BAND-MAID rocked an audience of over 2,500 music fans at Sakura-Con in Seattle on Easter weekend.
The long-running Japanese culture event hosted the band's debut American performance at the Washington State Convention Center, where the all-girl rock group signed autographs for a solid 2 hours after the concert, quickly selling out of all their official merchandise, including T-Shirts, CDs, and posters.
BAND-MAID packed the hour-long set with YouTube hits like "Thrill" and "Don't Let Me Down" (from their 2015 CD New Beginning), plus four songs from their upcoming release "Brand New MAID," including their latest music video "alone."
In between songs, the band members spoke to the Seattle audience in Japanese and English, with band founder and guitarist Miku leading the crowd in a maid-cafe-inspired call-and-response of "Moe Moe Kyuuuuuun!"
After the show, Miku said, "The audience is America was so loud and fun! All our master and princesses, thank you so much for coming to see us! We'll see you again."
BAND-MAID's next overseas appearance will be at MCM London Comic Con in May.
BAND-MAID @SAKURA-CON 2016
SET LIST
1. REAL EXISTENCE
2. FREEZER
MC
3. FREEDOM
4. Shake That
5. Don’t Let Me Down
6. Don’t apply the brake
MC
7. Before Yesterday
8. the non-fiction days
MC
9. alone
Encore: Thrill
BAND-MAID has also released the cover images for "Brand New MAID," which will be released in Japan in 2 separate editions on May 18.
Photo Credits: David Cirone / Resonance Media / Platinum Passport
VIDEO: BAND-MAID Sakura-Con Welcome
VIDEO: BAND-MAID "alone"
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BAND-MAID Official Facebook: facebook.com/bandmaid
BAND-MAID Website: bandmaid.tokyo
ABOUT BAND-MAID
Guitar and Vocals: Miku
Vocals: Saiki
Guitar: Kanami
Drums: Akane
Bass: Misa
BAND-MAID is an all-girl Japanese rock group from Tokyo formed in 2013. Their authentic maid cafe costumes, based on founding member Miku’s experiences in Akihabara’s maid cafes, contrast with the band’s aggressive hard rock sound.
BAND-MAID’s breakthrough video “Thrill” was released in 2014, instantly garnering attention from Japanese rock and mainstream music fans, including notices in Guitar World and Metal Injection. Racking up praises for their technical skills and daring lyrics, the band released their album New Beginning in 2015, with the videos for “Real Existence” and “Thrill” surpassing 1 million YouTube views each.
BAND-MAID made their USA debut at Sakura-Con at the Washington State Convention Center in March 2016. Their upcoming album Brand New MAID is scheduled for release in Japan in May 2016.
Reviews for BAND-MAID’s New Beginning:
“Reminiscent of Wolfmother’s debut CD, this is a band that’s found its sweet spot and is super-clear about what they’re about.”
- JRock247
“New Beginning is a fantastic mini-album that deserves wide acclaim. A solid rhythm section, effortless guitar riffing/soloing, and confident vocals. This is a band that knows how to play.”
- Femme Metal Webzine
“Full of addictive numbers with a powerful chemistry of twin vocals, killer guitar riffs, low-end bass line and a precise pounding beat of the drums. Each sound by the five band members has a strong personality, but their collision unleashes huge amounts of energy in each song.”
- JaME
