NEMOPHILA Blooms With a Triumphant Chicago Debut At Reggies
Review and photos by Brian Serra
During the pandemic, we all had to find our own way of staying sane in those trying times. Seemingly overnight, live concerts were taken away from us. For many artists and musicians, “quarantine video” performances became the norm, perhaps to assure themselves and their fans that it was still possible to maintain some semblance of normalcy.
Countless bands uploaded quarantine videos, but none filled me with more hope and optimism than Nemophila, a Japanese metal band with inspiring songs about resilience, persistence, and enduring whatever life throws at you. I looked forward to each and every upload in which they performed original songs and various covers that ran the gamut from AC/DC to Pink to Maximum The Hormone.
Tonight (on a very muggy 98-degree sweaty Summer night with a heat advisory in effect, nonetheless), Nemophila kicks off a U.S. tour. Fans of all walks of life crammed into Reggie’s like sardines, eager to witness Nemophila’s inaugural Chicago performance.
The lights dimmed, the house music halted, and immediately, the energy in the room became as palpable as the hot, humid air we had endured specifically for this moment.
Nemophila took to the stage. Each member exuded a distinct presence.
Tamu, on drums, was the backbone. Every kick bass thump, and snare hit echoed with pulse-pounding fervency.
Haraguchi-san, on bass, gives new meaning to the term “bright low end” with her perpetually sunny disposition that conveys the unmitigated joy of playing live.
Hazuki, standing at five feet of fury (and sporting an Alexa Bliss “Twisted Bliss” shirt, by the way), proudly wielded her gorgeous turquoise blue signature 7-string Ibanez with such effortless grace.
Mayu, the effervescently fierce frontwoman of the group, commanded the crowd like she was leading a small battalion. When she gestured for the crowd to clap, we clapped. When she asked us to jump, we jumped. When Mayu asks for a circle pit, oh, you’d better believe that you’re going to get a circle pit. She sang and screamed her heart out, at times, unleashing high banshee-like shrieks that would sound right at home on a black metal record.
In unison, like the petals of the flower that is their namesake, Nemophila were simultaneously invigorating and captivating.
There was an overwhelmingly amiable aura in the venue tonight. I don’t think I’ve ever fist-bumped more strangers than I did at this show. It was a prime example of what Nemophila’s music brings out in people.
I will never take concert-going for granted again. There’s nothing quite like seeing one of your favorite bands live. Coming down from the high of this concert, I couldn’t help but feel just as I did when I watched their videos during the pandemic; I found this experience… comforting. Inspiring, even. Tonight, this band was no longer confined to quarantine videos on my phone. Tonight, they were here. Tonight, they were live, in person, and good God, did they put on a memorable show.
Tonight, at their inaugural Chicago debut and kickoff to their U.S. tour, Nemophila was in full bloom.
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Gallery:
Links:
Official: https://nemophila.tokyo/en/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nemophila_band/
