1st Time Reaction! Band Maid - Onset (Live) 

If you liked Band-Maid's instrumentals, I also recommend T-Square and Prism, two Japanese rock-flavored jazz/fusion groups that I love just as much as Band-Maid.

They don't overdo it to show off their skills. They always play perfectly at 80% of their power. However, their skills improve every year, so the range of expression in their performance has improved dramatically. Miku-chan, who could barely play the guitar, has grown in particular. Now, BAND-MAID's sound wouldn't exist without her.

Misa's famous pick-to-slap move!

Band-Maid always brings an ONSET of love, appreciation and happiness to their viewers. Why? Because they're so damn good -- good-natured, good-hearted, good-looking, and beyond good as writers, players and performers. Wow, right?! Thx, RM/WP!

Onset has only been released in audio format as a bonus disc packaged with the 2 disc pack of the Glory & Bubble singles. It's not available on streaming services either.

Completely agree with you about hi-hats. Akane usually gets comments about her double kick work but the stuff she does with the cymbals - especially when Kanami and Misa have their back and forths - is always so tasteful.

Thanks for the continued reactions and comments. These ladies are FIRE!!!!! I highly recommend the live version of Moratorium or Real Existence next. Cheers.

"Not too show offie " . I think that's the perfect way to describe much of Kanami's composing. Outside of the occasional bass and guitar battles and a handful of instrumentals, most of Kanami's songs have these short solos and drum fills that have you craving more. Thanks for reacting to one of my very favorite Band-Maid songs.

If you are drum guy, check out "Freedom" Official Live

"Onset" is one of saiki's pee-break titles along with "Don't Be Long", "No Holding Back", the short "Hard Wash" & for the guys "Go Nuts" :)

From Now On and Without Holding Back are good intramentals too. Band-Maid is awesome 🤘

@3:05 Just how badass is Misa looking at that pause point? That is a perfect background/screenshot image.

This one is a great way to hear their Band Maid “things” like the varied and expanded playing in their second verses. Or their commitment to balance, featuring each member and never for ego. The Maids agree with you wanting to open a concert with an instrumental. They chose “From Now On” for the festivals where the audience is unfamiliar with their music. Kinda makes a statement. Thanks for sharing your song list!! I’m the preeminent expert in the world (probably) for Band Maid recommendations. “Without Holding Back” is a different instrumental “Rinne,” is their heaviest metal, still catchy but unexpectedly so “Manners” is funk rock, 2000’s pop/funk blended with classic rock sound But for you? A drummer? Your ears and analysis would be put to good use by hearing “Wonderland,” official live. Why? 1) It’s Band Maid doing what I call “cinematic rock,” a new genre for you to experience from them 2) Akane relies on her hi-hats for the verses (you like those) 3) Akane’s drumming in this song is almost like storytelling. 4) Despite being a beautifully written vocal highlight song, she still pounds those double kicks 5) The fills @2:46 and 2:52 ❤

Thank you for checking out my favourite instrumental by them. It's tasteful, with touch of prog and jazz. I know it's nowhere near technical as their recent compositions but, so tasty and love the way Kanami's coming in after Misa's bass solo and Akane's tasty fill before the last chorus. ❤

Enjoyed your reaction.. thank you..! My favorite parts of this song are how easily they transition from 4/4 to 5/4 and back, and MISA's disappearing pick trick at 2:30.. these young ladies are just so awesome..!

pjl wuz here and enjoyed the Time... #BandMaid #MisaMisaMisa

Their instrumentals are usually played later in the set list to give Saiki a break. Although now, after the surgery and her current vocal training, her voice really doesn't need the rest as it used to. They have opened shorter set list, like at festivals, where they only play 30 mins to and hour, with the instrumental "From Now On". Which makes sense, as normally play straight through and there isn't a "break time", usually the 3rd MC, like their normal 2 hour shows. PO!🕊 🤘😆🤘

This was written as a way to give Saiki a vocal break. It was never released on an album, but was released with the single releases. There is a third guitar in the backing track in addition to some keyboards, but they are lower in the mix. When they perform it live currently they may or may not have the keyboards, but they removed the third guitar. It still sounds good though. And they sound you mention may be from Kanami's delay pedal. And this is I think the only song currently in their list where Kanami uses the tremolo bar on her guitar. And she doesn't always use it. I've seen live performances where she does use the trem, and live performances where she doesn't. I think it's setlist specific, since when they tour Kanami usually only has her main guitar and her backup. One the big concerts however she and the other Ladies will have their other guitars. Such as during Yokohama, Kanami used 3 guitars not including her acoustic, Miku used 3 including her acoustic, and MISA used 4 different basses. For their Tokyo Garden Theater performance, Kanami used 2 guitars, Miku 2 and MISA 2. For their Line Cube Shibuya performance, Miku used 4, Kanami 3, 4 with her acoustic, that was cut out of the DVD/BluRay, and MISA 2. I still haven't been able to totally ID all of Miku's guitars from Zepp Tokyo, I "THINK" she used 4, while Kanami used 3 plus her acoustic, and MISA either just 1 or 1 and her backup are identical in color.

Agreed, and at least in part because Akane is such a powerful drummer a number of her subtleties when playing can be " overlooked" such as her amazing hi-hat and cymbal work, cheers 👍🍻

Hi Luke! First off, remember there's a second guitarist in there. But, you're not crazy, likely the sound you were hearing is the third guitar track which is played as a backing track. As a composer sometimes Kanami is just like... I have only two arms... gotta add parts on backing tracks, because we NEED MOAR SOUNDS! While I don't believe they've ever kicked off a show with Onset, they have often recently started off shows with their From Now On instrumental, so, yeah, making that an introduction that shows off the musicianship immediately before dropping in vocals as you surmise does make sense. They also used to have an instrumental that they would play over the PA as they took the stage called The Maid Waltz (which took a few different forms I hear, some of them creepy). A technique a lot of bands use (Rush for a long time used the "Three Blind Mice" intro from Three Stooges shorts as their way to announce their arrival on stage). Instrumentals are just a sign of depth and maturity for a band, and more bands should have them. Yeah, they're good for giving the singer a rest, but they're also just great when composed well. Sometimes adding vocals is less, not more. See their song Play (live) for a case where they intended to make a song an instrumental, but the Ice Queen decided she wanted to participate and got vocals added.

Kanami puts whatever can't be played on stage into the backing tracks, so maybe. Could be a doubled voice or instrument, or a synth or a gong. Sometimes it's a piano or stings or horns. Or it may just be a delay or harmonizer pedal. You never know with BAND-MAID. One thin they always play for the song.Sometimes they do extended Call & Response solo, but even those are tastefully done. But they aren't Noodle Meisters. *cough* LOVEBITES!

Well done good sir!

🕊️

Band Maid! 🍺😁

"From now on " 🙂

The "effect" you are probably hearing in the 2nd verse is Miku's rhythm guitar piece which is louder in the 2nd verse.

Judging by view counts, this could definitely "devolve" into a Band Maid v. Babymetal channel. As it happens, the bands share a lot of fans, particularly as they are not in direct competition with each other, their styles/format preclude that. You'll still get some "my band is better than your band" folks, that's inevitable -- thinking Beatles v. Rolling Stones... heck... Beethoven v. Mozart. One thing is, we Babymetal and Band Maid fans love us some reactors. More from both, please. Subbed. P.S. Nice to see a Celtic Frost reaction, was joking about the Band Maid + Babymetal "devolution," mostly.

They have used instrumental From Now On to start festivals (it's also the first track on its album), but Onset has never been an opener. In a normal show there is one or possibly two instrumentals towards the middle of the set to give the vocalist a break.

The sound was another guitar over the top of the lead. It’ happens a couple other times as well. Different pattern but still on top of lead.

Good job!!

That’s Miku’s rhythm guitar your hearing.

🤘🤘

"Play" Live... next please...

Rinne (Reincarnation) is def better as MV than that shortened TV appearance