Concert Recap: YOASOBI Bring Iconic Energy to New York’s Radio City Music Hall

On Tuesday night in New York, dedicated fans of vocaloid group YOASOBI traded soaking rain for strobing lights at Radio City Music Hall. Despite the stormy weather, the excitement inside the venue was palpable. Fans giddily rushed to their seats, shaking off the rain with YOASOBI fans and towels, giggling among themselves in anticipation and sharing their favorite songs with seat neighbors.

The anticipation was for a good reason. YOASOBI has seen some serious growth since their debut in 2019, becoming bonafide Japanese icons. But even with a five-year-long, virally-successful career that includes festival sets, collaborations, and various awards, their Radio City show was the group’s first-ever performance in New York City. Fans clearly had been eagerly waiting for them to come, as the show was fully sold out and the theater was packed to the ceiling.

Members Ayase and ikura — and their four-piece supporting band — ran a tight ship. Every second of the show was tuned to the minute, in a display that involved lasers, fog, strobe lights, and even 3D glasses.

Performance as Art

YOASOBI was formed as a project to transform short stories into songs. That theatric undercurrent was visible in their New York performance. Each song, from the upbeat and frenetic opener “UNDEAD,” to the slower and softer “優しい彗星 / Yasashii Suisei,” is punctuated with synchronized laser lights, a vibrant LED display, and accompanying background animations.

YOASOBI UNDEAD first live at NYC RCMH 🔥💯✌️✌️@YOASOBI_staff @ikutalilas @Ayase_0404 pic.twitter.com/IKjDFKoPHs

— randomweather (@randomweather81) August 7, 2024

At one point of the night, fans are encouraged to put on their “POP-OUT” glasses: a pair of black 3D glasses each person was given as they headed to their seats. Tracks like “BIRI-BIRI,” “ミスター / Mister,” and “ツバメ / Tsubame” were performed in front of a stage-wide screen.

Special 3D animation immersed fans in starry skies and computer motherboards, had adorable cartoon characters bouncing within reach, and sent a large winged creature soaring over their heads.

For a group founded on storytelling, these elements are both fitting and extremely elevating. The holistic stage was all part of a story, representing their songs through visuals. It sets YOASOBI not as just singers or vocaloid producers, but as engaging and all-compassing artists.

Not ones to be outdone, however, YOASOBI are not overwhelmed by all these stage elements. Rather, they shine beyond the reach of the lasers, making it hard to look away. Vocalist and frontwoman ikura commanded the stage. Meanwhile, producer and keyboardist Ayase charmed the audience with a sweet speech thanking fans for turning out: “We weren’t sure if anyone would come, but we sold out!” he exclaimed to raucous cheers.

Fandom in Tandem

Though the anxiety is understandable, it seems funny to think they wouldn’t sell out – with such a unique and undeniable stage presence, what YOASOBI offers can only be truly experienced in person.

Fans certainly knew this, turning up in excited droves and filling seats far in advance to the show’s start.

The audience was almost as coordinated as the group. Some fans brought glow sticks with them (not unlike K-pop’s famed light sticks, but more generic and smaller). Fans changed the lights of the glow sticks in tandem, giving each performance its own color. Viral smash “IDOL” had the crowd lit up in purple and red, while the songs “Heart Beat” turned everything pink and “ハルジオン / Halzion” shone blue. 

Fans were also united in their chanting — from fist pumping and waving to clapping and cheering in coordinated efforts. It seemed that for every effort YOASOBI put into their performance, fans doubled it.

It felt like the utmost respect for an artist so involved in all aspects of their performances: fans elevated those visuals with their own, synchronized visual performances. Though they were clearly excited, that enthusiasm did not overpower the show (the concert was notably absent of rogue “I LOVE YOU”s shouted from the rafters or ear-piercing screams that interrupt speeches). While every fan enjoys live music differently, YOASOBI fans clearly agreed to limit their participation to only what would support the group, not outshine them.

YOASOBI’s stratospheric rise makes perfect sense after seeing them live, and one can only eagerly await what they achieve next.

After their stint across the United States, YOASOBI plan to celebrate their upcoming fifth anniversary with two Japanese dome shows in Tokyo and Osaka. For more updates, follow the group on their Instagram and YouTube.

Want to relive other Japanese artists’ shows? Check out EnVi’s recap on Psychic Fever’s Los Angeles roadshow here!