Peppy and energetic, Osaka-based six-piece neconemuru busted the Red Marquee wide open on Friday morning with their winding and lighthearted instrumentalist fusion of funk, electronic and danceable pop-rock.

Ranging from slow groovers to more upbeat and bouncing numbers, neconemuru’s impressive instrumentation takes center stage in their music and needs no vocals, save for one song placed near the end of the set, which featured the pipes of guests from fellow 2018 Fujirock performers ‘And Summer Club’.

Led by two guitars and bass, neconemuru’s free-flowing songs are peppered with synths and keyboards and backed by strong drumming. Never tied down to the same rhythm for long, song structures morphed and shifted naturally, keeping listeners on their toes and dancing.

Proving to be a perfect choice for kicking off the festivities at the Red Marquee this year, the delightful morning weather and cool breeze provided the ideal backdrop for neconemuru’s feel-good sound.

Under the morning shade of the Red Marquee tent, neconemuru seemed to stress that even in pop music you don’t need words to wow the audience, injecting each and every jaunty instrumental number with enough rich texture to make summery waves flow throughout the whole tent.