A stark contrast from the previous three acts at HOSTESS CLUB WEEKENDER comes fourth act TEAM ME, a six-piece from Norway who absolutely burst with youthful exuberance and joy on stage. Team Me are no strangers to Tokyo, having toured here just over a year ago and enjoying a sold out concert at the 900-capacity Liquid Room, a real testament to the popularity of this band.
There seems to be an actual aura of energy emitting from the stage from the moment they start playing, every single band member dancing as though nobody was watching, completely immersed in the music. Their melodies take audience members on a journey to the magic of childhood naivety and innocence. The combined vocals of lead guitarist Marius Hagen and beautiful keyboardist Elida Inman makes for a playful and energetic experience reminiscent of Polyphonic Spree.
Team Me is incredibly well-known and loved considering they’ve only been around since 2010 and have a mere two EPs and one album under their belt, however everything they’ve produced so far has come under particularly positive praise and high critical acclaim, their debut album “To The Treetops!” winning Best Pop Group of the Year in Norway in 2011.
In keeping with the childlike aesthetic of the group, giant colourful balloons adorn the stage, and four songs in they are all kicked and thrown into the audience, much to the delight of the crowd. For the remainder of the set they are bounced around the massive Garden Hall, making for an even more playful experience, perfectly suited to their delightful tunes. For the real bangers like “Weathervane and Chemicals,” “Show Me” and in particular their closing track “With My Hands Covering Both Of My Eyes I Am Too Scared To Have A Look At You Now,” 90% of the crowd are dancing, heartily clapping along and cheering, certainly the most active they’d been all day.
The general energy put out by the band is truly a breath of fresh air and the crowd respond in kind. Band members are scurrying around on stage dancing, switching up instruments and keeping a fanatic crowd completely tantalised and wanting more, and the response at the end of their set is a deafening roar, appropriate in volume and vigour.
Team Me are currently playing a handful of shows in Norway.