JILUKA LIVE!! with MIURA AYME and TWIST OFF at SINWAVE LV

The JILUKA show was a surprise to me when I saw it announced, and it would be at my favorite small venue, SINWAVE. This show was the official afterparty of the Las Vegas Anime Convention, and was in such demand that fans started lining up at 12 noon for the 7:30 pm door time, and after opening the doors people standing wall to wall. We were one of the first in the venue and secured our spot at the stage, and once in, we knew there was no leaving - we were packed in that tight.

Kicking off the show was Vegas locals TWIST OFF, and was an odd pairing for this show - with two Japanese acts playing their first US shows, one pop metal and the other extreme metalcore, it was a contrast to have this American party band in the mix. Twist Off is a punk, rock, hardcore influenced, and the type of band that know how to work a room, and had to work their asses off to win over this out of town anime crowd, but they made it happen. They had a great time, the crowd loved them so it was a win-win with them on the bill. Check out Twist Off HERE.

MIURA AYME was the direct support for Jilkura, and is a Japanese Visual Kei performer (formerly vocalist of Ecthelion) and sings to pre recorded tracks. I talked with a younger girl who was so excited to see him perform and told me this was his very first US performance!

Miura is a solo artist and composes all his own music, is a voice actor, and is also the voice of several video games. His style is cosplay / anime with a very feminine look in outfits and makeup and has a pop metal sound, K-pop with a kick. he did his best to communicate with the crowd, although spoke very little english, but the crowd LOVED him and could not get enough. A great performer to lead into the headliner Jiluka.

I could not believe that JILUKA was going to perform at SINWAVE - this would be their biggest drawing show for the club, and on a Sunday night to boot. I was so excited to see this band live, especially in a small club and up close.

JILUKA is a Japanese visual kei metal, feminine all male group formed in 2013, and record under their own label. The look almost inanimate, like doll characters, and I read that they have embraced anima so much that even they are not sure of who they really are. The band came out one by one to the stage, waving and posing for the screaming fans as they took their positions, dressed in metal leather and anime inspired outfits and makeup, vocalist Ricko yelling at the crowd, “Las Vegas, are you fucking ready?” as they launched into “Savage”. There is not a weak link in this four piece band, with Ricko out front, Boogie on bass guitar, Zyean on drums and who I consider the best new guitarist I have seen in years -Sena on guitars, who just totally blew me away. Zyean performed a drum solo unlike any I had seen before, and by that I mean it was a work of art. The whole band was just so good, and are seriously talented musicians, as well as playing the anime stage show to a T.

The members stood on risers off and on while performing, and Sena not only played unbelievable guitar but would give the crowd different poses after each song, driving the crowd crazy. The energy level was insane, and there were fans there that even come from across the country for the Anime convention and the Julika show, and it was a WILD time. During the middle of the set Ricko told the crowd he wanted them to split down the middle and move back towards the walls, and on his command release the 'wall of death'. This was not easy to pull off - there was really little room since the place was packed, but somehow they pulled it off.

Jiluka played a legthy 75 minute set, with encore, and left the crowd in SInwave exhausted but elated. The show was just incredible, and Jiluka really made an impact in Vegas. JILUKA hit the road in 2025 for their first full US tour as they join IMMINENCE and LANDMVRKS as part of The Return Of the Black tour, that will hit up to 22 cities next spring.