SiM PLAYDEAD Tour Review: Japanese punks rocked out Glasgow's The Garage

SiM's promotional posters for their PLAYDEAD Tour. (Photo credits: AVO Magazine)

Is there a feeling better than going to a small gig and expecting a decent but average concert, only for your expectations to be blown out of the water? After seeing SiM live for their PLAYDEAD Tour, at Glasgow’s iconic venue The Garage, I know for a fact that the answer is a resounding no. For those of you who are unfamiliar with them, SiM is a Japanese alternative four-piece band that has been rocking increasingly international audiences since they first formed in 2004. Their style is pretty unique, clearly influenced by genres like heavy metal, reggae, alternative rock, J-rock, punk, ska and hip hop, which blend to create irreverent melodies that are perfectly matched by frontman’s MAH unruly and powerful vocals. The opening set, performed by Londonder alternative rap trio Frozemode, also perfectly matched SiM’s performance and had the crowd jumping before the main act had even started.

Frozemode for their latest Mixtape. (Photo credits: Kerrang!)

SiM made a name for themselves in Japan and eventually signed with Pony Canyon in 2022. They then released their smash hit “The Rumbling”, which became the opening theme for the final season of the highly anticipated anime Attack on Titan. This brought SiM to Western audiences’ attention, and the band has only gotten bigger since then. Considering the success of “The Rumbling”, I was not surprised to see tons of Attack on Titan merch (and even some cosplays!) among the crowd. It also did not surprise me that SiM left this monumental track to the very end so that more casual fans could pick up on other tracks they liked along the way. And there was so much to like!

Cover for SiM's PLAYDEAD album. (Photo credits: Genius)

As the crowd was catching its breath after Frozemode finished performing and joined us in the pit to welcome SiM together, the main act exploded into action onstage, immediately ripping into "KiSS OF DEATH"’s roaring introduction and reggae-inspired pre-chorus. From there, the electric energy in the room only crescendoed as the band played through the most popular tracks from their 2023 album “PLAYDEAD”. The crowd fed off the electricity in the air as feet thumped, bodies clashed against each other in the mosh pit, fists were raised and voices rose to match MAH’s as he led his bandmates through their setlist. Guitarist SHOW-HATE delivered incredible riffs, which were expertly accompanied by SIN on the bass and compounded with the capricious and spirited rhythm set by GODRi on drums. During “KiLLiNG ME”, the crowd could not get enough, our frenzy matching the incredible performance as MAH dominated the stage and danced with us, afterwards launching into the ska-heavy bridge and breakdown of “GUNSHOTS”. One of the most memorable moments of the whole concert was when he pulled out an actual metallic bat during “BASEBALL BAT” and pretended to thrash the stage, to the uproar of the crowd beneath his feet. But the highlight of the whole evening for me was, in fact, their performance of “The Rumbling”. The room vibrated with anticipation, and as SiM launched into the song, the crowd went wild. Without a doubt, their final song was the most widely awaited and gained all of the crowd’s attention. Once they were done, the crowd erupted into cheers and applause, and (a must for any gig held in Scotland) screamed for “One more song!”. The band regrettably did not play an encore, but it suffices to say that there was not a soul left disappointed in the entire building.

Overall, this gig was an unforgettable experience that has made me look forward to catching other non-mainstream acts when they visit Scotland. I could still feel the adrenaline that kicked in during the gig in the days following it, and I think that is the true measure of a good gig. Regardless of the quality or genre of the act itself (which is no issue here, as SiM’s music is a magic combination of many diverse styles delivered brilliantly), being in the crowd of a live music show never fails to move me, and SiM was no different. I cannot wait for them to come back to Glasgow, so that I may dance the night away once again to the eclectic genre combination that inspires SiM’s every beat, and I cannot recommend them enough.