What a whirlwind week it has been for YOASOBI, the Tokyo J-pop super duo comprised of producer Ayase and singer-songwriter Ikura. From performing on stage at one of the world’s most prominent music festivals, Coachella, to a White House state dinner hosted by President Joe Biden, courtesy of an invitation from Japan’s Prime Minister Fumio Kishida and his wife. And now, they find themselves making their highly anticipated US headline debut at the sold-out 5000-capacity Shrine Expo Hall in LA.
Giant screens towering over the stage served as tonight’s backdrop, initially teasing the crowd with an opening reminiscent of a sweet, almost Disneyland-esque style cinematic, in line with the band’s “turning novels into songs” concept. However, the atmosphere swiftly shifted as a thumping dance track suddenly filled the air, igniting the fans’ excitement as the band made their entrance onto the stage.
YOASOBI vocalist Ikura opens their US headline show atop her platform
Vocalist Ikura commanded the spotlight as she ascended on a rising platform positioned at the center of the stage, offering a bird’s eye view of the packed hall. Armed with her trademark megaphone, she greeted the audience, “Welcome to the YOASOBI show. Get ready to have a blast tonight!” The opening notes of the first song, ‘Seventeen,’ resonated through the sound system, with enthusiastic roars from the crowd. The combination of lasers, light sticks, and the massive screen backdrop illuminated the room, creating an electrifying atmosphere as the peppy, happy-go-lucky tune set the tone for the night.
The duo was accompanied by a talented backing band that infused the set with an equal amount of infectious energy. Supporting guitarist AssH seized the spotlight early on, delivering a killer solo during their 2020 single, ‘Tracing That Dream’ (Ano Yume wo Nazotte). Meanwhile, drummer Tatsuya, known for his work with the metalcore outfit Crossfaith, showcased his trademark high-energy drumming, having joined as the duo’s supporting drummer since late 2023.
Upon entry, attendees were handed “POP OUT” 3D glasses, which played a crucial role midway through the show during a 5-song “POP OUT” section. This segment featured immersive 3D visuals displayed on the massive screen behind the band. At the beginning of this section, a robotic voice emanated through the sound system, accompanied by a notice on the big screen instructing the audience to stow away their smartphones and any other light sources and don the “POP OUT” glasses.
Adding an extra dimension to the set (literally), the 3D visuals on the screen took the crowd on a journey through a pixelated virtual world. The impressive visuals elicited audible gasps of amazement from the audience, who were completely mesmerised by the immersive experience. All the while, the upbeat track ‘Biri-Biri’, a collaboration with The Pokémon Company to celebrate the one-year anniversary of Pokemon Scarlet and Violet, further hyped up the crowd.
Producer Ayase, who had remained relatively quiet throughout the night, stepped up to the mic to greet the crowd before leading them in a Japanese lesson. “Konbanwa” (good evening), “hajimemashite” (nice to meet you), “aishiteru” (I love you), he instructed, as the audience echoed his words. “This is our very first solo concert here. I was worried if we could even sell tickets,” he confessed. “But I’m very happy, happy, HAPPY to be here with you all, and we sold out! Thank you!” Ayase then contrasted the experience with Coachella, emphasizing the opportunity for the audience to fully enjoy the show until the end.
Ayase looking out at a sold-out Shrine Expo Hall
As he concluded his speech, the epic opening notes of their international breakthrough viral hit, ‘Idol’, reverberated throughout the room, sending the crowd into a screaming frenzy. The immense success of the 2023 single and ‘Oshi no Ko’ anime opening for the band was undeniable. With over 330 million streams on Spotify and 500+ million views on YouTube, describing this track as a hit is an understatement. While it undoubtedly stood as the #1 highlight of the night, its overwhelming popularity did not overshadow the rest of the performance.
Continuing the anime theme, the opening song to the recent fantasy anime ‘Frieren’, ‘The Brave’, rocked the venue, followed by the Beastars season 2 opening theme, ‘Monster’, which received one of the biggest pops of the night.
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Ikura expressed her heartfelt gratitude, sharing her childhood dream of becoming a singer and her long-held desire to perform at this venue. “Being able to perform a solo concert and spend time with everyone here makes us really happy,” she said warmly. “Thank you all for making our dream come true.” With these heartfelt words, Ikura launched into their 2020 mega-hit ‘Gunjō’, a motivational tune about pursuing dreams. The song struck a chord with the audience, chanting along with its goosebump-inducing refrain, creating an unforgettable moment of unity and inspiration.
‘HEART BEAT’, a collaborative effort with 1000 eighteen-year-olds from across Japan as part of the annual NHK TV program ’18Fes’, was designed with gang vocals in mind, making it the perfect track for a feel-good crowd-wide singalong. As the song reached its conclusion, the end credits rolled on the big screen, and after a group photo with the crowd, the entire band exited the stage, leaving the audience praying for more.
Returning to the stage amidst thunderous cheers for an encore, Ayase expressed heartfelt appreciation for the crowd before concluding the night with their 2019 debut award-winning single, ‘Yoru ni Kakeru’. The crowd erupted, jumping and singing along with every word, savouring the final moments of the performance. Even after the song ended, the crowd’s enthusiasm remained palpable, a testament to YOASOBI’s infectious star power.
Their music flits between an array of genres, spanning from straight-up rock to sweet, peppy pop, thumping dance beats, and smooth hip-hop, often seamlessly blending these elements within a single song. While predominantly dishing out J-pop bangers throughout the night, the group also delved into more melancholic melodies, showcasing their versatility. Ikura’s vocals were on point, delivering sweet highs and powerful anthems with equal prowess.
At every available moment, the duo expressed their heartfelt gratitude for the crowd’s unwavering support throughout the night, highlighting their gratitude for what has been a truly momentous week for the young group.
Like many artists before them, YOASOBI have been tasked with a formidable challenge: to make J-pop a global phenomenon. While some have come close, this time, the lofty goal feels more attainable than ever. YOASOBI are at the forefront of this movement, and if this momentum continues, success may indeed be on the horizon.
Photos by Rudy Salgado
YOASOBI
E-SIDE 3
Release Date: 12/04/2024
Label: YOASOBI
Stream: Spotify | Apple Music
