Concert Review: Ellegarden, KOKO, London, U.K.

Chris Griffiths
4 days ago
3 min read

The Sonic Bridges Tour doesn’t mess about — and while Feeder may have been a familiar face on home turf, it was Japanese rock powerhouse Ellegarden who came armed with something to prove: that twenty-odd years into their career, they’ve earned their place on a London stage.

This was no mere opening slot — it was a true co-headliner affair. From the moment they walked out under KOKO’s sweeping arches, it was clear Ellegarden weren’t here to play second fiddle. In fact, if the sea of co-branded Ellegarden/Feeder T-shirts was anything to go by, a huge chunk of the crowd had come especially to see them. And they brought the noise.

For the uninitiated, Ellegarden formed in Chiba in 1998 and quickly rose to fame in Japan’s underground punk and alt-rock scenes, gaining a devoted following with their high-octane melodies, heartfelt lyrics, and the distinctive, earnest vocals of Takeshi Hosomi. Though their music is often sung in English, this was their first ever show on UK soil — a long-awaited debut that clearly meant a lot to both the band and the fans who packed out the front rows.

They wasted no time in stamping their sound onto the evening. Opening with Breathing, the band locked in tight and hit hard. Their mix of crunchy, emotive punk and anthemic rock immediately drew cheers, and if there was any nervousness about playing to a UK crowd for the first time, it didn’t show. Salamander and Cheesecake Factory followed in quick succession — frenetic, melodic, and just unrelentingly fun.

What struck most was how cohesive they sounded — Hosomi’s voice rich and passionate, trading beautifully off Shinichi Ubukata’s sharp, expressive guitar work. Yuichi Takada held things down on bass with cool assurance, while Hirotaka Takahashi thundered away behind the kit, unflinching and precise.

Mountain Top and Fire Cracker brought an almost cinematic energy — huge choruses, towering instrumentals — while Space Sonic, a fan favourite, turned into a communal shout-along, even for those who hadn’t known the lyrics an hour before. Sliding Door and The Autumn Song showed their gentler side, full of aching hooks and heartfelt delivery, with the latter drifting in like the breeze through a late September window.

But it wasn’t just the music that won the room. The band’s sheer joy at being there was infectious. Between songs, Hosomi spoke with quiet reverence about finally playing in London, calling it a "dream come true." You got the sense that, for them, this wasn’t just another tour stop — it was a proper milestone.

As the set barrelled towards its climax — Marry Me, Strawberry Margarita, and the punchy, hook-laden Jitterbug — the crowd matched them step for step. There were smiles all around. Arms aloft. Even a few tears near the front. By the time Make A Wish and Supernova closed the set, KOKO was in full lift-off. It was pure, cathartic release.

A highlight? Impossible to name just one. But hearing hundreds of British voices belting out Supernova — a song released nearly two decades ago, halfway across the world — felt like something genuinely special.

For Ellegarden, this was more than a gig. It was a long-awaited arrival — and by the look on their faces as they took their final bow, they’ll be back. Next time, expect even bigger rooms.