Revisiting the vibrant streets of Los Angeles, California on November 13 on behalf of their “2025 SlinGShot Tour,” Melt Banana crusades across the west coast of the United States in celebration of their latest album, 3 + 5. 11 years of pure creative flow led to the birth of their ninth LP (3 + 5) in 2024, which channeled in raw elements including hardcore punk, noise rock, and experimental electro themes.
Joining the duo on tour are Deaf Club and Dream_Mega – both honorable features that beautifully complemented the energy Yako and Agata curated on stage at the Teragram Ballroom. The initial chaotic rush left by the presence of the opening acts left the crowd hungry for more action. A lingering sense of exhilaration fills the venue as crowds of rabid fans flood the scene in classic punk-rock regalia. Overhanging strobe lights and the smell of rebellion energized every individual who dared to attend.
Words by Max Molina
Photos by Auburn Sky
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As Yako and Agata aka Melt Banana made their way on stage, fans erupted in a flurry of excitement, laced with mosh pit anticipation. During a brief montage of sound checks, Yako clicked away at her bright neon console, a series of blaring chiptune video game bleeps and blops followed close behind, unapologetically interrupting the silence. Grimy guitar riffs reverberated through the Teragram Ballroom, triggering fans to completely go mental. The smell of alcohol permeated the dance floor as bodies slammed against each other, desperately scrambling their way into the pit. Catapulting beverages sprayed the front row, while agro crowd-surfers squirmed along the audience, fluttering finger tips collectively elevated their torsos through the critical mass hell ride, like some revived pagan ritual.
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In that very moment, the crowd had transformed into one erratic organism, lifting a girl up on stage effortlessly, allowing her to drape a California Republic flag on an amplifier nearby, before jumping back into the commotion. A clash of distortion accompanied by hardcore components produced by Agata had left the audience in a complete energy trance.
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Breaking the tension after a few songs in, Yako referenced the upcoming rains hower headed for Los Angeles, then immediately transitioned into a sequence of Melt Banana’s signature 5-second melodies, bursting with ear-splitting shrieks and eccentric guitar tracks. A swift “thank you” from Yako disrupts each song like a malfunctioning robot spewing random programming bugs. The energy in the room continued to be electric, not because the band was polished, but because everyone there sensed something inherently primal occurring. The crowd wasn’t just watching Melt Banana; they were absorbing and reflecting the raw charge of the performance, like a feedback loop of excitement that would eventually spark into the encore.
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Ending the show off with the tune “Seeds” immediately altered the vibe of the audience entirely. All eyes were glued to the stage, even moshers ceased their dancing, watching in awe as the electronic-infused intro painted an audible portrait of soaring colors in the venue.
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At the end of the night, Melt Banana’s scrappy merch booth had been engulfed by a mass of people anxiously waiting to get their hands on a coveted piece of Melt Banana merchandise plus a photo with Agata! The line dedicated to their booth had snaked around the outer premises of the venue, making it look like a pop-up afterparty had spontaneously sprouted. Trying to join the line had become a mission in itself, which ultimately failed for us, as the rain, as prophesied by Yako earlier finally began to fall. But never mind that. Why? By pure chance, we had crossed paths with Yako and Agata in the lobby right at the doors opening and were ambushed by us for a band portrait and selfie snap (Yay!).
