S.L.R. Magazine

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NINI & HER BAND, NINI METAL, PERFORMED IN FRONT OF A PACKED HOUSE AT THE PARISH ROOM OF HOUSE OF BLUES IN ANAHEIM, CA FOR THEIR FIRST U.S. HEADLINER TOUR OF 2026, BY DON MARCELO

It was a jam packed evening inside The Parish Room of The House of Blues in Anaheim, CA. Nini Army gathered early to see Taiwanese Artist, Nini along with her band Nini Metal to conquer the night. And conquered they did on April 12, 2026. Along with Nini came two great support acts: DA Ma/YAMA…

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It was a jam packed evening inside The Parish Room of The House of Blues in Anaheim, CA. Nini Army gathered early to see Taiwanese Artist, Nini along with her band Nini Metal to conquer the night. And conquered they did on April 12, 2026. Along with Nini came two great support acts: DA Ma/YAMA from Vietnam and BOTCASH from Thailand. Altogether, it was a night of great Asian Artists who came together and shared to their fans their sounds and unique flair and their love of music.

Promotional poster for NINI Music featuring a dancer in ornate attire against a colorful landscape, highlighting the East Goes West tour dates and special guest BOTCASH ft. TJ Minor.

Written by Don Marcelo

DẠ MA / YAMA – 夜摩 – ヤマ  – 1st Support Act

Infused with Modern Western Rock sounds and elements of traditional Vietnamese Rock sounds, Da Ma/YAMA set the tone for the evening as the first support act for Nini. The band has deep traditional roots from Vietnam, but is currently based out of Huntington Beach, CA. The mastermind behind the band’s formation is Hưng BlackhearteD, leader of Black Infinity. Members of Da Ma/YAMA wore their Vietnamese costumes called Áo Dài, (Vietnamese Traditional Long Dress – Pronunciation “Ao Zai”) which gave their presence on stage the authenticity and their deep roots and love of Vietnam, but rocked out hard and solid that electrified the evening, giving the fans the taste of infused Modern Western Rock and Vietnamese Rock sound like. The band gained forward momentum when they played two great music venues on the streets of Sunset Blvd in West Hollywood, CA in 2025: The Viper Room and The World Famous Whisky A Go Go. And on this night they proved to the world once again that their Supergroup is on the prowl and hunt to make it great in the world of Rock and Roll. Find out more about Da Ma/YAMA on all their socials and hear more of their unique sounds on YouTube:

https://www.facebook.com/YAMArocks

https://www.instagram.com/yama.rocks

https://www.youtube.com/@YoungGunsRecords

Photo Gallery of the performance by © Don Marcelo Photography 2026

PHOTO GALLERY OF DẠ MA / YAMA – 夜摩 – ヤマ

A dynamic live performance featuring multiple musicians on stage, with a guitarist, singer, and band members dressed in traditional attire, engaged in an energetic musical act under dramatic stage lighting.
A musician performing on stage at a concert, playing a keyboard with a MODX8 model. The scene is illuminated by blue lights, and a clock can be seen in the background.
A singer performs passionately on stage, holding a microphone while wearing a stylish outfit adorned with intricate designs, with a guitarist smiling in the background. The stage is illuminated with colorful lights, creating an energetic atmosphere.
Two musicians wearing red robes perform on stage, leaning towards each other while playing guitar, under colorful stage lights.
A young guitarist performing passionately on stage, dressed in a vibrant red outfit, with colorful stage lighting creating an energetic atmosphere. In the background, band members play keyboards and bass, contributing to the lively performance.
A live music performance featuring four musicians on stage, with one singer passionately engaging the audience, a guitarist, a drummer, and a keyboardist, all under colorful stage lighting.
A performer singing passionately on stage with an audience in front, illuminated by colored stage lights, and colorful stained glass windows in the background.
A musician on stage with arms outstretched, wearing a black shirt and a flowing red garment, with a microphone in front, illuminated by dramatic stage lighting.
A singer on stage performing energetically with a microphone, surrounded by an audience who are capturing the moment with their phones. The venue features decorative stained glass windows and a vibrant atmosphere.
A musician performing on stage in front of an enthusiastic crowd, with audience members holding up their phones to capture the moment. The venue features stained glass windows that add color to the scene.
A lively concert scene with a crowd of fans capturing the performance on their phones, while a singer engages with the audience. A guitarist is visible on stage in the background.
A musician playing an electric bass guitar on stage, wearing sunglasses and a black shirt with 'Viet Rock Club' printed on it. The background features dramatic lighting and architectural details.
A crowd of concertgoers with their phones raised, capturing the performance amidst a dimly lit venue, illuminated by flashlights and a few colorful lights in the background.
A live band performing on stage with a drummer, guitarist, and vocalist in a dimly lit venue, surrounded by an engaged audience.
A lively band performing on stage, featuring a drummer energetically playing the drums, a guitarist strumming a guitar, and a vocalist with a microphone, all in a dimly lit venue.
A live music performance featuring four band members, two playing guitars, one on keyboards, and one singing passionately, all wearing unique outfits and masks under bright stage lights.
A musician smiling while holding an electric guitar on stage, engaging with an enthusiastic audience member in a vibrant concert setting.
A musician singing into a microphone on stage, wearing sunglasses and a black shirt with tattoos visible on his arms. The background features colorful stage lighting and musical instruments.
A musician wearing a mask and black clothing performs on stage, playing a blue electric guitar, with dramatic lighting in the background.
A musician wearing a black mask holds a white electric guitar while performing on stage, with colorful lights illuminating the scene.

BOTCASH – 2nd Support Act

From Vietnam, we go to Thailand here in Anaheim. The 2nd act from this night is from a dynamic and talented Artist/DJ/Producer/Guitarist known as BOTCASH. 

According to DYNAMIC TALENT INTERNATIONAL’s website, BOTCASH is known “for his unique live sets that blend electronic beats with the rich textures of traditional Thai instruments, most notably a type of guitar called the pin.”  On this evening, BOTCASH showcased many of his talents from playing and mixing behind a DJ booth to shredding his guitar, to singing along with the audience and getting everyone hyped up. And to his crowd-pleasing frisbee techniques, throwing and showcasing several frisbees to the audience during his set as a gesture of Thanks. BOTCASH showed  not only his talents, but also his charisma. The audience loved every moment of face-to-face and personal interaction with him where BOTCASH would often be seen on the barricade expressing his love to the fans. His stage presence was both eloquent and energized, often sending great and cool vibes with lots of fist pumping in the air actions by both the artist and the fans. Several notable highlights from his set that made it memorable on this evening during his set are the following: 

  1. A cameo appearance of NiNi herself and both of them shredding their instruments of choice on stage, often showcasing a friendly duel. 
  2. And two great moments where he invited two additional artists who performed with him, TJ Minor and Shawn O’ Donnell.

A true delight to have seen BOTCASH’s performance. Find out more about BOTCASH on all his socials along with the artists mentioned above.

https://www.instagram.com/botcashofficial/?hl=en

https://www.youtube.com/@BOTCASHofficial

https://www.facebook.com/botcashofficial

Botcash

Photo Gallery of the performance by © Don Marcelo Photography 2026

PHOTO GALLERY OF BOTCASH

A musician performing on stage with a crowd in the foreground, illuminated by colorful lights and stained glass windows in the background.
A DJ performs on stage with bright lights and colorful projections in a lively venue, while an engaged audience dances in front.
Two musicians performing on stage with colorful lighting, one playing a guitar and the other holding a traditional instrument.
Two musicians performing on stage with instruments, one playing guitar and the other playing a banjo, under colorful stage lights.
Two musicians performing on stage with blue hair, one playing a bass guitar and the other playing an instrument resembling an electric guitar.
Two performers on stage at a concert, one raising a blue frisbee and the other holding a microphone, with colorful stage lighting in the background.
A performer singing on stage while holding a microphone, illuminated by dramatic blue and red stage lights, wearing a checkered shirt and stylish pants.
A young male singer passionately performing on stage with a microphone, wearing a graphic t-shirt, and showcasing intricate tattoos on his arms.
A musician with blue hair performs on stage under bright spotlight beams while playing an instrument.
A performer on stage throws an object to an enthusiastic crowd, with stained glass windows and dramatic lighting in a vibrant music venue.
A DJ with blue hair raises two blue plates while performing on stage, illuminated by stage lights with a stained glass backdrop.
A DJ performing at a venue, focused on the turntables under dramatic red lighting with a stained glass window in the background.
Musician performing on stage with a guitar, illuminated by dramatic blue lighting.
A silhouetted DJ adjusting their headphones in front of a colorful, illuminated stage during a performance.
A DJ performing energetically on stage, gesturing with one hand while smiling, surrounded by colorful stage lights.
Two performers on stage with one holding a microphone and the other raising their hand, illuminated by stage lights with a stained glass window in the background.
A DJ performing on stage, engaging with the audience, while colorful lights illuminate the venue. The crowd is reaching out, with some holding smartphones to capture the moment.
A performer with blue hair reaching out to the crowd during a live event, with excited fans raising their hands in response.
A vibrant concert scene featuring a performer with wild hair in mid-motion, surrounded by an enthusiastic crowd. The lighting is blue and purple, enhancing the energetic atmosphere.
A lively performance scene featuring a musician with blue hair energetically engaging with the crowd while another performer is visible in the background. Audience members are capturing the moment with their phones, set in a venue illuminated by colorful lights.
A performer with blue hair passionately singing on stage, surrounded by an engaged audience holding up phones with lights on.

NINI AND NINI METAL – THE HEADLINER

As we travel around “Asia” here in Anaheim, CA, we now find ourselves here in Taiwan right after Vietnam and Thailand. America’s Got Talent Season 19 Quarter Finalist NiNi and her band electrified the crowd with their great passion of creating unique sounds of hard rock music, incorporating traditional Eastern music instruments and blending those sounds with Modern Western style Rock instruments. This style of blending of traditional ancient Chinese instruments with modern rock instruments was the reason that I became a fan of NiNi’s music. Along with these unique sounds, she also incorporates a sense of fashion wearing traditional Chinese regalia on stage during her performance. I have seen NiNi’s performance 4 times now since her first show in LA at The Historic Venue called The Mint in 2024. And I love her fashion style on stage wearing different types of Chinese outfits each time I have seen her perform LIVE. This fashion style in which she is dressed up in Traditional Chinese regalia and her unique sounds in music have really left an indelible mark on me. If you love music and fashion and you have an open mind (and ears), you will truly understand what I am talking about when you check out NiNi and NiNi Metal either LIVE on stage or on the internet.

On this night, NiNi performed a lot of her original music like “Longma” and “Victories” and my favorite “Hung Up”, but she she also treated her fans with familiar music that everyone knows such as “Zombie” by The Cranberries and “Hit Me Baby” by Britney Spears. All throughout their set, the band was having so much fun performing LIVE on stage where the members often exchanged smiles with each other and to all their fans as well while the fans, called NiNi Army, would often exchange big smiles during their set. I haven’t seen this level of authentic joy and happiness by both the band and the audience in a long while. The energy of this night was pure bliss.

NINI METAL consists of the following great musicians:

• NINI – Vocals and Various Traditional Ancient Chinese Instruments.

• JESSE VENOM – Vocals and Bass

• TAYLOR BELLEMARE – Guitar

• JAK RINALDO – Drums

THEIR SETLIST ON THIS EVENING:

• INTRO

• LONGMA

• HUYAO

• WUKONG

• MAZU

• GUAN YU

• HUNG UP

• VICTORIES

• ZOMBIES

• TURN THE TIDE

• SOLO + THE TROOPER

• FEEL THE FRIGHT

• HOMELAND

• LONGMA 2

• HIT ME BABY

In conclusion, NINI and her band NINI METAL slayed the night and put on another fantastic show, where East meets West in the most non-traditional yet traditional sense in music. This unique blend is what makes this band stand out from the rest of the pack. Their passion in playing LIVE music is a joy to watch. There is nothing better for me to see and hear artists/musicians continue to grow and get bigger every single moment towards achieving their goals in music. This band has so much depth in their style and they have so much beauty and joy to give to music lovers all over the world. Congratulations to NiNi and NiNi Metal for their first U.S. Headliner Tour of 2026. Honored and grateful once again to have been part of this momentous event. CHECK OUT all my previous articles and photo gallery of NiNi and NiNi Metal here on S.L.R. MAGAZINE and FIND OUT MORE ABOUT them and FOLLOW THEM on all their socials:

https://ninimusic.me

https://www.instagram.com/Ninimusicofficial

https://www.facebook.com/NiniMusicofficial

https://www.twitch.tv/ninimusic1001

https://www.youtube.com/ninimusic

@ninimusic.me

Photo Gallery of the performance by © Don Marcelo Photography 2026

PHOTO GALLERY OF NINI & NINI METAL

Two musicians performing on stage, one wearing a mask and playing an electric guitar while the other plays a bass guitar.
Two musicians performing on stage, one wearing a mask with horns and the other smiling, with colorful stage lighting in the background.
An artist smiles and performs on stage while playing a traditional instrument under colorful stage lights.
A musician in a dramatic outfit performs on stage, holding a guitar with a circular accessory. The background features drum equipment and colorful stage lighting.
Musician performing on stage, playing a guitar, wearing a black outfit with unique styling and colorful accessories.
A female musician passionately playing an electric guitar on stage, wearing a stylish black leather outfit with colorful accessories, illuminated by dramatic lighting.
A musician performing on stage, wearing a black leather outfit with a guitar, illuminated by dramatic stage lighting.
A musician performing on stage, wearing a stylish outfit with dramatic sleeves, playing an electric guitar under bright stage lights.
Musician performing on stage with a guitar under dramatic lighting.
A performer with platinum blonde hair passionately singing into a microphone on stage, making an intense expression with hands raised in front of his face, illuminated by stage lights.
A singer passionately performing on stage with dramatic lighting, wearing a black outfit and a leather jacket.
A musician passionately performing on stage, singing into a microphone while playing an instrument, surrounded by blue stage lights.
A male singer with short, spiky blonde hair and a beard, passionately performing on stage while holding a microphone. He is wearing a black tank top and a rugged black jacket, surrounded by dramatic stage lighting.
A musician performing on stage, playing a traditional instrument with a vibrant outfit and dramatic lighting.
A musician performing on stage, playing a traditional instrument with an expressive smile, dressed in a stylish dark outfit with colorful lighting in the background.
A band performing on stage; a guitarist in a black robe and mask, a female musician in a red and black outfit with blue hair, and a bassist are energetically playing together. A drummer is visible in the background, and dramatic lighting highlights the scene.
A live music performance featuring four musicians on stage. One musician is dressed in a dark, elaborate costume with a mask, holding an electric guitar. Another musician with blue hair plays a guitar wearing a black outfit and a skirt. The stage is illuminated with dramatic lighting, enhancing the energetic atmosphere of the concert.
A musician wearing a traditional mask and dark clothing performs on stage holding an electric guitar under dramatic lighting.
A performer with blue hair in a black leather outfit playing a guitar with a circular design on stage, illuminated by dramatic lighting.
A lively rock performance featuring a female guitarist in a black outfit with a red skirt, smiling and playing her guitar, while a bassist with white hair kneels beside her holding a white bass guitar, and a drummer in the background.
A female musician with blue hair plays a guitar while a male bassist crouches beside her, both performing on stage with dramatic lighting.
A musician performing on stage, wearing a black leather jacket and a colorful robe, playing an electric guitar under bright stage lights.
A live music performance showcasing a singer on stage, interacting with an enthusiastic audience. The scene is illuminated with dramatic lighting, highlighting the vibrant atmosphere of the concert.
A live music performance scene featuring musicians on stage illuminated by red lighting, with a prominent decorative sign in the foreground.
A drummer performing on stage under purple lighting, focused on playing the drums.
A drummer performing on stage under dramatic lighting with a spotlight and smoke.
A drummer performing on stage with a drum kit, featuring a drumhead displaying the word 'NINI' in vibrant colors. The drummer is smiling and playing energetically, with a clock visible in the background.
A singer performing on stage with a microphone, wearing a black outfit and platform boots, while dramatic blue lighting highlights the scene.
A band performing on stage with dramatic blue lighting. The lead singer, dressed stylishly, plays an electric guitar while two band members accompany on bass and drums, creating an energetic atmosphere.
A live music performance with a band on stage, illuminated by red and yellow lights, while an engaged audience watches from the front.
A dynamic live music performance featuring a female guitarist in a striking outfit playing an electric guitar, alongside a male bassist. The stage is illuminated with dramatic lighting, enhancing the energetic atmosphere.
A musician with white hair passionately playing a bass guitar on stage, crouching down with an expressive smile, surrounded by vibrant lighting in a performance setting.
A musician wearing a mask and dark clothing performs on stage while holding a bright orange guitar under green and blue lights.
A large crowd of enthusiastic concertgoers posing with band members on stage, making peace signs and displaying excitement after a performance. The scene captures a lively atmosphere with attendees in a music venue.
A live music performance featuring three musicians on stage, with vibrant purple lighting. The lead singer, wearing a black outfit with intricate patterns, passionately sings into a microphone while gesturing. A guitarist, dressed in dark clothing and wearing a unique mask, plays an orange electric guitar. The scene captures the energy of a rock concert.
A band performing on stage with dramatic blue lighting. The guitarist wears a black mask and leather outfit, while the bassist plays a white guitar. The female musician in a floral dress and combat boots is engaged in the performance. A drum set and sound equipment are visible in the background.
A performer dressed in a black top and a vibrant red skirt with floral patterns, playing a traditional instrument on stage. Bright lights illuminate the scene, highlighting the musician's engaging expression.
A dynamic live music performance featuring three musicians on stage, illuminated by purple stage lights. One guitarist dresses in a traditional kimono, while another wears a black outfit. The bassist, with blonde hair, plays a white instrument. Drums and other instruments are visible in the background.
A guitarist wearing a mask and dark clothing performs on stage with a glittery guitar, illuminated by dramatic stage lighting.
A guitarist wearing a stylized mask with horns performs on stage, illuminated by dramatic red and orange lighting.
A drummer performing on stage under blue lighting, with a focused expression, playing a drum kit.
A musician performing on stage, dressed in traditional clothing, playing a string instrument under dramatic blue and red lighting.
Musician performing on stage, wearing a unique outfit, playing a distinct stringed instrument, surrounded by dramatic lighting.
A singer performing on stage, wearing a black leather top and a patterned skirt, playing a guitar with a unique design while singing into a microphone, surrounded by colorful stage lights.
A musician performing on stage with a bass guitar under dramatic lighting.
A drummer performing energetically on stage, holding a drumstick raised in the air, with a drum kit and vibrant blue lighting in the background.
Two musicians performing on stage, one playing an electric guitar and the other playing a banjo, both smiling and engaging with the audience, with a clock in the background.
A drummer performing on stage with dramatic lighting, holding a drumstick and looking intently at the audience. A large clock can be seen in the background.
A musician performing on stage with a microphone and electric guitar, wearing a striking black and red outfit under green stage lighting.

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