Daikaiju

Surf RockPunk RockProgressive RockInstrumental

Jul 7

FOR FANS OF: Man or Astro-man?, Los Straitjackets, The Mermen, Messer Chups, The Bomboras, The Ghastly Ones

July 6th, 2026, at The Westside Bowl in Youngstown, Ohio

Now and then, as a photographer, I stumble upon an artist who catches my attention. Not just for the music, but for the visual experience I see captured at their live shows. Daikaiju is one of those bands. I saw captivating images of their shows, often referred to “attacks,” before I even listened to their music. Needless to say, they made my list of artists I need to photograph, and I patiently waited for them to come to town.

I was fortunate enough to catch Daikaiju at The Westside Bowl in Youngstown, Ohio. A venue as unique as Daikaiju. The Westside Bowl is part bowling alley, part concert hall, part arcade, and part retro dive bar. If you ever find yourself in the area, I highly recommend you go check it out.

At Else Concerts, we are asked to describe the shows we capture. The irony is that one cannot describe a Daikaiju show to someone. It’s an immersive experience. The band blends instrumental surf, punk, and progressive rock in an unrivaled performance that is both interactive and theatrical. Masks? Check. Crowd surfing? Check. Mosh pit? Check. Audience playing instruments? Check. Setting shit on fire? Also, check. The crowd is just as much part of the show as the band itself. A Daikaiju show has a chaotic DIY atmosphere in the best ways possible.

Daikaiju is a band you simply go see and experience for yourself. You don’t read about it online. If you see them coming near you, drop any plans you may have and go experience a Daikaiju attack for yourself.

Setlist: