Live Report on “King Gnu Live House Tour 2025 GNU EDITION”

I went to the King Gnu fan club–exclusive tour, “King Gnu Live House Tour 2025 CLUB GNU EDITION”!

For this tour, King Gnu performed at Zepp venues in five cities: Osaka, Nagoya, Fukuoka, Tokyo, and Sapporo. The tour finale and an additional show were held at Tokyo Garden Theater.
I was incredibly lucky to win a ticket and attend the additional performance on April 9 at Tokyo Garden Theater! This venue, with a max capacity of about 8,000 people, was the largest on this tour. But compared to the massive stadiums and domes that King Gnu has played in recent years—venues that hold tens of thousands—it felt like an astonishingly intimate space. There was a real sense of unity among the performers and the audience, which created a very lively concert.

Personally, I’m the type who totally blanks on the setlist or song order as soon as the concert ends, so instead of trying to cover everything, I’ll focus on the moments that left the biggest impression on me. Based on posts from other fans on X (formerly Twitter), here’s what I believe the setlist looked like:

Then the curtains opened!
As the lights went down, the metallic sound of a pistol rang throughout the venue, and the King Gnu logo appeared on stage in glowing orange neon. What did they open with? None other than "):Ashura:("! That distinctive, game-like sound and the uptempo, high-energy performance instantly grabbed the audience’s attention and sent the entire venue into a frenzy.

“):Ashura:(” (PlayStation × King Gnu | Special Collaboration Movie)

Next came "Flash!!!" and "Sorrows", continuing the high-speed momentum. In no time, the room was fully charged with excitement, and a powerful atmosphere had taken hold. Then came "Anata wa Shinkirou" (You Are a Mirage), performed live for the first time in years! It was my first time hearing it live, and the performance was such a highlight that I honestly think it could become a regular in their future setlists.

“Anata wa Shinkirou” (Official MV)

After a brief MC by vocalist Iguchi, they performed their newest song, "Nekko" (Roots). The lyrics, melody, vocals, and instrumentation—all of it was tender and heartrending, evoking a deep, indescribable emotion. Following that, the mood shifted into a more relaxed tone with a string of ballad-style tracks: "Garasu Mado" (Glass Window), "The hole", and "Hitman", each one pulling the audience deeper in.

“Nekko” (Official MV)

Then came a full-band MC segment, and the next track began with an unfamiliar guitar phrase—what followed was "Bedtown". It featured a mellow arrangement reminiscent of "Catch!!!", a song from their Srv.Vinci band days, and it really resonated with me. The toy piano in the song is also a memorable and charming touch.
Next up was a fan-favorite from their indie era, "McDonald Romance". The crowd and band joined together in a powerful singalong during the line, “Mou saifu no soko wa miete shimatta kedo, sore sae mo waraiaeta, sore sae mo koi datta” ("I could already see the bottom of my wallet, but we could even laugh about that together, even that was love.").
"Prayer X" followed next, where once again the audience sang the chorus in unison. The collective singing created a strong sense of unity, wrapping the venue in warmth and connection.

"McDonald Romance" (Official MV)

As the concert entered its final stretch, "Tokyo Rendez-Vous" and "SPECIALZ"—both live favorites and high-energy tracks—fired up the crowd even more. Then for the finale, they performed "Hikoutei" (Flying Boat). During the final chorus, the audience erupted into a massive singalong, and a thunderous explosion went off from the stage along with a blast of smoke. The sheer impact of the moment sent the energy in the venue soaring to its peak—total excitement.

Fueled by that breathtaking performance, the audience was still buzzing, and almost immediately after the band left the stage, chants of “Encore!” rang out, accompanied by rhythmic clapping.
Before long, the members reappeared, and the first encore song was "Ichizu" (Devoted). The crowd’s energy shot up once again. Following that was "Low Love", and then came the final two songs: "SUNNY SIDE UP" and "Ame Sansan" (Radiant Rain). The entire crowd raised their hands and swayed to the music, singing along together. It was a heartwarming and emotional conclusion that was refreshing, uplifting, and deeply moving.

"Ame Sansan" (Official MV)

This special time shared between King Gnu and their fans was filled with a deep sense of unity, and I was able to fully enjoy every aspect of their performance. It was a live show that reminded me once again just how incredible King Gnu is—and made me even more determined to keep supporting them in the future. I’m really looking forward to their continued creative activities!

Hoping I’ll be able to attend their next live show as well. I’ll keep King Gnu as my motivation and do my best at work from here on out!

Bonus

Here’s a quick look at some of the King Gnu signature gear currently available at Sound House!

FENDER / Deluxe Jazz Bass V Kazuki Arai Edition Rosewood FB Black

This is the signature model of Kazuki Arai, bassist for King Gnu and millennium parade. Originally released in 2021 as a limited edition, the bass has now been updated with more accessible specs and added to Fender’s regular product lineup. It’s equipped with Ultra Noiseless Vintage pickups and a modern preamp, maintaining the playability and sound quality of the original model.

LERNI / H-142SY King Gnu Yuu Seki Model

This is the signature drumstick model of Yuu Seki, drummer for King Gnu, from the brand LERNI. From the tip shape to the taper and weight balance, every detail is designed to match his unique playing style. The result is a stick that allows for both delicate and dynamic sound expressions.