[DID NOT ATTEND: March 8, 2026] Mia Asano / Billy Wilkins / Malphas
In what is either serendipity or calculated planning, I heard about Mia Asano about three weeks before she announced this tour. I was pretty sure I wanted to go because she looked like such a fun entertainer. She plays a “flying V” electric violin that is more or less attached to her shoulder so she can move around while the violin stays put.
She plays mor or less heavy metal and her violin is super fast soloing. But the more I thought about it the less I actually wanted to go. It seemed more like a novelty than anything else. And while I love novelty, I didn’t need to go to this one. I think I’d rather see her as an opening act.
Billy Wilkins in from New Jersey. He sings like a metal singer but his music feels much lighter than that. I sort of like it but mostly don’t. Although I suspect he’s enjoyable live.
I saw Malphas open for Arkona a few weeks ago. I enjoyed their set but I came away thinking they were a bit amateurish, which is just an odd thing to think about a band (I blame Dingbatz more than the band I think). Their music was pretty good and I would have enjoyed seeing them again in their home city.
I Just Read About That... 