I don't mean to be negative, but that has to be the first time I've ever been bored watching a VAMPS live.

Maybe I'm just not used to the change, but... I don't know. I felt HYDE's vocals were well, well, well, WELL below his standards. I don't mean to be shallow, but I really do miss HYDE playing rhythm guitar, too. It really added to the image of the band and gave off a much more rock atmosphere. Don't get me wrong, HYDE's quirky dancing is awesome, too, but it doesn't work for heavier songs. It fits well into just about every L'Arc~en~Ciel song, but just about no VAMPS songs. Not to mention, a lot of VAMPS' best songs lose a good deal of their power without the rhythm guitar. Like Devil Side. It's such a great song, but take away the rhythm guitar and it just feels lacking in depth. Perhaps that's just because I've grown so used to hearing the version with rhythm guitar. Even the parts where he -is- "playing" rhythm guitar, it's almost completely mute. Like in Memories. You can kind of tell he's not even playing, or if he is, he's the quietest guitarist ever.

It's just not the same, whatever it may be though. I don't know, I feel like I'm just nitpicking, but even forgiving the lack of rhythm guitar and subpar vocals the energy levels were remarkably low on the part of all the musicians. I hope the performances improve as the year goes on, because I'm not particularly impressed with this one. On a positive note, however, HYDE has never looked better. ;P