A tale of two venues…HANABIE. proves ready for the world stage.

HANABIE., the unique and fast-rising metalcore band out of Tokyo, delivers the goods at two very different gigs, during their first overseas tour since the group formed in 2015: as openers in an intimate rock venue in a small southern city, and as headliners at a sold-out show in New York.

Written by Jonathan Lane

Following eight dates in Europe and the UK – a mix of festivals and concerts – the self-labeled “Harajuku-core” group continues with gigs across the US. This label signifies a blend of the sensibilities of Harajuku, Tokyo’s home for “kawaii (cuteness)” culture and fashion, and the band’s metalcore thrust.

At the down-to-earth rock ‘n’ roll club, Ground Zero, in Spartanburg, SC HANABIE. opens for Galactic Empire, the Star Wars-themed metal band. An informal survey of fans indicates about half have shown up from near and far to see HANABIE..

HANABIE. strides onstage to a wildly enthusiastic reception that seems to surprise even them – drummer Chika, front woman Yukina, and guitarist Matsuri each takes her bows. Bassist Hettsu hobbles onto the stage wearing a protective boot. She injured herself the night before in Greensboro, NC. She sets herself up on a stool, plugs in, cheerfully waves to the crowd, receiving warm props for her “can-do” attitude. Hettsu rocks out despite the handicap, providing solid bottom to the kickass music. The band gets right down to business with “Hyperdimension Galaxy“, the first track on their 2023 album, “Reborn Superstar!” and continues to blast the room with their special brand of beautifully crafted metal chaos. It’s a fully satisfying sampling of 8 hits from 2021-2023, including breakthrough music and video hits “We Love Sweets” and the 2023 trilogy of “Pardon Me, I Have To Go Now”, “TOUSOU (Run Away)”, and “Be the GAL~Early Summer ver.~”.

This was an intimate, mesmerizing and head banging performance. HANABIE. quickly won over the half of the crowd that didn’t already know them – interaction with the crowd was warm and friendly. There was moshing.

The band hits another half dozen southern cities together with Galactic Empire, and then switches over to “headliner” mode, hitting cities from New York to L.A., with support from metal band Fox Lake, as well as Dropout Kings on some dates.

At Gramercy Theatre, where other fast-rising Japanese bands (Band-Maid and Nemophila, for example) have had smashing New York debuts in recent years, HANABIE. is up to the task. The band looks right at home on the more expansive stage and thrills the big-city crowd with a 13-song set, including an encore, 2019’s “L.C.G.”

With seven US shows under their belts since Spartanburg, all four members seem to enjoy themselves even more. A very animated Hettsu is back on her feet, Chika shakes the hall with her in-the-pocket drumming, Matsuri’s clean vocals and riffage are both hard and sweet, and Yukina owns the stage, which she leaves briefly for a little crowd surfing. She seems elated as she wraps herself in the Japanese flag a fan has given her, filled with autographs of musicians the fan has copiously collected in the US.

The music perfectly fills these quite different venues, and begs the question, how will this band sound and perform in an arena?

Based on these two slices of HANABIE.’s first overseas tour – the quality of performance, the confidence and stage presence, and crowd enthusiasm – it shouldn’t be long before we’ll have a chance to answer that question.

HANABIE. will be turning Australia upside-down on December 1, 2, and 3 to finish up what looks to be a very successful overseas tour on three continents.

Hanabie Social Media Links

Set Lists – HANABIE.

Ground Zero, Spartanburg, SC, September 13, 2023

1. Hyperdimension Galaxy

2. REIWA Dating Apps Generation

3. We Love Sweets

4. NEET GAME

5. SUNRISE Miso– SOUP

6. TOUSOU (Run Away)

7. Be the GAL ~Early Summer ver.~

8. Warning!!

9. Pardon Me, I Have To Go Now