The trio have been staples at Fuji Rock since before the new century, and can be counted on to deliver a dash of energy to the schedule at any point in the day. The key is volume, as they let their guitars spike and weren’t afraid to let feedback screech across the Green Stage field, despite the fact the bulk of folks watching were still seemingly shaking off the morning grogginess. Lead singer Hisashi Yoshino only added to the energy via his barked vocals. The folks up front rocked out to every new blast of sound. Everyone else…well, they at least were awake by the end.

Fast forward two years and one album later, Years & Years were upgraded to a late-afternoon spot on the Green Stage; Some tough shoes to fill for a group who are seemingly still gaining solid footing.

What I imagined would be a set largely promoting their latest album, ‘Palo Santo’, which is a departure from their debut album in many ways, ended up being a balanced blend of past hits and new standouts. Opening with ‘Palo Santo’ lead single ‘Sanctify’, frontman Olly Alexander appeared in a cheetah-print tanktop, clunky gold chains and oversized red parachute pants, slinking back and forth across the stage.

Some technical issues with the mic-stand and a delay of the live-feed displayed on the screens marred the overall effect and delivery of the performance but the crowd seemed to pay no mind, dancing and singing along joyously.

The trio was supported by a pair on backup vocals, as well as a drummer which added a decidedly live element to their sleekly produced electronic pop.

Visuals pulled from their ‘Palo Santo’ series of promotional films and music videos, and imagery that echoed the futuristic megacity environment they created for the album backed past and recent songs equally well.

‘Communion’-era standouts like “Desire”, “King”, and the sprawling “Eyes Shut” showed the vocal chops of Alexander and the catchy song structures created by the group shone forth. These were bookended by selections from the recent ‘Palo Santo’, including “Karma” and “If You’re Over Me”.

All in all, their shot at a main stage was a success, largely in part to the pacing, as well as Alexander’s ability to keep the crowd smiling. Though perhaps operating on a grander scale than one that might help the group fire on all cylinders, the catchiness of their library of songs justified their placement on Fuji Rock’s main stage.

Which isn’t to say mitsume aren’t any slouches when it comes to providing music one could easily relax to. “Akogare” featured an easy-breezy main melody and vocal harmonizing between the members that gave the song a feather-pillow softness, while even the skippy pace of “Sedan” never broke a sweat. Drift far enough towards the back of the Red Marquee and mitsume could provide the perfect post-lunch comedown.

Yet mitsume have come a long way since playing the Rookie A Go-Go stage back in 2013, a performance that was far more on the “pleasant” side than their return in 2018. Kawabe’s singing now features more depth, both lyrically (his words are far more prone to drift off towards melancholy, subverting the vacation-bound playing around them) and stylistically (dude can just do more now, keeping songs fresh). Most startling, though, were the moments of release from mitsume, such as feedback smudge creeping into songs such as “Disco.” It boiled over on the climatic “Esper,” a locked-in number town apart in its final minutes by the whole band cutting lose and letting feedback consume the number. It was these moments of attack that elevated mitsume’s set well above a time to catch your breath.