J-pop sensation LiSA performed as part of Crunchyroll’s two-day concert series at San Diego Comic Con (SDCC) 2024. Crunchyroll held a free two-night concert series for Comic Con badge holders, but diehard fans stood in the aisles beside the venue to hear her. Coming fresh off her LiVE is Smile Always ASiA TOUR less than a week prior, the singer-songwriter showed no signs of weariness. This marks over 12 years since she first performed in North America at Anime Expo 2012, and nine years since her last performance at Anime Boston 2015. Those who managed to watch her concert were in for a night of anisong hits.
Donning a red plaid punk styled dress, LiSA came onstage ready to go for her first song, “Shouted Serenade.” The opening for The Irregular at Magic High School Season 3 got everyone on their feet as they excitedly greeted the star. Moving on to her next song, “oath sign,” was like a homecoming since she sang the song at her debut U.S. concert in Southern California.
Engaging with the crowd, LiSA spoke directly to fans in English. She asked if they knew her or her songs, which the answer was a resounding yes. Even people who couldn’t get into the venue watched the festivities from the sideway walk paths adjacent to the Rady Shell. Amping up the energy with the announcement of a full setlist of anime songs, LiSA took a trip down memory lane with My Hero Academia Season 2’s second ending song, “Datte Atashi no Hero.”
Taking a quick break from her anisong discography, the singer prepped fans for her crowd-pleasing track, “WiLD CANDY.” The song requires a bit of choreography with either arm, light sticks, or anything in your hand. She wanted the audience to get it right and spent 10 minutes teaching the crowd how to swing their arms to each beat. Playfully displeased at the results, she ended up pitting two sides of the venue against each other to hasten the process. Team A took the victory, but everyone worked together to show LiSA that their hard work paid off.
Leaving the stage for a quick costume change, the keyboardist played an interlude to pass time. Once the notes to “Akeboshi” began to play, the singer came back on stage in a shining studded white kimono. As she placed her wagasa (Japanese paper umbrella) on the ground, she dove straight into her top-charting songs from Demon Slayer the Movie: Mugen Train. In a surprise turn of events, LiSA brought a gift: the live debut of her new song, “Black Box,” for NieR:Automata. One of LiSA’s strongest skills is her stage presence and the effort she puts into engaging with the crowd. After finishing, she asked, “How did you like my new song?” She smiled brightly at the encouraging cheers and screams, which still beamed with the same energy from her first performance in the States.
Heading into the final songs of her setlist, LiSA changed into her next outfit onstage. It wouldn’t be a complete performance at Comic Con without a superhero song, so she brought out “REALiZE,” the Japanese theme song for Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse. But what brought the crowd to their knees was the long-awaited earworm, “Gurenge.” The perfect bookend to the main portion of the concert had LiSA, her entire band, and the audience singing in unison. Even when the song came to an end, fans cheered for an encore.
Returning to the stage one last time, LiSA first thanked her band: Yuko (Bass), Leono (Drums), Aki (Keyboard), and Iku-chan (Guitar). While they returned to their positions, she took out a guitar for an acoustic performance of “NEW ME,” a song off her latest album LANDER, and sang one of her most popular hits, “crossing field.” To close the show out, a firework show exploded in the background and LiSA left with a parting word: “Peace!”
LiSA’s concert film, LiVE is SMiLE ALWAYS -LANDER-, will play in select US and Canadian theaters starting on August 17, 2024.
Click on the photo below to view our photos from the concert:
Setlist:
- Shouted Serenade
- oath sign
- Datte Atashino Hero
- WiLD CANDY
- Akeboshi
- unlasting
- Homura
- Black Box
- REALiZE
- ADAMAS
- Rising Hope
- Gurenge
Encore
- NEW ME
- crossing field
