[LIVE REPORT] MIKU EXPO in Los Angeles

[LIVE REPORT] MIKU EXPO in Los Angeles

This year, Hatsune Miku embarked on her biggest tour yet and this time, with more dates and locations in the North American region. Of course, she had to stop by the Microsoft Theater in Los Angeles last Friday, a venue that she, her staff, and local fans are all too familiar with.

This time around, MIKU EXPO featured an opening band, Anamanaguchi, a NYC group that has gain massive recognition within the last few years with their electro-pop tune. In their 2014 single, “Pop It” contains traces of Miku Vocaloid throughout the track and in 2015, they played a sold out show at Anime Expo with Porter Robinson.  It is without a doubt having them opening for Miku is great idea. Fans of both were brought together that one night, filling up almost every single seat.

Before moving on to the actual concert, the set design must be touched up on. Compared to the last two Miku shows, this one featured a unique set design that none have had. With the projection, when everything is lit up at any impactful moment, the stage became absolutely gorgeous. Having this accompanied the performance of the animation really made the entire show a 2-hour long eye candy.

After Anamanaguchi played an amazing set, the star of the show warpped in on stage and sang, “World is Mine,” which is, without a doubt, the most classic and iconic Hatsune Miku song to date. While it’s called “MIKU” EXPO, Miku’s friends, of course, had to join in the on the fun. During “World’s End Dancehall,” Megurine Luka joined Miku on stage for synchronized dancing. Fans were absolutely wild about that. Even Kaito and Meiko later hit up the stage. One can’t help but notice the ladies in the crowd cheering louder for Kaito and gentlemen for Meiko.  These variety of different stars is also what makes this whole expo show unique, fun, and entertaining.

Also, we cannot forget about the twins, Kagamine Rin and Len! Fans who have seen the previous shows will be familiar with how the twins put one on. Again, this time Rin was the first of the two to take the stage with her guitar performance. After, Len does his solo set. Lastly, the two come together for child-ish, fun play. No doubt, the two cutest vocaloids ever!

The show continued until Miku sang “Blue star”, the last song of the night. Fans in the pit with their special Miku-approved glow sticks switched the color blue, illuminating a beautiful scenic view as the star herself sang her last song of the night.

Or was it? Fans of course, weren’t going to leave without an encore. They stayed and chant until Miku materialized back on stage. But this time, joining her are not her usual live band but… Anamanguchi! It was very endearing and exciting to watch two cultures, two groups, two entities, coming together to perform. It was an absolute treat and they couldn’t have started with a better song, “Sharing the World,” literally sharing the stage, sharing themselves with each other and with the fans. They went on to play a few more songs before the stage went black again.

MIKU EXPO felt like a gift that keeps on giving. Just when the fans all thought it was truly over after the performance with Anamanaguchi, Miku comes back on to the stage with a keyboard and played “Star Fragment” solo. Truly a wonderful, final, final performance of the evening.

The night ended with smiles on every one’s faces. It is certain that fans of either Miku or Anamanaguchi are now converted to be fans of the other. This is truly the BEST Miku Expo to date, in terms of international tour. With the success of this show and still quite a handful of others left in North America (some being sold out), fans can wait confidently for the NEXT MIKU EXPO!