LIVE IN USA - at 1st Mariner Arena July 31, 2004

After seeing their 1998 live (with visual HYDE!), I wanted to see them in a slightly more recent setting, so I got this. The gig is long enough, picture and sound are good. HYDE looks quite hot. (always a plus, since you'll be looking at him a lot). But more importantly, HYDE sounds okay, too. His performance on his Faith Live DVD isn't much to write home about, but he sounds okay here, though he'll never be my favourite singer. It's funny when he tries to speak English to the audience, though. At least he tries, though his English isn't easy to understand without some sort of subtitles (that goes for his lyrics, too). I clearly hear keyboards during some songs, but there's no keyboardist present. Japanese bands and their samples. =P Do more with less! In short, this is a decent DVD. Not being a hardcore L'arc en Ciel fan, I probably am not as excited as some, but it's a good rock concert.

I was at this concert and it was absolutely amazing in every way. Fanboys were bowing to them, I think L'Arc deservedly won many many fans that day and even heightened the respect their older fans already held for them. Wonderful DVD, but it does not include Ken's adorable dolphin sequence :( Hyde's singing is spot-on, and I definitley can't say that about all their other concert DVDs! Buy this, it's so fun!

After watching this DVD, all I can say is I wish that I could have been at the concert! L'Arc~en~ciel put on an amazing show for the fans overseas and weren't the least bit shy in front of their new audience. I hope that they come back to the U.S. soon! A must buy for any Laruku fan!