Live review from Winter Festival (冬季音樂祭) Day 1:
KK Cruisin
Butter Building
Song of Storms
Lonely Rolling Star
Driftveil City
Color Your Night
Snake Eater
Sapphire Yoshi kicked off their set by inviting an audience member onstage to play a video game live while they performed. Solid drumming and smooth bass laid the foundation while keys and an “electro sax” intertwined and played off each other, matching the game’s mood beat for beat and making it even more entertaining to watch our intrepid player in real time. The band leaned fully into the concept with gaming elements in their outfits, staying relaxed and clearly enjoying themselves as the audience grew increasingly intrigued. It was The Underground doing what it does best: delivering new experiences and creating an instant sense of community around something unexpected. When our player finally won a prize, the crowd roared their approval.
Before the next number, the band introduced a more up tempo piece from the much loved Kirby game, with gameplay running in the background and the contrast between on screen action and live performance pulling the audience further in. At some point it clicks: these guys are actually creating original music for video games, and the quality of the writing and performance, plus the band’s obvious joy, locks the crowd in. Watching the room, I was struck by how many people were smiling. The drummer’s flourishes around the kit, steady groove, off beat cymbal work and nimble rolls kept everything driving forward, while the electro sax style lead added a playful, futuristic edge. A later piece from the Zelda series – jokingly introduced with a warning it might trigger a T storm – sat in a tight funk groove that synced perfectly with the visuals, the infectious riff over bass and chords helping to transport the audience straight into the game world. By the end of their set, the band’s concept, musicianship and sheer fun had completely won the room over.
-Shaun @BRG
