(Photography by James Chen)
As part of their 20th anniversary activities, SpecialThanks rocked out with their âPUNK&POPâ sound at Programme Skate & Sound on September 13th, 2026. The iconic Southern California hub for punk, hardcore, and skate culture hosted the band and their delighted fans for a tight live set which drew from the bandâs extensive catalog of works.
SpecialThanks is a duo consisting of Misaki on guitar and vocals, and YOSHIDA on drums and chorus - they are joined by support member Ryo Tabuchi for this current tour. Hailing from Japan, this is the bandâs second time performing in the U.S.; their first performances in the U.S. took place in 2009 at South by Southwest. Now with Misaki as the only remaining original band member, the bandâs roster is quite different from how it was when SpecialThanks last played in the U.S.
For this first of two SoCal shows, the band kicks off the set with the more recent track âOnenessâ, before diving further back into the bandâs back catalog. âOnenessâ is a single released in 2021 with an uplifting, high-energy sound delivering an empowering message about universal connection and self-acceptance.
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âEverything is connected, itâs okay to just be as you areâ is the reminder gifted to the audience, with a reassurance that we can shape our own lives.
Interestingly, all of SpecialThanksâ music from their first three albums have lyrics entirely in English. Misaki has mentioned in a past interview, âSince I was a kid, all of my favorite Japanese bands (Donut Man, Stompinâ Bird) were singing in English, so I thought âBeing in a band = singing in English.â I thought that was normal.â[1]
The band quickly moves on to âNEVER GIVE UPâ, a track from the 2011 album âSEVEN SHOWERSâ that keeps the positive and high-energy vibes flowing. The song humorously focuses on the frustrations of being painfully indecisive over minor daily choices like shopping for clothes, shoes, or accessories, and constantly asking friends or a significant other for their opinion.
At the midpoint of the set, the band performs one of their most well-known hits, âLOVE GOOD TIMEâ. Released in 2014, this track was featured as the opening theme song for the anime adaptation of the manga âWolf Girl and Black Princeâ, which was broadcast that same year.
The energy in the room had been building up nonstop through the set, and SpecialThanks then move on to their more recent tracks, âHey!Sunny!â a single from 2023 and ăăăŠăłăźăă¤ăăăâMiracle Nightâăfrom âSUNCTUARYâ, released in 2020. âMiracle Nightâ showcases the bandâs trademark upbeat charm, famously featuring a playful countdown of the days of the week leading up to a highly anticipated weekend.
(above, left to right: YOSHIDA, Misaki, Ryo Tabuchi)
The band closes out the set with âHELLO COLORFULâ, a 2011 track expressing gratitude for waking up to a world suddenly painted vibrant and beautiful. It is such an uplifting gift to leave to their fans: the feeling of a fresh start, the appreciation and celebration of being alive, and the realization of truly beautiful the world can be.