FEEDER x ELLEGARDEN: A Fiery Exchange of Mutual Respect — Sparkling Emotions and Surging Energy in Their First Joint Tour

　On April 17, the Tokyo Garden Theater hosted the Tokyo stop of the first-ever joint tour between Japan’s ELLEGARDEN and British rock band FEEDER, titled “FEEDER x ELLEGARDEN Sonic Bridges Tour 2025.” ELLEGARDEN members have long declared their admiration for FEEDER, citing the band as a major influence. Their ties run deep: in 2012, Takeshi Hosomi (Vo/Gt) was featured on the Japan bonus track of FEEDER's album “Generation Freakshow,” and later that year, he also appeared as a guest during FEEDER’s Japan show. That October, a co-headlining tour with the HIATUS and FEEDER followed, cementing a strong friendship between the bands. The idea for this joint world tour—kicking off in Japan and traveling through Taiwan, the UK, France, Germany, and Belgium—was born from conversations between Hosomi and Taka Hirose (Ba) of FEEDER.

　Following shows in Aichi (April 14) and Osaka (April 15), the Tokyo Garden Theater was the largest venue on the Japan leg and the final stop in the country. Tickets sold out quickly, and the venue was filled with enthusiastic rock fans eagerly awaiting the performance.

　When the show began, ELLEGARDEN’s four members took the stage first. Hosomi greeted the crowd, saying, “Before we head overseas, I want this to be a big celebration, so please enjoy it to the fullest!” He then conveyed how happy FEEDER was to be back in Japan for the first time since 2019, concluding with: “This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity—let’s enjoy it all the way!” With that, he exited the stage, and the show’s opening act, FEEDER, took the spotlight.

　Accompanied by the iconic theme from “The Good, The Bad and The Ugly,” FEEDER entered the stage. Grant Nicholas (Vo/Gt), wearing a T-shirt emblazoned with “FUKUOKA CITY,” shouted “Tokyo!” and launched into a high-energy performance starting with “Insomnia.” Backed by support members Tommy Gleeson (Gt) and Geoff Holroyd (Dr), their tight four-piece sound ignited the crowd. Crowd surfers quickly emerged as the upper beats filled the room. Fan-favorite “Come Back Around” followed, energizing the audience with clap-alongs, and the Japan-inspired “Kyoto” brought a heavy, groovy sound that engulfed the vast hall.

　Grant shared his excitement about returning to Japan after six years before shifting the mood with the emotional “Feeling a Moment.” The uplifting “Fear Of Flying” followed, enhanced by the crowd’s heartfelt singalong. Hit after hit—“Just The Way I'm Feeling,” “Pushing the Senses”—reminded fans of the band’s rich discography. During a break, Taka shared a story about his mother attending the Nagoya show and becoming entranced by ELLEGARDEN, drawing warm laughter from the audience.

　Later in the set, FEEDER showcased two contrasting tracks from their April 2024 album “Black/Red” : the moody, laser-lit “Hey You” and the grunge-heavy “Playing With Fire,” captivating the audience. “Torpedo” brought a dark, intense weight that spurred a mosh pit, with a writhing guitar solo that plunged the venue into chaos.

　Thanking ELLEGARDEN fans who had seen them for the first time, the band entered the final stretch with “High.” Grant’s voice, a perfect blend of delicacy and power, stirred the crowd’s passion, and as if moved by an invisible force, the audience began waving their raised arms in unison, forging a profound sense of unity. Riding the wave of that moving atmosphere, “Buck Rogers” heightened the excitement, closing the distance between stage and audience. The final push came with “Just A Day,” drawing cheers with its distinctive guitar riff and bringing another round of crowd surfing. “It was an amazing day!” Grant exclaimed before closing with a powerful cover of Nirvana’s “Breed.” After over 70 minutes, FEEDER’s phenomenal set came to a triumphant end.