2026.2.1 Hump Back × SCANDAL Live Report — A night that made me want to embrace the me inside myself
■ Introduction
On February 1, 2026, I went to see the joint concert between Hump Back and SCANDAL.
Both are bands I listened to and covered often during my high school and college years, and they have had a huge influence on my way of life and values.
I am writing down what I felt today after experiencing their music once again, as well as the memories I had tucked away deep in my heart.
■ Hump Back: Their very existence is a message
The way Momoko-san handles her guitar really feels like it's a part of her body. Is she singing? Is she talking? The line between them is so blurred.
Many people often say, "The lyrics are so good!" and receive that message, but I am reminded that the way they use sound, their performance, and the way they stand... their entire existence is a message.
"It's natural not to be able to see the future. Draw a line under things you can't do anything about by thinking, and just go for it with all your might!" For someone like me who tends to overthink things, that simple message resonated the most.
■ SCANDAL: Eternal admiration, our starting point
As Momoko-san also said, SCANDAL really is like "Pretty Cure."
They are cute, sparkling, and have always been the girls I admire.
Listening to "Take Me Out" and "Platform Syndrome" performed today, I remembered our high school selves.
I was genuinely impressed by our own skills back then, thinking, "How were we able to perfectly copy such difficult songs?" Every single time, I am reminded that SCANDAL is my precious starting point that gave me the spark to truly enjoy music.
■ The longing to express myself and what I found beyond the discomfort
Watching the live show, I wondered why I am so drawn to people who stand on stage.
Since I was little, "girls who work hard" like figure skaters, idols, and Pretty Cure have always looked radiant to me.
For someone like me who was bad at self-expression and couldn't say "No" to family or friends, seeing them convey their thoughts so confidently might have been a dazzling aspiration.
When I started a band in high school, the thought that "maybe I can convey something through music" was also a major catalyst.
However, there was an atmosphere around me that prioritized "being popular" over the "music" itself, and I sometimes felt uncomfortable with that. At such times, I met friends who shared the same values, and in the end, we were even able to perform a live show that moved the audience to tears. The song we were singing then was by SCANDAL.
After that, I joined a light music club in college, and at that time, I covered Hump Back and challenged myself to my first three-piece band. I practiced octaves like crazy for "Hoshigaoka Koen" and "Haikei, Shonen yo." I think that because I had music, I was able to express myself properly without suppressing myself too much.
■ Conclusion: I want to acknowledge the girl inside me
Now that I'm an adult, I'm busy, as expected.
The time I spend playing instruments and the time I spend facing my own heart have decreased.
There are many days when I push my pure feelings and frustrations deep into my heart, telling myself, "I'm an adult, after all."
However, I feel like today's live show forgave all those emotions, telling me, "It's okay to be that way."
The pure wishes and conflicts that still live inside me—like the "is this really okay?" or "I want to say it but I can't..." feelings from back then—
I want to cherish them more than ever, and I want to properly acknowledge them myself.