BABYMETAL delivered a striking performance at Vibrant Music Hall in Waukee for their 2024 world tour on Wednesday, Nov. 27. Best known for exemplifying the “kawaii metal” genre, the Japanese group mixes idol pop vocals, highly choreographed dances and heavy metal instrumentation. The band consists of three vocalists: Su-metal, Moametal and Momometal. At their live performances, the three are backed by masked session musicians known collectively as the “Kami Band.”
The show began with a slow buildup and a Star Wars-themed scroll: “A long time ago in a heavy metal galaxy far, far away…” ending with “Are you ready to headbang?!” to which the crowd exploded with a roar. “Now is the time for the Metalverse with BABYMETAL!”
And off we went!
With a capacity of 2,500 at Vibrant Music Hall, loyal BABYMETAL fans were treated to a relatively intimate show compared to their large arena performances in Japan.
When an international act performs in our humble flyover state, it’s easy to wonder, “Why Iowa?” While I do not know the answer to this question, the crowd included fans journeying from nearby states and other countries. Many wore BABYMETAL merch, while others rocked Harajuku fashion trends.
Su-metal, Moametal and Momometal brought an infectious joy to the stage. Their powerful vocals cut through the aggressive, chugging guitar riffs and the blasting intensity of the drums. Behind them, the screen highlighted moments of the live performance interspersed with prerecorded video to accompany the music.
Partway through the set, spotlights shined on each Kami Band member as they executed their solos, demonstrating their skills on their respective instruments. As someone easily mesmerized by instrumentation, I felt frustrated that the Kami Band was relegated to the back of the stage. BABYMETAL relies on the skills of these session musicians, and I wish they had been acknowledged more throughout the set.
The performance of “Monochrome” stuck with me the most. After Su-metal said, “Let’s bring some light to the darkness,” fans turned on their phones’ flashlights and directed them to the stage. The crowd became a sea of light, with Su-metal remarking that they looked like stars. Although this moment is common for a BABYMETAL performance, it felt powerful to experience firsthand.
BABYMETAL ended their set with “Gimme Chocolate!!” the song they performed for their U.S. television debut on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert in 2016. “Gimme Chocolate!!” is one of their most popular songs and helped the group rise to fame.
After his hit, the group returned to the stage to perform not one but two songs for their encore.
Between the strength of the group’s stage presence and the crowd’s contagious delight, BABYMETAL gave a memorable performance. They are a phenomenon worth experiencing live. Heavy metal and J-pop fans would be remiss not to catch them on a future U.S. tour.
