BLOOD initially disbanded in 2009. Now, in 2011, guitarist (And Starwave Records head) Kiwamu has put the band back together with all new members. BLOOD now features Hayato on vocals; Kazuha on guitar; Azami on bass; and Dora on drums accompanying Kiwamu (although for this tour, Kazuha was on bass due to Azami having responsibilities with another band). This new period of BLOOD officially started on June 4th, so to come to North America already could be seen as quite daring. 

You could say it paid off. 

HearJapan attended BLOOD's stop at The Studio at Webster Hall, which is located just down the street from NYC's legendary St. Mark's district. The first opening band was a man dressed a rabbit, and got little response from the crowd. While there wasn't a long line waiting for the doors to open like at many Jrock events in the states, a strong crowd filed in. By the second opening act, Acey Slade and the Dark Party, the venue was jumping and amped for BLOOD to take the stage. 

When they did, they got a strong reaction. BLOOD wasted little time launching into their first song of the night. This new iteration of BLOOD seemed harder than the previous version that was active from 2004 until their disbandment in 2009. Hayato seemed to have more of a metal stage presence than any sort of elegant gothic air, and while he started with a sort of billowly half-shirt on, he was quickly topless. 

Even though, Kiwamu and Kazuha stuck to the more stoic stage personas that Japanese gothic bands tend to adopt, Hayato's antics as lead vocalist set the mood and atmosphere for their set. Soon after he took his top off he was allowing people to rub and claw at his body. Soon after that he was licking and sucking on peoples hands. Not satisfied with that, he also lept into the audience several times and ran around the throng of fans. The crowd ate every bit of it up. 

They played for what seemed to be at least an hour and a half, and had to have exceeded any and all expectations. That's not to say that expectations were low, they weren't, but a whole new line up of a band that was never super big generally doesn't electrify the masses with pre-concert excitement. Instead of being just another indie visual kei show, though, this might have been one of the most exciting Japanese performances in America this year. 

BLOOD could be going somewhere, and those who came out and gave them a chance on a Monday night in NYC will get to say they were there from this new beginning.