IN LAS VEGAS, NV AS A SUPPORT ACT FOR JINJER ON FRIDAY OCTOBER 11, 2024
“Houston, we have a liftoff…” – NASA July 16, 1969.
Written by Don Marcelo
I used this quote as my way to introduce this band who is extremely energized, explosive, fiery, and fun on stage whenever they perform their live shows. The lead vocalist often lifts off from the platform where she stands on during their set, as if she is a rocket ship about to head into space, The band I’m talking about is HANABIE from Tokyo, Japan.
HANABIE consists of the FOLLOWING TALENTED AND AMAZING ARTISTS/MUSICIANS:
YUKINA – Lead Vocals
MATSURI – Guitar
HETTSU – Bass
CHIKA – Drums
Together, I call them as The Mighty HANABIE.
This is the 3rd time I have seen and photographed HANABIE’s live performance show:
1. The Whisky A Go Go in LA October 5, 2023 (Thursday)
2. The Crocodile in Seattle, WA, May 29, 2024 (Wednesday)
3. And this one at HOUSE OF BLUES in Las Vegas October 11, 2424 (Friday)
But this is the 2nd time I’m reporting with a brief article and review because the 2nd time I saw them up in Seattle, WA, I was in the crowd as a fan behind the barricade and only as a fan with a camera and not as a Media Photographer or as a House Photographer or as a Crew/Tour Photographer.
The first time I saw them was at The Whisky A Go Go in 2023. I didn’t really know much about them. A fan told me about Hanabie a few months before their show and wanted to give me a free ticket to their show. He proceeded to say that HANABIE is a “HARAJUKU-CORE Metal Band”. I said, “A Hara What?” I then did my research of the band and found out what a “HARAJUKU-CORE Metal Band” is (SEE THE END OF THIS ARTICLE).
I then watched a couple of their music videos and I enjoyed them so much that I accepted the ticket he offered to me as a gift so I went to the show with with an open mind.
And I was so glad I went to that show in 2023.
Their performance was so fire and energized and explosive that I became an instant fan of their music and their creative style.
That explosive performance in 2023 did not stop in 2024 either, especially after Jose Mangin, The Ambassador of Metal, reported them when they performed at AFTERSHOCK FESTIVAL in November 2023 and said on his Instagram account that HANABIE is one of his “new favorite Metal Bands”.
In 2024, HANABIE kept popping up in conversations with music lovers I know. Everyone I knew in the music industry from fans to photographers, to media outlets were talking about them that I had to fly up to Seattle in May 2024 to see them again because they did not have an LA show listed on their U.S. North American tour.
And sure enough, they had the same explosive energy as they did from the first time I saw them in LA. The Seattle show was EPIC as well. And the badassery of this band continued that they became an opening act for JINJER’s TOUR after their own North American Tour, including this show in Las Vegas, NV at the famous HOUSE OF BLUES.
At The House of Blues in Las Vegas, Hanabie’s fiery performance was truly awesome and epic and something to see and hear. With so much raw and explosive energy and intensity coming from these ladies, their performance was pure non-stop action from beginning to end. Yukina’s vocals are so good that she can growl and sing and rap and is able to maintain in proper tune while elevating in the air when she jumps. She is a high flying, jumping Jelly Bean who doesn’t miss a note. As I have said, Yukina, just kept jumping up all the time that I lost count on how many times I saw her lift off at this show. But it’s not just Yukina who had all that fire and energy and great performance. Matsuri the guitarist who also acts as lead vocals from time to time, shreds her axe like she’s been playing it since she was little (oh wait she has, according to Wikipedia) Matsuri knows how to play her instrument very well and she can head bang hard while playing and singing. She head bangs so much that my neck hurts just watching her do this. And then you have the badass bassist, Hettsu. She jumps, she prances, she dances, and does all kinds of kicks on stage, and head bangs and flips her hair like the good old days of hair metal bands of the 80’s and 90’s twirling her long hair all over the place without skipping a beat as well just like the others. And she has to have her beer as well while on stage. Kanpai Hettsu! And we can’t forget Chika, The Super Chika on drums who packs a mean punch every time she beats and bangs on her drums. She is so good that she can twirl her sticks, head bang her head while beating on her drums to her own beat, and keeps a pretty smile on as if playing the drums is child’s play and easy to master. These ladies are true artists and musicians and performers and are masters of their craft.
HANABIE is Pure Rock at it’s core with a unique style of their own, “HARAJUKU-CORE STYLE”. This is the new “FAB FOUR” but better and harder and prettier and more badass and they come from Japan. These ladies know how to rock and they ROCK OUT HARD. But the best part of them rocking out is that they are having so much fun playing which makes the experience for music lovers and concert-goers and fans of the band super fun as well.
On a side note, I wanted to give the super fans of HANABIE a BIG SHOUT out for being amazing. These super fans lined up early, as early as 7am. One fan even gifted me a Blu-ray Disc of one of my favorite bands from Japan. These super fans are the same die hard USUAL SUSPECTS I see every time whenever I photograph a Japanese Rock Band at different venues I go to. These guys are dedicated and will support HANABIE and all their favorite Japanese Rock bands who come to The States until the end of time. They are truly amazing. Thank you to all of you for supporting Hanabie and all the other musicians, artists, bands you follow. Kudos to all of you.
In conclusion, HANABIE is here to stay. Their fan base is continually growing. Even the die hard JINJER fans I talked to have come to accept HANABIE and have become fans of their style and music.
FOLLOW HANABIE and each member on all their socials for more:
https://hanabie.jp
https://www.instagram.com/ha_na_bie_/
https://www.instagram.com/yukina_hanabie/
https://www.instagram.com/mtr_hanabie/
https://www.instagram.com/hanabie_hettsu/
https://www.instagram.com/hanabie_chika/
Thank you for all your hard work HANABIE. We will see you in 2025 for more “HARAJUKU-CORE” style of music.
Hanabie links
Find more about Hanabie on S.L.R. Magazine
Photo Gallery of the performance by © Don Marcelo Photography 2024
FROM WIKIPEDIA:
“Hanabie. (Japanese: 花冷え。) is a Japanese nu metalcore[1] band from Tokyo, formed in 2015. The band consists of vocalist Yukina, guitarist Matsuri, bassist Hettsu, and drummer Chika. They are known for combining loud and heavy music with contrasting Harajuku aesthetics in a style self-described as “Harajuku-core”. Their songs incorporate elements of metalcore, hardcore punk, and nu metal, with a blend of hip hop and electronica.”
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