Akiba Fest: Pop the Rock Japan Showcase
Date: Saturday April 4th
Location: University of Maryland, Samuel Riggs Alum. Center
Artist That Performed:
Psychic Lover
Unicorn Table
Sister Mayo
Takayoshi Tanimoto
Shing02
This years Akiba Fest. was like having our own little Super Sentai Spirits concert in the US. Almost all the acts had to do with Sentai, and if they did no they had some ties to the anime world.
The concert started a bit late due to the metro being jam packed because of the National Cherry Blossom Festival, but that was OK because everyone at the concert knew it was going to be a awesome time. The concert started around 6:30 PM.
First up was Shing02, A Japanese Hip hop/Rap act who did the song Battlecry from Samurai Champaloo. He also performed some of his English rap songs as well as a Japanese one. His music was great, It is always nice to hear some rap music that has positive lyrics.
Second was Takayoshi Tanimoto. I was extra excited about this singer because of his work with Go-Onger, He sang the Geki Ranger theme song and Sister Mayo came out and did Engine First Lap with him. The performance was full of energy and a lot of fun to watch. he was such a nice guy too.
Next was Sister Mayo, Oh my goodness she was so cute. She Sang Jumon Magical Force first, after the song she started talking, and oh my goodness she has the cutest voice. After that she did her song from Hare+guu, love Tropicana! which was also incredibly cute.
The next act was one I have got to see many times (probably 4 or 5, well I have seen Salia by herself as well) But as always Unicorn table put on a great show. They did some of their older songs and also did some new songs that I had not heard before. It was a great set and full of energy. Salia is so sweet, and her outfits are always so amazing. Salia's English had also gotten a lot better as well!
Last was the one act I was so excited to see again. Psychic Lover. I am such a huge fan of this duo. Their music is alway so upbeat and fun and they put on a great concert. The first song they did was On the Road from Boukenger, then the theme to Shinkenger, then the theme to Tytania, then Tondemo (not the actual name of the song but not sure of it) They also did XTC, Number One Battle Brawlers, Precious time Glory Days, thei song from Transformers and then they finished up with the theme from Deka Rangers. (I believe that was all the songs). One very awesome set, filled with plenty of Sentai music and a lot of their anime theme songs as well. Psychic Lover was very talkative with the audience, you could tell they had practiced their English a lot since their last concert here.
All of the acts were amazing and I was so happy that TenBu Productions put this concert on, it was well worth the 6 hour drive. I really hope that we see more wonderful concerts like this in the future!