Was it the end of an era? Or perhaps the beginning of something completely new? Before attending ONE OK ROCK’s concert, I could not be sure of an answer. Their highly awaited show, Luxury Disease Asia Tour, presenting their latest album Luxury Disease, reached its final showcase on the 18th of December, 2023 in the Singapore Indoor Stadium. Let us just say, there was plenty of hype. The forced cancellation of their concert in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic resulted in a 5-year-long absence since their last visit in 2018 with their album Ambitions. Now that the drought finally ended, the crowds re-emerged and were more than ready to empty out their hard-earned savings. Was it worth it? Well, although I cannot speak for everyone, I will just say this. If the concert dragged on for any longer, I am pretty sure I would have yelled something along the lines of “TAKE MY MONEY, THE SHOW MUST GO ON!” Fortunately, I eventually found myself safely back at home, with all my money in my wallet.
When I first arrived at the venue, I still could not believe I was actually there. Rather than excitement, however, an unwarranted feeling of anxiousness took over me. As more and more people filled the auditorium, I felt awkward, out of place even. It suddenly occurred to me that I may not enjoy the night as much as I had planned to. Freely letting loose in front of thousands of unfamiliar faces was never a strong suit of mine. It did not help that tonight was my first concert. Not just from ONE OK ROCK, but from any band or artist in general. The wait felt like it would never end, and although the room was air-conditioned, I was sweating from nervousness.
The lights dimmed and everyone grew silent, focusing on the unlit stage in front of us and attempting to heighten our senses in hopes of identifying any familiar silhouette. A red-tinted, cloudy image appeared on the big screen behind the stage; it illuminated the stage just enough to spot a single drum set, which was unfortunately missing its drummer. The silence, however, did not last long. Just as the ambient music in the background began to increase in volume, a spotlight revealed the first member waltzing in from backstage and we enthusiastically welcomed the drummer, Tomoya, with a loud cheer. From that moment on, everything I had feared and dreaded seemed to be lost somewhere in the crowd.
The show kicked off with Wonder and Save Yourself, a killer opening that had everyone’s adrenaline pumping. What was made immediately clear to everyone that night was the undeniable charisma and intense magnetism the vocalist, Taka, had. Witnessing Taka sing live is something I will never be able to accurately describe. He simply oozes confidence. Every note was ejected with so much power and clarity that I, myself, was mouthing the lyrics, agreeing with every word he said even if I had no clue what he was saying. At that moment, I spoke his language. Or at the very least, I pretended I did. It is worth mentioning that my friend stated, and I quote, “His eyes. They are pretty.” This man’s charm extends in every direction; what a dangerous fellow.
In the middle portion of the concert, the band performed a couple of tracks from their previous albums, including one of my all-time favourites, Clock Strikes and I Was King. It was a pleasant surprise when I realised that everyone knew every single lyric to the song, and an even more enjoyable experience when I heard my own screams being completely drowned out in the sea of voices. There was not one person out of sync, and all that mattered to us was this moment.
After a short break, Taka and the guitarist, Toru, slowed the show down with a beautiful acoustic performance of Your Tears Are Mine, an emotional ballad from their latest album. This song, in particular, was interesting as it followed a similar theme to another song that I absolutely adored, All Mine from their previous album, Jinsei x Boku =. It was a more mature re-telling of the same happily-ever-after romance. When the band performed it live at the concert, I felt transported to the past. I reminisced about the years before, the many stories they had told with their albums and what each of their songs within them meant. Thankfully, Taka did not get emotional performing this song so although I could not protect my throat, at least my eyes were saved from becoming a red, puffy mess.
The end of the concert left me in pieces. It gave me memories I will never forget and always hold dear. For many, ONE OK ROCK is a symbol of their passion and youth; a crucial fragment that makes up the identities of countless people from a multitude of backgrounds. Their concerts are incredibly special because they allow me to witness this very truth.
How so many different individuals can be gathered into the same space, celebrating the same event, singing in unison, will always be an amazing feat, and I believe this will not be the last time anyone gets to experience this. I hold on to Taka’s promise that there will be a next time. And during that next time, I will be there to cheer even louder.