Ginger Root Brings Retro Back to Houston
Fans in Halloween costumes filled White Oak Music Hall as they waited to see Ginger Root perform the first show in what he called the “Texas week” of his SHINBANGUMI tour. The indie-soul singer decided that Texas was so big that he needed to perform in five different Texas cities in order to please his fans. He wasn’t wrong as, despite there being three consecutive shows happening in the venue on Saturday, his show was still packed to the brim with cheering fans.
Photo Cr: Andy Cantu
Before anyone had even set foot on stage, fans could tell they were in for a unique experience by the stage set up. Ironing boards holding laptops, rotary phones, and plastic swords stood next to mic stands, promising the audience a performance that blended retro style with modern taste. When AMAIWANA took the stage in her vintage red coat that she hung up on a mic stand, fans knew that promise would be kept.
The Japanese dream pop singer made her American debut opening for Ginger Root after previously collaborating with him on his Nisemono EP where she played the fictional popstar, Kimiko Takeguchi. Many fans in attendance were surprised to find out she was a real singer and didn’t recognize her as the character until she came back during Ginger Root’s set to sing “Loneliness” with him.
Photo Cr: Andy Cantu
Fans caught their first glimpse of Ginger Root during AMAIWANA’s set when he played bass for her song “Shanghai Rendezvous,” but fans quickly realized it wasn’t enough to truly prepare them for his set.
From the minute the show officially started, fans were instantly teleported into the fictionalized version of 1980s Japan that Ginger Root sets his albums in. Lots of artists have video interludes and set decorations, but everything that Ginger Root presented on stage was interactive in a way that gave fans a one of a kind experience. The vintage TVs that littered the stage showed live footage of the band performing, and Ginger Root often introduced the video interludes in a way that was unique to the city he was performing in, which didn't feel rehearsed.
Photo Cr: Andy Cantu
He broke from the retro concept only to show his love for Texas. Despite the Houston show only being the first Texas stop on the tour, both him and AMAIWANA brought Buc-ee’s merch with them on stage. The gas station, known for its beaver mascot and clean bathrooms, is a popular road trip spot for both Texans and people traveling through Texas alike and that includes Ginger Root. The singer brought out a Buc-ee’s wristband that he wore for a few songs before he got tired of it, gave it to the camera man, and eventually, hid it somewhere on the stage. Still, it was the thought that counted and fans were charmed by the display of Texas love.
Apart from giving the audience an immersive experience, Ginger Root’s use of audience interaction to further the narrative of the show gave him the opportunity to communicate with fans directly. During a monologue about anime where he asked fans if they’d seen the new episode of an ongoing series, a fan was able to inform him that someone in the crowd needed medical attention. He had the venue turn on the house lights and paused the show until he was certain the fan had gotten the help they needed. Within minutes, the lights were back off, and he felt comfortable enough to jump back into his anime monologue before a video introduced his song “Everything’s Alright (Meet You in the Galaxy Ending Theme).”
Photo Cr: Andy Cantu
Towards the end of the show, Ginger Root talked about performing songs from his new album, which earned a round of cheers from the audience. He pointed this out and said throughout the tour, some cities would be excited for the new songs while others acted surprised that he had released a new album. If true, this would have left a lot of audience members confused as the album’s storyline was ever present throughout the show, especially after the video interlude where Ginger Root’s character is fired, leading to the performance of three back to back songs from the new record: “No Problems,” “Only You,” and “Giddy Up.”
Throughout the show, Ginger Root made it clear that the audience was an important part of his show and it wouldn’t work as well if the fans didn’t put in as much effort as he did. Still, that didn’t mean he didn’t often tease the audience like when he played The Beatles’ “Helter Skelter” and asked fans if they knew the song in his best Liverpool accent. While fans seemingly didn’t know the song, he still rewarded them by giving them an 8/10 in his audience participation score.
Photo Cr: Andy Cantu
He “ended” the show with an electric performance of his most popular song, “Loretta,” leaving fans screaming for more. Fans didn’t have to wait long for him to come back on stage, chug a bottle of water, throw it into the crowd, and perform a medley of songs from his second album, “Mahjong Room.” When he finally had to say goodnight for real, fans were left satisfied with his unforgettable performance.