Hanabie | 170 Russell

Live Review

14 Nov

Hanabie, the self-described "Harajuku-core" band, made their long-awaited return to Australia for a headliner tour after their last appearance at Good Things Festival in 2023. When this show was announced at 170 Russell, featuring local Melbourne heavyweights The Gloom In The Corner, I knew I couldn’t miss the chance to see them again.

Doors opened at 7pm, giving fans time to pack in for the two-act show. By the time The Gloom In The Corner kicked off at 8pm, the room was already filled to the brim. I’ve seen Gloom countless times in my gig-going career, so I know how they like to start a show. Ever since Nickelback dropped the banger San Quentin, it’s been their pre-show anthem, signalling they’re about to hit the stage.

As San Quentin ended, the lights dimmed, and the members—vocalist Mikey Arthur, bassist Paul Musolino, guitarist Jesse Abdurazak, and their newest recruit, drummer Josh Clinch—took the stage, launching into From Heaven To Hell from their latest album, Trinity. The Gloom In The Corner holds a special place in my heart (I even have a tattoo dedicated to them), and they delivered on all fronts. Their stage presence was, as always, off the charts, and their live sound remains impressively true to their recordings.

A special treat for longtime fans came with Warfare, a track they hadn’t played in Melbourne for 3-4 years, followed by a surprise performance of their new track Assassination Run, announced with Mikey’s cheeky line, “Everything you heard 30 seconds ago was a f**king lie!” They closed with The Jericho Protocol, a heavy hitter and the perfect end to their set.

Next up was Hanabie, and although the room was already packed, the anticipation made it feel even more electric. As they took the stage one by one—drummer Chika, bassist Hettsu, guitarist Matsuri, and finally Yukina with her enthusiastic “HEY MELBOURNE!!!”—they kicked off with O-TA・KUラブリー伝説, with Yukina’s powerful scream instantly captivating the crowd.

Hanabie is a band dedicated to their craft, and it shows in everything from their wardrobe to their commanding stage presence. They’re the definition of 'never judge a book by its cover.' With their playful style, you might expect light-hearted fun, but their intense screams, complex riffs, and instrumental precision reveal a professionalism and skill that leaves a lasting impact. Along with mid-set wardrobe changes—like sporting fluffy koala headwear and Yukina’s pink glasses—they kept the crowd entertained with a quirky, engaging stage show.

Their crowd engagement was phenomenal. Midway through the set, Hettsu pulled a Heineken from the stage, taking a swig on behalf of the crowd, and Yukina started an “Aussie! Aussie! Aussie!” chant, which amped up the energy even more. They powered through tracks like 令和マッチング世代, NEET GAME, and We Love Sweets, but the standout was お先に失礼します。, a perfect introduction for newcomers, catching them off guard with its intensity.

As the last note faded, Hanabie gathered for a photo with the crowd, with Yukina saying a heartfelt “Arigatou.” It was a perfect close to one of the best gigs I’ve attended in a long time. Though it was a two-band lineup, the energy and excitement packed into 170 Russell made it feel like a full festival experience. If you haven’t listened to Hanabie yet, you’re truly missing out!