It’s been years since I last sat in front of a truly loud band — Alanis Morissette feels like a lifetime ago. Last night at The Star Theatre, I got two shows in one: the raw promise of KOIAI and the refined mastery of SCANDAL.
🔥 KOIAI – The Raw Spark
Opening the night, KOIAI wasn’t just a warm-up. They gave us a full 45 minutes of youthful fire.
- Sakurada on vocals led the charge with clarity.
- Waka’s 5-string Saitias bass thundered through an Ampeg rig.
- Kanade on Pearl drums unleashed both groove and solo thunder.
- Li-sa-X and Hazuki traded Ibanez Floyd Rose guitars — one through a Marshall, the other a Laney — shredding like rivals in a duel yet complementing each other perfectly.
It was ear-splitting, but gloriously so. The solos cut like blades, and even Kanade’s drum solo had bite. KOIAI was youthful energy unchained — a glimpse of what’s coming.
🌟 SCANDAL – The Band
When SCANDAL stepped on stage, the difference was immediate. Not louder, but sharper. Not raw, but refined. This is what decades of chemistry sounds like.
- Haruna with her 2020 Fender Haruna Telecaster (DiMarzio Twang King + Chopper T), pushing through a Marshall stack — her rhythm was steady and commanding. Most of all, her vocals ruled.
- Mami with her “Omochi” Stratocaster in Vintage White, custom humbucker engraved with her own design, through another Marshall — and tonight, she took all the leads with authority. Confident, effortless, and soaring, she stamped her voice across every solo. Her backing vocals also rocked.
- Tomomi with her trusted black Fender PJ bass (pre-signature) through an Ampeg — the anchor, active EQ carving out a deep, articulate backbone. Her backing vocals, her swaying moves and her wide smile communicated her joy.
- Rina on Pearl drums — suave, energetic, precise. Every hit was confidence and grace.
SCANDAL didn’t need to deafen the hall. Their power came from balance, precision, and storytelling. KOIAI lit the fuse, but SCANDAL was the fire we all came for.
🎤 Reflection
KOIAI is the future: loud, ambitious, still shaping their voice.
SCANDAL is the present: polished, mature, and commanding their stage like few can.
Tonight wasn’t just a concert. It was a reminder of why live music matters. The raw and the refined, side by side, both telling their stories at full volume.