HANABIE (A Parent’s Perspective) SHOW REVIEW!

4 hours ago
4 min read

Synonymous with punk rock and the entire pop-punk movement, Descendents are pioneers of their craft. The band, over nearly half a century old as a band, still puts out music and plays for the masses.

You can't mention pop-punk and punk rock influences without throwing the Descendents name in the mix. The band helped craft the pop-punk scene, giving influence to such bands as blink-182, New Found Glory, Green Day, The Offspring, and more. Their melodic hardcore sound, coupled with songs about girls, food, school, and work give them their relatable lyrics and unforgettable melodies.

Friday, March 20th, 2026, HANABIE, along with NEKROGOBLIKON, rocked The Roxian Theatre in McKees Rocks PA, just outside of Pittsburgh, or as Nekrogoblikon called it "Almost Pittsburgh" for their North American tour along with ENTERPRISE EARTH. The show for sure was going to be an interesting one, to say the least, with ENTERPRISE EARTH's straight-forward hardcore/metal sound, the theatrical metal antics of NEKROGOBLIKON, and the feeling that you just stepped into a real-life anime about metal music with HANABIE, it was a convergence of extremes. Deathcore diehards, cosplay-clad fans, and curious newcomers all packed in early to catch a genre-defying bill that somehow made perfect sense.

Opening duties fell to Enterprise Earth, who wasted no time setting a punishing tone, "blasted" their way through a set that was a barrage of precision and brutality, downtuned riffs, relentless blast beats, and cavernous growls that rattled the room. The crowd, still filing in just minutes earlier, quickly surged forward, starting mosh pits and crowdsurfing, when by the time their closing breakdown hit, the pit had fully awakened with Enterprise Earth being their "morning exercise".

If Enterprise Earth built the foundation, Nekrogoblikon detonated it with a set that blurred the line between metal show and theatrical fever dream. The crowd was already roaring before the band took stage when a giant 12 foot goblin head was erected on stage. They burst onto the stage with “Show Me Your Goblin,” immediately summoning the crowd into their strange, goblin-governed universe. The band’s mascot prowled the stage as the pit erupted with equal parts chaos and comedy. “The Many Faces of Dr. Hubert Malbec” followed with surgical precision, its shifting riffs matched by the crowd’s unpredictable energy.

“Darkness” and “Dressed as Goblins” leaned into the band’s dual identity, it was musically tight and visually absurd with the audience participating with the band, shouting along and feeding off every exaggerated gesture from the stage. By the time “Bones” hit, the floor had become a swirling mass of limbs and laughter.

Mid-set, “This Is It” and “Fiend” kept the momentum relentless, with the band locking into a groove that balanced melody and aggression. Then came “Secret Elephant,” a track that perfectly encapsulated their off-kilter charm, ridiculous on paper, devastatingly effective in practice.

Closing with “Powercore,” Nekrogoblikon delivered a finale that felt both triumphant and tongue-in-cheek, like the ending to a crazy action comedy movie with goblins. It was the rare set where humor never undercut heaviness, instead, it amplified it. By the end, the crowd wasn’t just warmed up; they were fully invested in the night’s anything-goes spirit.

By the time HANABIE took the stage, the room was primed for something even more unpredictable, and they delivered a full sensory overload. My 13-year-old daughter was in attendance with me and was absolutely ecstatic as she had introduced me to HANABIE several months back, and this band being one of her favorite bands at the moment.

Launching straight into “NEET GAME,” HANABIE established their signature blend of chaos and control with razor-sharp metalcore riffs colliding with hyperpop flourishes and rapid-fire vocal switches. “SUNRISE Miso-SOUP” followed with explosive energy, its playful bounce masking an underlying heaviness that hit just as hard as anything earlier in the night. “Reiwa Matching-sedai” and “TOUSOU” kept the momentum high, the band moving seamlessly between aggression and infectious hooks, with the crowd mirroring that energy, flipping between synchronized jumping and full-on pit chaos with sing-a-longs in the mix.

Mid-set highlights came with “Kotoshi koso Gal~Shoka ver.~” and “ICONIC,” both of which showcased the band’s flair for blending idol-like charisma with crushing instrumentation. “Spicy Queen” ignited one of the night’s most intense pits, while “Watashitachi no 7kakan Sensou” had the entire room shouting along, even those unfamiliar with the lyrics. The back half of the set leaned even further into unpredictability. “O•TA•KU Lovely Densetsu” turned the venue into a neon fever dream, while “Tokimeki About you” brought a surprisingly emotional, almost euphoric shift. That contrast made the heavier punches of “Osaki ni Shitsurei Shimasu.” land even harder.

The last few closing tracks of the night, “Ware Amatou” and “L.C.G.” felt like a victory lap as they were also encores with every song tight, explosive, and brimming with confidence, given that these tracks were also fan favorites, or so my daughter has told me. By the final notes, the crowd was drenched, exhausted, and completely won over.

What made the night special, was mosty definitely experiencing this show with my daughter AvaLynn. She's a huge anime fan, and was absolutely stoked to see HANABIE live for the first time. The show wasn’t just the diversity of the lineup, it was how naturally it all fit together. From Enterprise Earth’s crushing weight to Nekrogoblikon’s theatrical absurdity and HANABIE’s genre-smashing brilliance, the show felt less like a traditional bill and more like a statement that heavy music has no boundaries anymore, and that’s exactly the point.

HANABIE didn’t just headline, they redefined what a headlining act in this scene can look and sound like.

You can check out a full list of tour dates, photo gallery from the show, and more below!