On September 21 in Washington D.C., the artistic collective known as Dream Perfect Regime, or DPR, took over popular EDM venue Echostage during their DPR REGIME WORLD TOUR 2022. The highly anticipated tour, which spans more than 40 shows across the Americas, UK, Europe, and the Asia-Pacific, follows the successful release of DPR Ian’s full-length debut album, Moodswings In To Order, also known as MIITO.
Fans (or Dreamers as they are called) showed up en masse, with lines snaking up and down the block hours before doors opened. It was shaping up to be a packed house by mid-afternoon as people gathered early in hopes of getting a good view from the barricade. With a mix of unique talents including production, visual arts, and music, the DPR crew promised to deliver a level of performance never witnessed before, literally. The entire performance proved to be a stunning audiovisual feast with thoughtful surprises – including butterfly-shaped confetti, bubbles, and party streamers – around every corner.
Resident DJ, singer-songwriter, and producer DPR Cream kicked off the night with electrifying beats that hyped up the crowd as people streamed in, filling both floors of the completely sold-out venue. Fans on the barrier threw up their hands and cheered throughout the set, screaming whenever he went hard on his keyboard solos and bounced around the stage under the bright neon lights. With such a fiery opening, DPR Cream quickly turned up the heat and had the whole venue more than prepared for the rest of the night.
Through a screen of smoke, DPR Live appeared on stage to deafening screams. The dedicated Dreamers immediately recognized his silhouette and chanted out the words to “S.O.S.” His set was filled with fun theatrics that fit the vibes of each track, starting off with a giant inflatable astronaut floating in the background. Next, ethereal movements of a ghostly cloth flipped and turned as it followed him around the stage.
During “Hula Hoops,” DPR Live bounced back and forth across the stage, tossing large pool floats into the crowd, much to the amusement of the fans. After a brief pause for a set change, he returned to the stage with a huge bouquet of roses, and began handing them out as he sang “Venus.”
In a collaborative fan-inclusive surprise, those in the front rows put on pink wigs that were distributed by the DPR crew during the meet and greet, in a nod to the popular “Yellow Cab” music video. Towards the end of his wildly energetic performance, he warmly welcomed DPR Cline to the stage in a guest appearance for “Set It Off.”
As the stage went dark, strobing lights that simulated lightning and clouds of smoke rolled into view. A monstrously horned figure materialized in the center, ominously peering at the crowd before slowly transforming into a beautiful, dark-winged creature against the hazy golden light. The smoke cleared and DPR made his grand entrance to the opening violin chords of “So Beautiful.” The massive wings folded away as he continued through the song, showing off smooth dance moves from one end of the stage to the other.
Unexpected surprises and brilliant imagery continued to awe fans through every transition of his set. Vivid background illuminations produced mysterious silhouettes that complemented his artistic movements, and strongly colored beams of light cut through the darkness of the stage throughout the performance. A dreamy cloud-like atmosphere was created for his charming bass solo during “Calico,” and actual snowfall quietly floated down during “Winterfall.”
At a dramatic point during “Scaredy Cat,” creepy hands shot through the curtains, reaching out and grabbing for DPR Ian as he teasingly dodged away from them. For the short musical interlude of “Ribbon,” he artfully presented his impressive dance skills until a giant, inflatable hand appeared and swept him entirely off the stage.
The emotional moment of the night happened during “Nerves,” when a black curtain fell away at the end of the song to reveal a giant mirror that reflected both DPR Ian and the sea of fans in front of him. He turned around to face the mirror and spent the last few moments of the song quietly studying the room through the reflection. After the final guitar chords of the track concluded, he calmly walked away while the stage went dark, leaving only the mirror illuminated. Cheers shattered the silence as Dreamers viewed themselves celebrating in what seemed like a symbolic representation of togetherness. Backed by alternating red and yellow strobes, DPR Ian reached the peak of his performance while singing “Ballroom Extravaganza.” Confetti rained down throughout the powerful track as fans enthusiastically sang along to every word. At the conclusion of his set, he was then joined by DPR Live to perform the fan-favorite, “No Blueberries,” as bubbles floated around in the background.
For the final song of the evening, the entire DPR gang reunited on stage while dancing, singing, and recording the crowd as the room vibrated with the roaring chant of “DPR WE GANG GANG” – the unofficial encore anthem of the tour. Rainbow strobes flashed to the beat of “To Myself” playing loudly in the background as colorful party streamers popped over the front rows in celebration. After greeting everyone with waves, kisses, and finger hearts, the crew came together center stage and took a group photo in front of the giant mirror before the lights dimmed for the last time.
The Dream Perfect Regime certainly lived up to their promise of delivering a distinct audiovisual experience that left Dreamers reeling in the afterglow of a powerfully executed, one-of-a-kind performance. The musical concepts and creative direction of the tour exceeded fans’ imagination and left them equally captivated and craving for more. To encapsulate the entire DPR experience in one sentence, all that can be said is, “Welcome To The Show.”