LIVE REPORT ~ BACK-ON: November 17 2007
Anime USA Arlington, VA
Con-goers and fans quickly filtered into the main ballroom when Anime USA’s staff finally opened the doors for the Back-On concert. After a full day of activity, some people wondered if they might be too tired for a concert—but not for long. Anticipation grew as the ballroom filled.
After a short announcement from Jesse, director of guest relations, the audience’s anticipation reached a feverish pitch as the lights died and the air filled with sound. One by one, the members of Back-On took the stage: Icchan on drums, Gori on bass, Shu on guitar, and Kenji03 on vocals and guitar. And finally, Teeda, MC, swaggered onto the stage, owning it with visible confidence.
As Back-On launched into their first song, New World, the audience’s reaction was immediate: any fatigue was forgotten
as we were swept up in the band’s energy. Even those hearing Back-On’s music for the first time couldn’t escape the band’s grasp as they threw themselves into the audience and the music with a reckless abandon. And we returned the favor by dancing, pumping our fists, and even a little headbanging from the really zealous.
For the MCs, Teeda spoke to the audience as though we were all becoming close friends, telling us the ideas behind Back-On’s songs as though confiding in us a well-guarded secret. Even with something so simple as a song about driving, Drive, it almost seemed like we were hearing something from Back-On’s heart. And watching them perform on stage, that was exactly what it was: a look into the hearts of five young men who just happened to be successful musicians.
The already energetic and excited audience really exploded when Back-On played the opening theme for Air Gear, Chain. Music and anime fans alike were familiar with the song, and voices strained to help Teeda and Kenji03 
with the lyrics. But before we knew it, Chan was at its end, and Back-On left the stage. Immediately, everyone began crying out for an encore, and after a short break, Back-On obliged.
For three more songs, Back-On connected with the audience, starting with the catchy Flydom and ending with Kodou. With the final notes just dying in the air, we broke apart again, everyone becoming their own person again, instead of a part of a whole being, glued together by music. The band threw guitar picks and drumsticks into the crowd, and finally left the stage for good, effectively saying good bye.
Going into the concert, I had been a little skeptical; as a person who’s not fond of a rap/rock/pop music style, I wasn’t sure if I’d be able to enjoy the show. But Back-On blew me away with their performance. With such power and charisma, it was impossible to not be swept up into the music. Sometimes, bands win their fans through their studio-recorded music, and sometimes, they win them through their live music. Back-On won this fan over with their live music.
set list
-Opening-
New World
Eyes
-MC-
Butterfly
Zero
-MC-
Drive
-MC-
Flower
Hikari Sasuhou
Blazeline
Chain
Encore
Flydom
Gaku-Ten
Koudou
report by Melony; photos by Carroll Kong
Thank you to AVEX and Anime USA for making this possible.
links
Back-On Official Website
Back-On Official MySpace
Download Back-On's music on iTunes
Back-On Interview: Anime USA 2007
Anime USA
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