The long awaited return of Puffy AmiYumi to the United States finally came with the pop-rock-punk duo gracing fans with their presence at Los Angeles venue The Belasco, April 4, 2017. Despite it having been 10 years since their last live concert on these shores, as well as the last airing of their hit show "Hi Hi Puffy AmiYumi" on the Cartoon Network, the duo still have fans loyal to them and their music who showed up at The Belasco to rock out with the energetic singers.
[Cosplayer Laarnie Barcelon (@Rikachuuable) and friend came dressed as the cartoon counterparts of Ami and Yumi]
As the "NOT LAZY" tour title implies, their U.S. hiatus was not just a break as both members, Ami and Yumi, have been working tirelessly in Japan in order to make possible a return to this country.
In conjunction with their 20th anniversary, the pair played many of their best hits including "PAFFIPIPOYAMA", "Asia no Junshin", "Nagisa ni Matsuwaru, Etc" and "Korega Watashi no Ikiru Michi", tracks which feature on their latest album, "Hidatsuryokuha Sengen".
However, U.S. fans best know Puffy AmiYumi for their theme song on the wildly popular show, "TEEN TITANS," a series that resonated with multiple generations as shown in The Belasco crowd which seemed to span all ages. Everyone present in the audience took a hit of heavy nostalgia when the duo played THAT song. Of course, the show couldn't have proceeded without a performance of their own show's theme song, "Hi! Hi! Puffy AmiYumi Show," the insanely catchy opening tune to the sorely missed cartoon.
At the end of the show, Ami thanked fans for waiting so patiently and Yumi promised their next live show will happen a lot sooner. However, dedicated fans were still able to catch Puffy AmiYumi at shows in San Francisco, CA and Dallas, Texas.
All photos by the author.
PUFFY: Official Website
Setlist
M1. PAFFIPIPOYAMA
M2. Call Me What You Like
M3. Love So Pure
M4. TEEN TITANS THEME
M5. JOINING A FUN CLUB
M6. UREI
M7. Asia No Junshin/True Asia
M8. Your Love is A Drug
M9. Ai no Shirushi
M10. All Because Of You
M11. Umi Eto/Into the Beach
M12. Jet Keisatsu/Jet Police
M13. DOKI DOKI
M14. Hi Hi Puffy AmiYumi Show Theme
M15. Akai Buranko/Red Swing
M16. Darekaga
M17. Nagisa ni Matsuwaru Et Cetera/Electric Beach Fever
M18. Radio Tokyo
EN. Korega Watashi no Ikiru Michi