J-Pop veterans Love Psychedelico were set to rock the AsiaWorld Arena on Friday, in only their second visit to Hong Kong, despite the fact the city holds a special place in their hearts. 'I have been asked about my best memory of the last 10 years,' guitarist Naoki Sato said before the gig. 'The last concert in Hong Kong was one of the best experiences ever, so I'm really happy I can play here again and I promise that we will perform our best.' Celebrating the 10th anniversary of their first album, the band is marking the event by releasing a box set. 'All the songs from the first [four albums] are being re-mastered by the same engineer [who worked on the latest album], Abbot Kinney ...' Naoki said. 'You can listen to our past works with a new sound.' Love Psychedelico formed in 1997 after Naoki met singer Kumi at Aoyama Gakuin University in Tokyo. Both performers are vastly skilled and multi-talented - Naoki also plays the bass and keyboards, and Kumi is an accomplished guitarist as well. Their combined sound is a distinct and eclectic blend of American rock and folk. When asked to name their favourite song from Abbot Kinney, both musicians struggled to isolate one track. Kumi recommends new fans listen to the title song. 'That song symbolises this album, so I think it's a very good choice.' Naoki's eventual choice was Secret Crush. 'I really love the groove and Kumi's voice.' Blending Japanese and English lyrics, Kumi displays her ability to effortlessly shift between languages to create a unique sound. After more than a decade of working together, the two complement each other perfectly, with Naoki's characteristic strums and riffs weaving around Kumi's soft harmonies. Although known as a J-pop band, Love Psychedelico experiment in blues and folk, blurring the lines between genres to create a completely personal experience. Openly declaring her influences as The Beatles and Janis Joplin, Kumi says: 'When we were younger, we had a dream of making some kind of groovy country songs, and now we have made Abbot Kinney, a simple song with that kind of style.' The song stands out in that she 'sing-talks' the lyrics, and yet the vocals are surprisingly strong. With the band's bubbling enthusiasm and real connection with fans, it is no surprise that they have gained such loyal fans in Hong Kong.
