Live Review from 21st Anniversary Festival Day 1:
1. 出走東京 Tokyo boy
2. 小魔怪 Little demon
3. 風花 wind flower
4. 指尖 fingertip
5. 死心不息 don’t know when to quit
6. 寅時無鬼 no ghost at 3am
Bitez and the Archangels hit the stage with a burst of energy, immediately drawing the crowd into their wild, theatrical world. Their bold metal-samurai outfits—apparently inspired by a tip from Chris B—were a playful touch that set the tone for a night of pure musical fun.
From the first song, Bitez had everyone involved, getting the audience to join in with his cheeky, rebellious vibe. Sometimes I wasn’t quite sure what we were rebelling against, but it was impossible not to get swept up in the fun. The set was packed with punchy tempos and those catchy, two-word choruses—think “Tokyo Boy” and “Wind Flower”—that are perfect for shouting along, and I definitely found myself shouting very loudly. Ron and Matt’s twin guitar attack kept things lively, with riffs and solos that added plenty of colour. This band really brought a celebration of rock’s over-the-top side to the festival.
Even when they veered into more experimental territory, the crowd (and I!) stayed with them, and the closer “寅時無鬼 no ghost at 3am” finished things off with real impact. I found out later they’ve only been together for seven months! I’m genuinely curious to see where Bitez and the Archangels go from here as they get more gigs under their belt.
–Rosie Chan
