GANGLION's “INFINITY” Tour Final at Harajuku Astro Hall

Rising all-girl hard rock band GANGLION came back to their home country for the tour final at Tokyo’s Harajuku Astro Hall on November 15th. The final was held two weeks after their successful first live show at Oni-Con, a Japanese pop culture and multi-genre fan expo annually held in Texas, United States. After a long tour that started on August 31st, the band of four was ready to finish up with the grand finale.

Solemn music started to play as the band members entered the stage. Drummer vivi and bassist ebi walked the stage with the band towels held high, then, the rhythm guitarist and vocalist oni, and lead guitarist sagara made their appearances. The opening number Tsuioku, a song normally played for the climax of a show, blasted from the stage. Fast-paced drumbeats and a bass powerfully backed up two guitars. oni sung in a husky yet transparent voice while playing guitar at the same time. Guitarist sagara, used the tapping technique at times to stir fans during her guitar solo. The first song met with fans’ enthusiastic shouts and cheers.

The band consecutively played four songs from their latest mini album INFINITY, with oni and sagara wowing fans with synced tapping guitar riffs during the second number Aoku yurete. oni so naturally performed a technical song while simultaneously getting fans to wave their hands left and right. The driving bass line of ebi and the backing chorus of vivi put vivid colors to a melodious number. Three fans at the front of the stage head-banged together as they started to play the following number BLACK OUT. The band showed their skills to the fullest during the edgy and melodious song by modulating back and forth.

“Great to see you guys! We are back from the United States. We toured 19 different places and went through so much together. We’ll give you our very best tonight,” sagara declared to fans. Next, the band showed yet another signature musical style of theirs during Beyond the Screen. The song has a haunting melody, clearing putting each member's technique on display; ebi utilized a slap technique on her instrument while the guitarists strummed celestial riffs. The song’s emotion was further intensified by oni’s passionate guitar solo. However, Dearness, a personal love song about the reconciliation of a family, added another highlight of the show. Accompanied with the tender strumming of a guitar while taking hold of her own instrument, oni’s vocal projected her warmth and thankfulness to her family. The band's skill coupled with human emotion completely captured fans’ hearts for the duration of the main set list. Following this, the foursome left the stage for a costume change.

The second part of the show started with a jam session between ebi, vivi and sagara, featuring an instrumental version of Nothing's Carved In Stone's track Isolation. Some time later, oni returned to further fuel the fire with the number Go Straight On Your Way. The band shook the venue by playing the hard hitting numbers with relentless aggression. Fans rose their fists high during the 13th song falcon; in return, ebi and sagara gave a few lucky fans high fives.

oni later took time to speak to fans directly. “This has been the most intense tour in my entire life. I met a lot of people, including some old friends of mine. I received so much inspiration.” Then, sagara also shared her thoughts: “I spoke with oni on the night before our first show in United States. She told me how she was grateful for being able to play music together as a band. Although things do get tough sometimes, but it’s because of the music I was able to meet all of you. Thank you guys for supporting us. We cannot do this without you.” The band closed the show with the final number ONE FEEL.

The call for encore rose immediately after; responding well to the chants from the audience, ebi was first to return to the stage. Her white T-shirt bore the words 'No worry. All will be well', a simple, but heartfelt message to the fans. She also had the following to say: “So many good things as well as tough things happened during the tour. I am grateful that I have a place such as this to return to and people who always support us. I can believe all will be well in spite of my anxiety.” Then, oni came to share her heart with the audience. “It’s hard to believe that today is actually a final. I grew as a musician and as a person through this tour. We gave our best to every single show, but we could not do it on our own. We would like to be able to lead you all and show our thankfulness to each of you,” said the vocalist.

Fans, in response, clapped and sung along with the band during the first encore song 4STEPS TO BE. Then, the closing song With You made a hopeful finale of the tour. It is a song of a promise from the band to fans, to be the light that always shines upon them. So much emotion could be felt in the exchange between the band and fans while oni and sagara simultaneously strummed a guitar solo.

Overloaded with energy and cuteness, ebi raised up her bass guitar when vivi gave the final strike on her drums. “See you guys again,” oni bid the farewell message, and GANGLION, with their fans behind them, took a group photo to keep the memory of their INFINITY tour.

Set List

01. Tsuioku
02. Aoku yurete
03. BLACK OUT
04. DISTANCE
05. Koufuku no Theory
06. Beyond the screen
07. Snowdrop
08. Dearness
09. Isolation
10. Go Straight On Your Way
11. loser
12. OVER THIS WALL
13. falcon
14. tonight
15. ONE FEEL

Encore
16. 4STEPS TO BE
17. with you