SCANDAL's Electric NYC Concert: A Night of Music & Memories

I caught up with them at New York’s Irving Plaza, the halfway point of this five-city tour. This follows the band’s last visit in 2022, which was cut short by COVID.

Written by Jonathan Lane

Promotional poster for SCANDAL's 2025 'LOVE, SPARK, JOY' tour, featuring the four members in intricate pink crocheted outfits against a soft pastel background.

Scandal is a four-woman rock and pop band, and the members are:

HARUNA on lead vocals and rhythm guitar
MAMI on lead guitar and vocals
TOMOMI on bass and vocals
RINA on drums and vocals

The band has received notoriety at home and abroad for many years. Notably, Guinness World Records placed a special spotlight on SCANDAL in 2023, officially naming them the longest running female rock band with the same members. Now, they’re about to make it 19 years – with an anniversary concert in Osaka, in August. (I am happy to report that I will be at that show, too!)

Many fans show up early outside Irving Plaza, anxious to get a good spot inside. SCANDAL attracts a diverse group of music fans – reflective of their diverse and impressive musical catalog, including fans of rock, pop, and anime. (The band has numerous hit songs that have been featured in popular animes).

The mood inside the hall is electric – fans can be overheard enthusiastically swapping stories about previous SCANDAL tours, lore, and songs. The anticipation grows, the lights dim, and SCANDAL take their positions onstage – in fashionable, matching outfits.

The Music

The crowd explodes with love and enthusiasm with the opening guitar riff of Terra Boy, off the recent LOVE, SPARK, JOY EP. The crowd reacts joyfully to this bouncy, jazzy tune.

最新のEP『LOVE, SPARK, JOY!』からの「Terra Boy」のオープニングのギターリフで観客は愛と熱狂で爆発する。観客はこの弾むようなジャジーな曲に喜びの反応を示す。

The next song up is a cover of Roy Orbison’s Oh, Pretty Woman from the same EP, harks way back to SCANDAL’s earliest days. They do this Rock n Roll classic song justice: from RINA’s precise, dagger-sharp work on the snare drum, to HARUNA’s emotional lead vocals, followed by a second verse handled by TOMOMI, in her unique, angelic voice, to MAMI’s trademark riffing.

With Oh, Pretty Woman the band shows off one of its trademark skills: Perfect hand-offs from one to another single vocalist, intermingled with the unique harmonies produced by different combinations of the members. We are treated to this vocal magic throughout the show.

The 18-song set offered something for every SCANDAL fan, spanning their career and extensive catalog – 11 albums and numerous singles and EP’s since 2009. Even if not every song is in every fan’s favorite style, every carefully crafted song is delivered with precision and loving care…another of SCANDAL’s trademark skills.

Other highlights for me include:

Early hits Shoujo S and Shunkan Sentimental – more than a few fans have told me they became fans after hearing these edgy, punk-y tunes while watching the popular “Bleach” and “Fullmetal Alchemist” anime series, respectively.

Take Me Out – A jazzy, upbeat pop tune with soaring vocal harmonies and a virtuosic guitar solo that soars just as high.

eternal It was memorably performed at SCANDAL’s 15th anniversary concert as well. This is an ethereal, goosebumps-inducing rock ballad. At the softer end of their musical spectrum, this song still contains the SCANDAL magic: skillful composition, gorgeous vocal solo and harmony work, and the unique instrumental sounds of each of the members.

Image – this perennial concert favorite from 2014 is one of my very favorites. The lyrics reflect a recurring theme in SCANDAL songs – it’s a song of encouragement to dust oneself off and have a brighter tomorrow, despite tough times in the past.

I hesitate to leave any member out as they all contribute mightily to every song, including this one – but what stand out the most in Image are MAMI’s unique and clever guitar riffing, and the way RINA keeps the rhythm of the song going, while at the same time, adding punch to every phrase sung by HARUNA.

The two-song encore seals the deal with any fans who might feel they haven’t heard enough of their favorites yet – as SCANDAL delivers two more crowd-pleasers to end the evening:

Departure – a bittersweet love ballad embellished with emotional guitar work from MAMI and sweet, if not bittersweet, lead vocals by HARUNA.

Scandal Baby ends the evening with this playful, upbeat classic made even better by the synchronous stepping and jumping by the three members up front.

Conclusion

Tonight’s set represents only a fraction of SCANDAL’s catalog, but as the crowd disperses, every fan has a look of happy exhaustion and satisfaction from this sumptuous set from a delightful band.

Why do fans love Scandal so much? Beyond the quality of the music they have put out over nearly two decades, fans appreciate the professional dedication and craftsmanship they bake into every song and every performance, and the engaging and unique personalities each of the four members. They are exceptionally likeable.

Now all in their 30’s, SCANDAL performs every song, old or new, with the same youthful playfulness & humor they did as teenage, aspiring rock stars.

全員が30代となったSCANDALは、新旧を問わず、10代のロックスター志望だった頃と同じように、若さゆえの遊び心とユーモアをもってすべての曲を演奏する。

They appear to be having tons of fun, while also truly enjoying and reflecting back the warmth and excitement of the entire crowd.

If you are not already a fan, this is a great time to check out this very special band – listen to their music (and especially their live performances) – and catch them on their next visit to your part of the world!

Set List

SCANDAL TOUR 2025 – LOVE, SPARK, JOY
Irving Plaza, New York, NY, USA – June 30, 2025