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Sunday, 08 September 2019 03:55

MAN WITH A MISSION Kicks Off North American Tour in San Francisco

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On September 6, MAN WITH A MISSION kicked off the North American leg of their 2019 tour at San Francisco’s Great American Music Hall. The Japanese wolf band made their return with their first solo independent tour in five years. They will travel across the United States before making their way to Mexico and ending the tour in Canada. The tour is titled “Chasing the Horizon” which is also the name of their most recent album. 

Photos: Daisuke Sakai (Instagram @imdaisukesakai)

Photo by Daisuke Sakai

If you’re unfamiliar with the band, the official backstory is that the wolves were created in the 1900s while the Earth was engulfed in war by Dr. Jimi.  They participated in some of the most secret operations known to man before Dr. Jimi had them encased in ice. In 2010 thanks to global warming, they were woken from their slumber and have become the band you see today.

Originally hailing from Japan, they have now reached out to many countries around the world. The band members are Tokyo Tanaka (vocals), Jean-Ken Johnny (guitar, vocals, rap), Kamikaze Boy (bass, chorus), Spear Rib (drums), and DJ Santa Monica (DJ, sampling). They are always learning human language and we are lucky to have Jean-Ken Johnny master both Japanese and English so he can translate what the others are saying. 

The setlist consisted of 16 songs including solos featuring Spear Rib and DJ Santa Monica plus an acoustic version of “Chasing the Horizon” sung by Jean-Ken Johnny. They incorporated many of their rock songs such as “Emotions” and “FLY AGAIN 2019.” Something that really got the crowd going was when they sang a cover of “Smells Like Teen Spirit” by Nirvana.  I had expected them to sing some of their recently announced songs like “Dark Crow,” which will be the opening for season two of Vinland Saga, or “Remember Me,” which came out in June, but that was not to be.  

The band ended the concert with two songs, “Seven Deadly Sins,” the opening of Nanatsu no Taizai, and “Raise your flag,” the opening of Mobile Suit Gundam IRON-BLOODED ORPHANS.  Anime is one of the contributing factors in their popularity and the fans’ energy brought the place down with many singing along with the band. 

Photo by Daisuke Sakai

I personally enjoyed the fact they played video from the Japanese leg of the Chasing the Horizon tour. The video is a short introduction to their concerts from the past as well as short shots of the members themselves. This helps the audience, some of who have never seen the band before, remember the wolves' faces. 

The venue was fairly small but that did not stop the audience from enjoying the concert. Some were on the second floor where they enjoyed food and drinks while watching the band from above. They also had a bar where fans could grab a beer or drink as well. At the end of the show, the lights turned on and the band allowed fans to take out of their cameras and phones for photos. That ended things for the night but it was just the beginning of the tour. 

For the Mexican fans, the band will make their first appearance in Mexico City before making their way to Canada.  No matter where you might be, you will not be disappointed and I highly recommend checking out their show.

 


Photo by Daisuke Sakai

Setlist

2045

Broken People

database

Hey Now 

Get Off of My Way

Left Alive

Emotions

-Instru- (Spear Rib and DJ Santa Monica)

Chasing the Horizon (acoustic)

My Hero

Smells Like Teen Spirit

FLY AGAIN 2019

Winding Road

Dead End in Tokyo

Take Me Under

-Encore-

Seven Deadly Sins

Raise your flag

 

MAN WITH A MISSION - Chasing the Horizon World Tour 2019 - North America

 

9/6 San Francisco, CA - Great American Music Hall

9/8 Los Angeles, CA - The Regent Theater

9/10 Dallas, TX - Canton Hall

9/13 Mexico City (MX) - Sala Puebla 

9/16 New York, NY - Gramercy Theater

9/18 Chicago, IL - House of Blues

9/21 Toronto, ON (CA) - Adelaide Hall

9/23 Vancouver, BC (CA) -The Imperia

For more information please visit https://www.mwamjapan.info

 

 

 

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Last modified on Thursday, 10 October 2019 11:58
Alysa McWilliams

No Music, No Life! The normal life of a Japanese-American girl.