Live Review: Kyary Pamyu Pamyu

Many an irritating trend has stemmed from sharing media through social networking, but if there's one good outcome from the over-saturation of any one thing on the internet, the recent (and well deserved) hype surrounding J-Pop and K-Pop is it. What began as an internet sensation has now sprouted a pair of kawaii, glitter-adorned wings and majestically taken flight, so much so that on Kyary Pamyu Pamyu's first visit to Australia, the venue initially booked for her performance was deemed too small, resulting in the relocation from the Metro to the Roundhouse. Obviously a necessary move to accommodate for the larger capacity, the only downfall of this upgrade (and the show's only flaw) was that a lot of the onstage antics were completely lost on the shorter members of the audience.

Set up much like the set of her wonderfully bizarre film clips, the stage was an extravagantly child-like replica of a circus. In fitting with the theme, three back-up dancers dressed in pastel clownish attire introduced the audience to Kyary through exaggerated and wonderfully atypical J-Pop choreography. The word 'theatrical' doesn't quite do what ensued justice; Kyary's entire performance was an adorable, otherworldly experience that could reduce even the blackest of hearts to squeals and titters. With each costume change, she'd reaffirm her overpowering cuteness, and when she spoke (which was often – but seldom in English), the audience struggled to suppress their collective “aww”s.

For just shy of two hours (this includes the few interludes led by a charismatic costumed bunny), Kyary tugged at the heartstrings of the eclectic audience, leaving all of us both enchanted and a little bit heartbroken as she waved us all goodbye.