YOASOBI Leaves Audience in Awe for Their First Solo Concert in America
Photo Cr: Glenalyn Ann
As YOASOBI heads into weekend two of Coachella, the Japanese pop music duo, in partnership with Crunchyroll, decided to make a pit stop at the iconic Shrine Expo Hall in Los Angeles on April 18 for their first solo concert in America. Composed of producer, Ayase, and singer-songwriter, LIlas Ikuta, YOASOBI released their debut track “Yoru ni Kakeru” in 2019 and have been gaining traction ever since — their song “IDOL” became the first Japanese song to be placed in the top 10 of Billboard’s U.S. and Global 200 Charts.
Photo Cr: Glenalyn Ann
Opening the night, YOASOBI entered the stage with their band including Yamamoto Hikaru (Bass), Tatsuya Amano (Drums), Zaquro Misohagi (Keyboard), and AssH (Guitar). They cheerfully greeted the crowd and started the show with arrangements of their songs “Seventeen,” “Shukufuku,” and “Halzion.” Their fans erupted in excitement as they were finally able to experience YOASOBI’s music live.
Photo Cr: Glenalyn Ann
As the show progressed, YOASOBI performed to instill an unforgettable debut solo concert in the U.S. After the tracks “Ano Yume wo Nazotte” and “Tabun,” everyone had left the stage and fans were shown a VCR instructing them to put on glasses that were handed out before the start of the show. Intrigued to see what was next, the crowd eagerly put on their glasses, and YOASOBI returned to the stage to perform songs including “Biri-Biri” and “Mister.” Complementing the songs were 3D visuals that helped set the mood. With flying creatures and digital fireworks, the visuals that YOASOBI’s team brought to life were something no one would forget.
Alongside the memorable visuals, YOASOBI also wrote letters to the crowd to help express their gratitude to those who came out and supported their show. Ayase, in particular, expressed how being able to come back to America and perform a solo show carries another level of excitement that they couldn’t experience when performing in a festival setting. Ikura later went on to express her thanks to the crowd as this show was a dream come true, and they will continue to work hard and meet their fans again with new music. As the crowd cheered in appreciation for the artists, YOASOBI finished their show on a high note, performing fan favorites like “IDOL,” “Kaibutsu,” and “HEART BEAT.”
Photo Cr: Glenalyn Ann
With the night coming to a close, YOASOBI thanked their fans before exiting the stage; however, the audience was craving more and chanted for an encore. As the chants filled the venue, the lights dimmed and YOASOBI came out one more time to perform their debut track, “Yoru ni Kakeru.” As the song finished, the crowd cheered at the top of their lungs and applauded the artists as they took their final bows and waved goodbye to their fans. YOASOBI’s first solo concert in the U.S. was truly one to remember and left a memorable mark on many of those in attendance. As YOASOBI continues to grow, we cannot wait to see what is next for them and their creative brilliance!