Don’t Miss Your Chance to See This Band
Band-Maid’s May 2023 U.S. Tour has just been announced
(Image courtesy of Peter Kim)
I’m interrupting my retrospective series on women in rock because this news has a short fuse.
Band-Maid are returning to the U.S. in May for a tour of the Midwest and South, likely to be followed up in August with a tour of other parts of North America (details not announced yet).
I know musicians who are booking flights to travel to see them. At the very least, check out the links here and then decide if that’s crazy.
Band-Maid’s fans include lots of musicians, who often compare them to the Beatles for their creativity, versatility, and attention to production detail. Despite zero coverage from the U.S. media, their 14-city 2022 tour sold out last year in two days, with tickets fetching four and five times the original price on the aftermarket (yes, LiveNation completely blew it when they priced the tickets).
Why the excitement? See for yourself…
“Alone” (Feb. 2016)
This was the first song and MV the band wrote, arranged, and directed without outside input. It is also where their trademark sound really crystallized, including a short, incandescent guitar solo that leaves you wanting more.
Since then, they’ve had full artistic control over their work. Consider this their declaration of autonomy.
“Choose Me” (June 2017)
Band-Maid sing love songs, but they never whine. This song is a throw-down challenge to some lame dude to stop dithering and make a damn choice. The instrumental performance, as always, is on point.
*******
“Daydreaming” (May 2017)
Band-Maid are that rare hard-rock band that knows how to dial it back and give you a heart-rending ballad. Every nuance, from the thick, soulful bass line to the subtle, constantly changing drum fills, contributes to the emotional buildup.
Saiki’s husky tone and Miku’s bell-like harmonies create a sense of wistful yearning. You don’t need to understand the words to feel it. Kanami’s solo is a cry of desolation. All five band members do exactly what they need to do, no more, no less.
*******
Wonderland (live, 2019)
A magical combination of dreaminess and thump, with a soaring vocal performance to top it off. Misa (bass) and Kanami (guitar) trade roles, with Misa playing lead on bass and Kanami playing a rhythm line.
One of my favorite Band-Maid songs, and the one that cemented my view of Misa as perhaps the best rock bassist in the world right now (if you want to vote for Billy Sheehan, I’m ok with that).
*******
Ticket information (Note: fan-club presales from Feb 13–16, general sales starting Feb 17)