Atarashii Gakko! – at The Roxy

On August 18th, the Japanese girl group, Atarashii Gakko! Headlined a sold-out show at the legendary Roxy Theatre in Los Angeles.

When I arrived at the venue, there was a line already formed down Sunset Blvd. with fans ready to see the group consisting of members Suzuka, Rin, Mizyu, and Kanon. I spotted a few fans donning the Japanese school uniform Atarashii Gakko! is known for. There were a few long red silk ribbons, and some people came in with pineapples (yes, actual pineapples). Before this show, I wasn’t familiar with Atarashii Gakko! or J-pop in general. I did watch a few of their music videos the day before, so I got that the pineapples were a reference to their song Pineapple Kryptonite.
Once inside the venue, I made my way through the packed crowd to get as close as possible to the stage to capture the group’s performance, and although I watched a few videos to familiarize myself with the music, I was Not prepared for what I experienced and witnessed.

The moment the curtain went up at the Roxy, AG wasted no time bringing the energy and pumping up the crowd. The group walked onto the stage on each other’s shoulders, holding out a flag and performing an array of self-choreographed moves combining kumitaiso, hip-hop, rock, pop, jazz, and even some martial arts. Unfortunately, due to a language barrier, I wasn’t able to understand the lyrics, but that in no way, shape or form hindered me from enjoying the performance. Just like their choreography, their sound was also eclectic and unique, combining a mix of hip-hop, r&b, pop, jazz, and rock guitar riffs.

Atarashii Gakko! had a few wardrobe changes throughout the set, from construction hats and goggles for their homage to the Beastie Boys – Intergalactic, some lovely long black coats with writing on the back, and for their encore, they sported some of their merch t-shirts (which I was heartbroken I wasn’t able to get one because they were sold out but also good for them making those sales).

At the end of the night, I was so in awe of the high-energy, intensity, spirit, and stamina of this group. From beginning to end, they never once faltered and were so fun and entertaining to listen to and watch. They made a fan out of me that night, and I really hope they head back to the U.S. soon for another tour.
Until then, be sure to check out Atarashii Gakkos!‘s music on your favorite streaming service and give them a follow on social to stay up to date on the latest news and updates.