On Sept. 12, Singapore-based indie rock and pop band Sobs performed at The Wiltern, supporting chiptune-based pop and rock band Anamanaguchi for their sixth night as part of their “The Buckwild Tour.” Having last toured in the United States in 2023, Sobs kickstarted their second U.S. appearance in Seattle, and opened for Anamanaguchi for the rest of their West Coast shows.
While Sobs was the supporting band, this wasn’t to say that there weren’t any fans amongst the crowd. In fact, many concert-goers sported older Sobs merchandise and t-shirts, already clutching the re-pressed records and cassettes that were being sold at the merchandise table.
Shortly after 8 p.m., the lights dimmed and Anamanaguchi started the night off with “Scott Pilgrim Anthem,” the first song in the original soundtrack for “Scott Pilgrim vs. The World: The Game,” which they entirely composed.
Anamanaguchi is composed of four members: songwriters and guitarists Peter Berkman and Ary Warnaar, bassist James DeVito and drummer Luke Silas. This marked the sixth night of the New York City-based band’s “The Buckwild Tour.” They are also known for writing and producing “Miku,” which features the Vocaloid artist Hatsune Miku — a software that features a digital character with a voice bank, with which artists and producers can use and program such that Hatsune Miku appears to “sing” a song.
Filling the interior with punchy and electronic melodies, the crowd moved and bopped their heads in time with Anamanaguchi’s fast tempos, with every beat drop or melody change stirring excited cheers. As the band closed their first set to welcome Sobs onto the stage, the crowd was buzzing with energy.
If Anamanaguchi’s opening set was a spark for the crowd, Sobs’ presence kept that flame burning. Opening with the bubbly guitar chords of “Air Guitar,” the title track of their 2022 album, Celine Autumn’s airy voice rang out amongst the eager, cheering crowd.
Hailing from Singapore, Sobs initially formed as a three-part band: Celine Autumn, Jared Lim and Raphael Ong. Lim is also a part of multiple other bands in Singapore, such as Subsonic Eye and Blush, who had also recently kicked off their U.S. tour in August.
Led with bright guitars and full upbeat instrumentals, Sobs’ music teeters with the fizz of indie pop, balanced with cherry-sweet vocals. Their lyrics are tinted with melancholy and unresolved questions.
Many tracks performed this night were from their latest album “Air Guitar,” with songs that reflect on relationships that should have ended earlier, thinking endlessly about a first kiss or even lamenting about an emotionally unavailable lover.
Transitioning seamlessly from the fading synths of “Lucked Out,” “Friday Night” shares the album’s bouncy, electric atmosphere, interwoven with chiming synth melodies. Autumn embraced The Wiltern’s expansive stage — she did not just perform their music; she embodied it. The ending of “Friday Night” built up to a kaleidoscope of fast-paced beats and electronic melodies, which is also reflected in the song’s music video.
Sobs closed their set with “Waiting Tables,” a new, unreleased song with a warmer, more down-to-earth groove, while still maintaining a catchy indie-rock essence. Anamanaguchi took to the stage once more, performing a handful of songs from their “Anyway” album, a yet-to-be-released song from an upcoming Scott Pilgrim game and “Miku,” where the crowd easily matched Hatsune Miku’s vocals amidst the iconic shade of teal that the Vocaloid is associated with. As they closed the night with their encore songs, Celine Autumn graced the stage once more to perform Anamanaguchi’s “On My Own” alongside the band.