The Regime World Tour Review
Dream Perfect Regime is an independent South Korean label founded by former C-Clown member Christian Yu (formerly Rome). The music label; is a collective of five members: Ian, REM, Live, Cream, and Cline. The collective is known for breathtaking, cerebral visuals and genre-bending music.
Over the summer, DPR updated its social media to announce a US tour. My friend and I hopped at the opportunity to attend. We attended the show in Boston, MA September 23, 2022. Previously scheduled at Royale, the concert moved to a larger venue called Roadrunner due to high demand. The line to get into the space was longer than expected and wrapped the entire block. The line led to an area with a clear view of the stage. Although there was only a standing room, there was enough space to accomodate the audience on lower and upper levels.
With the show having only two headliners and no openers, I was worried about the concert maintaining energy and remaining entertaining the whole time. DPR Ian and Live put those concerns to rest.
First to enter the stage was Live, who performed hits from both earlier and recent times. Live had an astronaut concept complete with a life-size blow-up set piece. He performed hits like "Laputa" and "Martini Blue." In addition, he sang recent releases like "Hula Hoops" and "Jam and Butterfly." The sets were colorful and intentional, not only adding to the ambiance of the show but to conveying the story behind the music as well.
Later, Ian appeared to perform songs from his recent releases "No Blueberries" and "Moodswings in Order." Christian's set opened with him unraveling from angel wings with a fallen angel concept. In contrast to Live's upbeat, energetic set, Ian's set was darker and more cerebral. His works detail his experience with Bipolar Disorder and illustrate experiences of mania and depression. I believe there was inspiration from Bo Burnham's Left Brain/Right Brain performance. A Siri-like voice guided the audience through the set, sharing his thought process and bringing the audience further into his world.
Both Live and Ian did an excellent job at performing. They danced and delivered stable vocals without losing stamina and passion. There was also consistent interaction with fans in the audience. Both artists took time in their set to express appreciation and gratitude for their support.
This tour has been one of the most fun to attend. DPR prides itself on being a collective with a strong emphasis on teamwork, and you can tell how everyone worked to execute an excellent show.
The striking, (the assembly and deconstruction of sets/props) was seamless and the overall quality of production was first-rate.
The tour only made my excitement for new projects and releases grow. Packed with fun and so many viral moments, DPR has set the bar high for upcoming South Korean artists on tour.
