Image reproduced from ETtoday 新聞雲

The Japanese new-generation City Soul band Penthouse held their first-ever concert in Taipei today at Legacy TERA, featuring Taiwan's R&B diva 9m88 as a surprise guest, creating an unforgettable musical experience for fans.

The show began with their dynamic opener, Welcome to the Penthouse, followed by the energetic tracks Friday’s High and 一難, which raised the excitement levels in the venue significantly.

Lead vocalist Roka Shintaro expressed his joy, stating, "It’s great to be back in Taiwan after a year, and this being our first solo concert here is amazing, thank you all!" Co-vocalist Oshima Maho shared cheerful moments about enjoying local cuisine upon their arrival in Taipei, showcasing a friendly and engaging demeanor.

Penthouse then showcased a diverse range of musical styles with performances of Taxi to the moon, Identify, and Change the world, demonstrating their impressive musical talents and technical skills. In a more emotional segment, Roka and Maho delivered heartfelt renditions of Fly me to the moon and If ain't got you-Gravity, captivating the audience with their unique vocal tones. The piano solo by Cateen (Kakuno Hayato) was also met with thunderous applause.

This concert marked Penthouse's first performance outside of Japan, which holds special significance for them as they committed to returning to Taiwan in the future. One of the highlights of the concert was the surprise appearance of Taiwan's R&B artist 9m88, who praised Penthouse as "AMAZING" and joined them for a collaborative performance of their song Kitchen.

As the concert progressed into the second half, Penthouse kept the energy high with fast-paced tracks like Jukebox Driver, 像夏天許願 / 夏に願いを, 26時10分, and Nonsense, urging the audience to dance along. Roka thanked the fans in Chinese, saying, "Thank you all for coming today! It’s really great to see you all in Taiwan!" Maho continued in Chinese: "Every day can be tough, but we will keep working hard on our music and will be back in Taiwan for sure. Before we meet again, let’s do our best together! Thank you all so much, I love you!"

During their performance of the beloved song 我愛你, Maho amusingly engaged the audience by splitting them into groups to sing along to "LALALA....." based on whether they liked or disliked cilantro, leaving everyone in high spirits as the concert neared its end.

Amidst the enthusiastic encore calls, Penthouse returned to the stage. Roka reiterated the significance of Taiwan being their first concert location outside of Japan, promising, "We will definitely be back!" To conclude this spectacular Midnight Diner Taipei concert, the band performed their new song Planetary alongside the popular track …假如愛上了你 / …恋に落ちたら.