Hanabie. will be making the rounds on another US tour for 2025. They've been going around the world at a frenetic pace, this time paired together with Kim Dracula as co-headliners. For most of the tour they will also be accompanied by the bands Kaonashi and fellow Japanese band Crystal Lake.

While they won't be playing in the Bay Area, they will be at Sacramento's Ace of Spades for the tour final. Sadly, Sacramento will be sans Crystal Lake, as they split off from Hanabie. to do their own thing for a few days. For those of you in southern California, make sure to check out their Anaheim date on April 5.

I first learned of Hanabie. on a drive back from Las Vegas when their song "Osaki Ni Shitsurei Shimasu" played thanks to the YouTube algorith. Honestly, I learn about a lot of music from YouTube autoplaying things. This is one of the songs that catapulted the band to international fame. For those of you who don't speak Japanese, "Osaki ni Shitsurei Shimasu" is something you say when you have to leave early, be it work, school, or otherwise. The video makes a lot more sense for those who are either ingrained in Japanese work culture or are familiar with it.

The group has taken up the mantle of "Harajuku-core" to describe themselves and their appearances. Musically, they're up in the metalcore and punk category. Hanabie. was formed in 2015 by Yukina, Matsuri, Hettsu, and (now ex-member) Kaede, who all attended the same school. Frontwoman Yukina swaps between harsh and clean vocals with guitarist Matsuri acting as a second vocalist and bassist Hettsu also providing backing vocals. Their current drummer is Chika, who joined in 2023. They are current signed with Epic Records Japan, which is part of the Sony Music umbrella.

The band's most recent studio album is 2023's Reborn Superstar! but they also released the mini-album Bucchigiri Tokyo in late 2024. EDIT: the group has just released the single "Oishii Survivor" as of March 6, just in time for the tour.

The tour begins on March 5 in Montreal, Canada, and winds its way east before heading towards Texas. It then goes west, ending on the coast. Spanning almost two dozen dates, this is a very respectable tour. A lot of Japanese musical acts have barely a quarter of these dates. You'll have plenty of opportunities to catch them as they travel the United States, so give them a shot, if you haven't already.  For those of you in America, enjoy it while you can, because oftentimes I've had to go to Japan to see bands.  Hanabie. coming so often is a treat that may not last forever.  

3/5 Montreal, QC (CA) - Mtelus
3/6 Toronto, ON (CA) - Danforth Music Hall
3/8 Minneapolis, MN - The Fillmore
3/11 Chicago, IL - House of Blues Chicago
3/12 McKees Rocks, PA - Roxian Theatre
3/14 Boston, MA - Big Night Live
3/15 New Haven, CT - Toad's Place
3/16 Huntington, NY - The Paramount
3/17 Silver Spring, MD - The Fillmore
3/19 Norfolk, VA - The Norva
3/20 Raleigh, NC - The Ritz
3/22 Orlando, FL - House of Blues Orlando
3/23 Atlanta, GA - Buckhead Theatre
3/25 Nashville, TN - Marathon Music Works
3/26 Saint Louis, MO - The Pageant
3/27 Oklahoma City, OK - Diamond Ballroom
3/29 Dallas, TX - House of Blues Dallas
3/30 Austin, TX - Emo's
4/2 Salt Lake City, UT - The Depot
4/3 Denver, CO - Summit Music Hall
4/5 Anaheim, CA - House of Blues Anaheim
4/6 Phoenix, AZ - The Van Buren
4/9 Seattle, WA - Neptune Theatre
4/10 Portland, OR - McMenamin's Crystal Ballroom
4/12 Sacramento, CA - Ace of Spades