidered jacket glimmered amidst the flashing red and green lights. The head banging continued and fans screamed along with RUKI during the colorful English chorus parts of the song. REITA energetically roamed the stage during GUSH, his vigor stimulating the audience even more.

Following a brief intermission after GUSH, the band reentered the stage as RUKI yelled, “Ready to rock, New York?!” Fans screamed in recognition as the familiar, cosmic-like synthesized sounds and slamming bass of VORTEX filled the hall. They clapped along and vocalized in unison with RUKI as he growled out the lyrics, “I don’t wanna become the fuckin’ garbage like you”.

The rhythmic clapping of the audience continued into the next high-energy song, VENOMOUS SPIDER’S WEB. The crowd jumped and chanted in unison as the song switched gears to a high-speed thrashing, and fans swooned over RUKI’s more sensual singing, with URUHA’s and AOI’s skillful guitar playing intertwined throughout.

The atmosphere of the show changed as beautiful, melancholic guitar strums reverberated throughout the hall and RUKI began to croon the lyrics of Sono Koe wa Moroku. Although everyone took a break from thrashing around, the intensity of the live peaked as they reached the chorus of the song.

The band played several more tracks from the NINTH album, mixing in many popular songs from previous albums such as DOGMA, TOXIC, and STACKED RUBBISH, as well as others, much to the delight of the longtime fans in the crowd.

The well-coordinated use of lights during the performance helped in setting the mood during each song. The lighting movement and effects were especially pleasing to take in during songs like THE SUICIDE CIRCUS and Filth in the beauty, when the yellow lights flashed through the entire venue to emphasize certain beats in the song. Fans jumped up and chanted along with RUKI in nostalgic excitement. Filth in the beauty opened with a bang, with RUKI strutting about the stage and REITA and URUHA head banging their blond heads in unison. During one particular moment of the song, fans squealed in delight as RUKI indulged them with a sensual hip sway while grabbing his loins.

The show’s explosive ending certainly felt too quick to be over, as the crowd screamed and waited in anticipation for an encore. Their calls were answered as each member came back on stage to play three more classics. TOMORROW NEVER DIES was their drug of choice to complete the night – the energy level throughout the entire theatre reached a second climax, and the mosh pit lived up to its name while the band fervently played through the end.

Set list

01. Falling
02. NINTH ODD SMELL
03. GUSH
04. VORTEX
05. VENOMOUS SPIDER’S WEB
06. THE MORTAL
07. Sono Koe wa Moroku
08. DOGMA
09. THE SUICIDE CIRCUS
10. INCUBUS
11. UGLY
12. ABHOR GOD
13. Filth in the beauty

Encore

01. INSIDE BEAST
02. COCKROACH
03. TOMORROW NEVER DIES

Read our interview with the GazettE in New York City: https://www.jame-world.com/en/theme/1251-preview.html