Introduction
Throughout the anime group, it’s almost not possible to seek out an individual who FLOW’s music hasn’t impacted. Since their basis in 1998, the J-Rock group has gone on to carry out the theme songs for iconic exhibits like Naruto, Code Geass: Lelouch of the Rebel, and Eureka Seven. As such, hits like Signal and GO!!! have turn into an indelible a part of the soundtrack of a complete era of followers.
And, actually, the group has been desirous to convey their music to the world, as they’ve toured the globe quite a few occasions since 2015, together with an unforgettable efficiency at Otakon 2017. This 12 months, FLOW made their return to Washington DC as a part of their “FLOW World Tour: Anime Shibari 2024-2025,” with their chosen venue being a triumphant encore at Otakon 2024.
The Calm Earlier than The Storm
By the point our staff reached the ballroom, the venue was already packed, with nary an open seat in the home. A banner for the conference, which was adorned with a ‘90s-inspired design, was projected on the huge video display screen onstage, whereas the smaller screens that flanked it toggled between a number of advertorial stills. In the meantime, theme songs for common anime themes blared over the audio system. The murmurs of excited followers additionally buzzed via the air, as folks chatted eagerly in regards to the exhibits they have been watching, their experiences that day, and even what they scored within the Vendor’s Room.
At ten minutes to begin, fog machines kicked on, blanketing the room in a comforting haze that instantly took me again to rock live shows I’d been to up to now. Granted, the smoke wasn’t the identical sort of smoke, however the impact was appreciated, nonetheless.
A couple of minutes later, the lights went dim, to raucous applause. The present was about to start, and no one within the crowd was prepared for the expertise that was about to unfold.
FLOW Takes The Stage
A hush fell over the auditorium, because the opening strings for Tales of Berseria theme tune BURN started taking part in whereas dialogue from the sport performed over the loudspeakers towards the hovering orchestral intro. The group took the stage, waving on the crowd as they took up their devices. All of a sudden, The lights kicked on, because the tune entered its guitar-heavy break. The viewers erupted into cheers, as vocalist Kōshi Asakawa sang its opening bars. Asakawa and fellow vocalist Keigo Hayashi strutted alongside the stage, working the room as they sang, whereas guitarist Takeshi Asakawa, bassist Kōtaro Gotō, and drummer Hiroshi Iwasaki drove the musical dialog with competent taking part in. The vitality stored up because the group flowed seamlessly into Tales of Zestiria the X theme tune KAZE NO UTA, whereas the viewers bounced alongside to the beat, and joined in on the “Whoa-oa-oa!” bridge.
Raucous cheers swelled as soon as extra because the tune ended, and Kōshi Asakawa known as out, “We hope you get pleasure from this mild live performance and anime celebration!”
The group was given little likelihood to relaxation, because the band broke into Love and Justice, the opening theme to Kinnikuman Excellent Origin Arc. The room burst in one other wave of cheers, as FLOW performed the tune’s opening bars. All of the whereas, the group’s members appeared to feed off the vitality; Asakawa and Hayashi’s lyrics radiated with ardour, as Takeshi Asakawa shredded behind them. Members of the viewers responded in flip, cheering and pumping their fists, as some in attendance busted out their greatest wotagei with colourful mild pens.
A Love For The Legendary
Cheers swelled once more, as Gotō kicked right into a heavy bassline, main into Durarara!! theme tune Steppin’ Out. The vitality of the night continued to construct via the opening verse, to the purpose that the ground was shaking as folks bounced and bounded within the viewers, whereas pen lights flailed together with the rhythm. In the meantime, members of the group strutted alongside the stage and labored the gang, rising louder in response to the rising cheers. Gotō, in the meantime, bought playful along with his efficiency, as his bassline took on an addictively enjoyable slap.
Certainly, whereas some teams dominate the stage, and others make the viewers their very own, FLOW was there to get together and needed everybody to lose themselves within the vitality of the night.
This couldn’t be extra obvious once they broke into Dragon Ball Z theme tune Cha La Head Cha La, prompting the whole room to begin singing alongside. For these three minutes, everybody had joined in joyous concord, as band and viewers alike celebrated Akira Toriyama’s timeless traditional sequence. Kōshi Asakawa ended the tune by main the room in a Kamehameha gesture, to cheers and applause.
One other pop rose from the gang as FLOW broke into Dragon Ball Z: Battle of Gods insert tune HERO ~Kibou no Uta~. The group bounced and vibed to the tune, cheering with the refrain.
The ovations swelled as soon as once more, because the lights all of the sudden went darkish. Hayashi addressed the room, speaking in regards to the group’s experiences exploring Washington, DC whereas Takeshi Asakawa swapped guitars.
The vitality of the night time shifted because the group broke into Eureka Seven opening theme Days. The playful melody and enchanting rhythm had a number of members of the viewers bopping and clapping together with the music. Asakawa and Hayashi introduced the vitality again to the present’s excessive level as they entered the break and began to rap. They beckoned the viewers to rise as soon as extra and lose themselves within the second as their lyrics reverberated via the room.
A cheer arose from the gang because the tune entered its breakdown earlier than transitioning into Eureka Seven AO theme tune BRAVELUE. Asakawa and Hayashi performed off one another brilliantly, as they conversed musically with the remainder of the band. Gotō, Iwasaki, and Takeshi Asakawa responded in flip, as they amped up their performances to match the vitality of the second.
Do You Re:Member?
Because the tune ended, Hayashi thanked everybody in attendance as soon as extra, as the home lights dimmed. A heavy cello started to play, as narration from Code Geass: Lelouch of the Rebel performed over the PA system. The viewers erupted, as they sang alongside to the opening bars of theme tune COLORS. They whooped and cheered, responding Kōshi Asakawa’s calls with ecstatic cries of “Hey!” FLOW then transitioned into Code Geass: Lelouch of the Rebel theme tune World Finish, because the room misplaced itself once more. A whole lot have been on their ft, cheering and clapping alongside, as they sang together with the refrain. On the breakdown, Gotō took the highlight, as he broke right into a livid solo that Hayashi and Asakawa fed off of, whereas Takeshi Asakawa held his personal with a musical response. Iwasaki, in the meantime, stored the tempo of with tight, skillful taking part in.
Because the tune ended, Hayashi requested the viewers, “Are you having enjoyable?” The group responded with an emphatic “yeah!” He smiled, as he continued, including “I’m comfortable to have this live performance in Washington DC at Otakon. Thanks for loving Japanese anime. Thanks for (your love of) Japanese music. Thanks in your love of FLOW!” The group cheered once more, as Hayashi completed his deal with, saying “We’re related by anime and music, and this connection is everlasting. thanks a lot.”
His closing phrases flowed into Again Arrow closing theme United Sparrows. The melancholy piano melody offered a nice counterpoint to the bombastic vibe that had been constructed as much as that time. The viewers swayed in unison, letting out a cheer because the tune broke into its refrain. It was a welcome respite, a reset to the vitality within the room, which had been working at excessive octane for a lot of the night.
Because the tune ended, applause rang out all through the gang, earlier than the room rumbled with the sound of taiko beats. Audible gasps may very well be heard behind me as dialogue from Naruto performed over the loudspeakers. All of a sudden, guitarist Asakawa started taking part in a riff that was instantly acquainted to everybody within the room. Iwasaki joined him on drums, as Kōshi Asakawa began singing the opening lyrics to Naruto’s eighth opening theme, Re:Member.
Throughout the breakdown, Hayashi launched his fellow members of the band, every of whom responded by taking part in a brief solo on their instrument. When it got here to Takeshi’s flip, the lights dimmed, because the guitarist rushed onstage in in a jacket adorned with coloured lights. He led the viewers in a wotagei to a poppy melody. Asakawa handed the mic to him, and Takeshi blurted out, “Very long time no see! I’ve a celebration dance for Otakon! Let’s dance collectively! OK?” He then led the viewers in chants of “Oi! Oi! Oi!” because the room responded with the identical. Iwasaki, in the meantime, performed a brief beat to accompany the second.
The Ultimate Act
The group instantly jumped into Naruto Shippuden’s sixth opening theme tune, Signal. As FLOW performed, the tune’s lyrics projected onto the huge screens flanking the stage whereas the viewers sang alongside. For a couple of minutes, FLOW weren’t the celebs of the night. The viewers was, as everybody joined in refrain with the icons onstage. The tune’s chorus of “Are you able to hear me?” echoed via the room, as the ground shook from folks leaping and dancing to the music. By the ultimate verse, there wasn’t a single voice within the room that was silent, as they sang in response to Asakawa’s calls.
Because the tune ended, Asakawa yelled, “Let’s go!” because the group started taking part in the opening bars to the enduring Naruto theme tune, GO!!!Cheers swelled up, whereas the vitality amped as much as eleven. As folks danced and bopped to the music, they joined in, singing alongside to the chorus of “We’re combating dreamers,” and responded to Asakawa’s call-outs. The fervor grew all through the tune, as FLOW drank within the vitality of the second, their efficiency’s depth rising in response.
A loud cheer erupted as GO!!! ended, and the band entered their ultimate tune, Boruto: Naruto Subsequent Generations opening theme GOLD. All the room was on its ft, leaping in pleasure, as Asakawa and Hayashi performed off one another onstage. They bounded from one finish of the stage, mugging to the viewers as Takeshi took a spot front-and-center within the room.
As the ultimate tune ended, the group took a celebratory selfie with the viewers, earlier than saying their farewells and working offstage. Because the viewers funneled out into the principle halls of the Walter E. Washington Conference Heart, it was onerous for anyone to disclaim that they’d been part of one thing particular. For a fleeting hour, FLOW had turned the conference’s thirtieth anniversary into a correct celebration, with an vitality that will by no means be forgotten.
The magic of the night’s festivities would linger lengthy after the room had gone silent, within the conversations and chatter that arose all through the weekend. FLOW had turned Otakon from a celebration into a correct get together, and that joyful vitality of the night time grew to become a relentless undercurrent over the remainder of the weekend.
