After a brief intermission, the audience was ready to see how T.M. Revolution would fare after such an electrifying first set, and trust me, the forty-six-year old performer did not disappoint! TMR didn’t just walk onto the stage, he ran at full speed and then did an epic leap as he greeted fans with an enthusiastic, ‘Hello, D.C.! Are you ready to rock?!’ Of course, the concert hall responded in kind with shouts and cheers so loud, it was almost difficult to hear the performers. It was that lit! TMR’s set included songs from the Mobile Suit Gundam series, Sengoku Basara, and my personal favorite, the opening theme from Soul Eater, ‘resonance’!

Like JAM Project, TMR also made his first U.S. live debut at Otakon over a decade earlier back in 2003. His return was a much anticipated event for some of the crowd’s longtime con attendees. But the highlight of the performance came when TMR, clad in a shiny black and silver outfit, removed the top half of his clothes, revealing his well defined torso. It was a blessed sight, that no one who was at the concert that night will soon forget! TMR closed his set with an exuberant performance of ‘Heart of Sword’ from Rurouni Kenshin, during which he encouraged the crowd to ‘Sing with me!’ Everyone joined in to bring the amazing set to a close….

BUT WAIT!

That wasn’t the end. After TMR exited the stage, the crowd shouted for an encore and the night’s performers did not disappoint. Moments later, clad in black-and-red Anisong World Matsuri t-shirts, both JAM Project and T.M. Revolution returned to the stage for a final and once-in-a-lifetime collaborative performance of JAM Project’s ‘SKILL’. After a passionate performance from both acts, the concert closed with a final ‘BANZAI!’

I can’t write about the Anisong World Matsuri without mentioning the glow sticks. I’ve seen a few clips of Japanese concerts on YouTube and I am always in awe of the synchronized glow stick action. Believe me when I say, the videos don’t do the spectacle justice; it’s mesmerizing.

This report just scratches the surface of how exhilarating it was to see these two phenomenal performers live! Both acts have been around for quite some time so they definitely knew their way around a crowd. I was still blown away by how at home they were with the Otakon crowd. During the concert, language barriers and cultural differences faded away under the bright stage lights of the concert hall. We were all united by the power of music, and at it’s core, that is exactly what the Anisong Matsuri is all about: connecting the people of the world through song! I can’t wait to see what day two of the Anisong World Matsuri has in store for us!!

Day 2 Report

Anisong World Matsuri in Washington DC: Yousei Teikoku and FLOW

Anisong World Matsuri at Otakon 2017 JAM Project & T.M. Revolution Set List

JAM PROJECT
1. Crest of “Z’s”
2. Hagane no Resistance
3. Garo ~Savior in the Dark~
4. The Brave
5. THE EXCEEDER
6. Hero
7. THE HERO!! ~Ikareru Kobushini Hiwo Tsukero~
8. Victory〜Gong
9. Rocks
10. Rescue Fire

T.M.Revolution
1. Inherit the Force
2. Invoke
3. ignited
4. Meteor
5. resonance
6. High Pressure
7. White Breath
8. Hot Limit
9. Flags
10. Sword Summit
11. Heart of Sword

ENCORE
1. SKILL (JAM Project x T.M.Revolution)

Anisong World Matsuri Website: http://anisongworldmatsuri.com
Anisong World Matsuri Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AnisongWorldMatsuri
Anisong World Matsuri Twitter: https://twitter.com/AnisongWorld
Anisong World Matsuri YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/anisongworldmatsuri

Interview with JAM Project’s Hironobu Kageyama | Part 1 of 2