On March 31, Anamanaguchi played night two of Game Over, a social gaming event put on by Game Over Entertainment. Set-up in the breathtakingly beautiful spherical space at the Boston Center for the Arts in Back Bay, the old theater’s walls were lined with retro arcade games, all set to free play. The games ranged from classics like Pac-Man to fighters like Tekken to modern favorites like Dance Dance Revolution, and additional rooms were fitted with console and table games, providing nearly limitless hours of gaming options.
With doors at 8:00pm, players had nearly two hours to battle ghosts, fight to the death, and dance their hearts out on the 60+ arcade games before opener Meesh went on stage. First featured on Anamanaguchi’s 2014 single “Pop It,” Meesh made her debut performance as a solo artist at night one of Game Over, making night two her second. With only a small catalog of songs pull from, Meesh made up for her lack of experience and content with a strong stage presence, dominated by her bubblegum and j-pop aesthetic.
After Meesh, the crowd dispersed, taking selfies with the singer, grabbing a refreshment, and squeezing in a few more games before Anamanaguchi’s set. Around 10:30pm, the intro to “Endless Fantasy” suddenly blared over the speakers and the band walked on stage, picking up their instruments just in time to hit their marks and start the show. At the same time, the house lights dimmed, bringing the band’s signature video screen and neon-esque tube lighting to life, supplemented by the flickering screens of the arcade games in the background.
Though initially somewhat shy and reserved, the band quickly hit their stride during “Meow,” matching the crowd’s wild dancing. Followed by throwback track “My Skateboard Will Go On” and “FEELGOOD” from the band’s 2016 video game Capsule Silence XXIV, Anamanaguchi paused to bring Meesh on stage for “Pop It.” Throughout the song, colorful balloons rained down on the crowd, bouncing off of heads and exploding in a cacophony of ‘BANG!’s lead by Meesh, who jabbed at any balloons unfortunate enough to float by with her pointy heart shaped scepter.
Other highlights from the show included “Prom Night,” and “Blackout City.” After briefly leaving the stage following the performance of new track, “Stardust,” the band returned for a two song encore, first playing “Planet” then ending with “Airbrushed.” As Anamanaguchi waved goodnight and walked backstage, drummer Luke Silas doubled back to dish out a handful of high-fives, ending the night on a high note.
See below for photos from the show, and check out Anamanaguchi’s Facebook for a list of upcoming shows and events: