Photos and Review by Chris Besaw
It was a nice, unseasonably warm day in Syracuse, with a gentle drizzle finally hinting that spring might be poking its long-awaited head out. On Westcott Street, nestled in the heart of Syracuse University, an excited buzz filled the air outside The Westcott Theater as fans lined up for electric violin virtuoso Mia Asano on her 2026 Spring Tour this Friday night.
The Los Angeles-based electric violinist (originally from Denver, Colorado) blends rigorous classical training—starting at age five—with a fiery passion for alternative, rock, and metal music, creating performances that are truly something to behold. After graduating from the Denver School of the Arts, she attended Berklee College of Music, where she double-majored in Violin Performance and Professional Music.
It was during her time at Berklee that Mia exploded as a viral social media sensation, amassing over 7 million followers across platforms (including about 1 million on Instagram alone). Her electrifying covers—many featuring her signature seven-string electric Viper violin—racked up massive views, with her biggest hits surpassing 40 million. This online momentum launched her into releasing original music, multiple sold-out tours (including five in a single year), and high-profile collaborations with artists like Ministry, DragonForce, and Lindsey Stirling. It all culminated in a major European arena tour with 2 Steps From Hell, kicking off at the legendary Wacken Festival in Germany in front of 65,000 fans.
Now, she’s bringing that high-energy, genre-blending magic to our eclectic city—Syracuse fans, don’t miss it!
Kicking off the evening was New Jersey singer-songwriter Billy Wilkins. Billy Wilkins and his band opened with his 2025 melodic, hard-hitting single “Heartless.” One of the best parts of my job is discovering newer musicians, and this was my first time checking out Billy Wilkins and his band—I honestly loved his upbeat, melodic rock style. His music feels sincere and honest, speaking straight to the heart of his listeners.
I especially enjoyed how he shared the story of his big break: During COVID, he did YouTube request videos where fans asked him to play random songs. One request was DragonForce’s “Through the Fire and Flames.” He openly admitted he didn’t know the song at the time, so—as he put it—he just belted out four chords, sang at the top of his lungs, and hoped for the best. To his amazement, it went viral, opening doors he never expected—including touring with DragonForce! Billy Wilkins is living proof that you should never be afraid to follow your dreams because you never know what might happen.
Other highlights included his poppy cover of DragonForce’s “Through the Fire and Flames,” “Catch Me If You Can,” and a new song he debuted called “Six Feet.” Overall, I loved his blend of rock energy and heartfelt sincerity, and I’m looking forward to seeing him perform again!
Billy Wilkins Setlist
Heartless
All a Dream
Trigger Finger
Cigarettes and Chardonnay
Catch Me If You Can
Through the Fire and Flames (DragonForce cover)
Falling Apart
Six Feet
Drones
After a brief changeover, it was time for the evening’s headliner: Mia Asano!
Smoke filled the stage, setting the perfect tone as her backing band took their places. Mia stormed out and kicked things off with her song ironically titled “Storm.” What a great opener to set the stage for an amazing night of music!
The first part of her set focused mostly on original material, including her very first original piece, “Lunar.” I was surprised to learn this wasn’t her first time in Syracuse, but it is her first headlining tour stop here—we’re very fortunate! I love how she connects with her fans, sharing stories behind many of her compositions. Standouts for me included “Mothman,” a spooky, dark, ethereal track that brings fresh elements to the Mothman legend, and “Night Crawler,” inspired by a creature Mia described as a ghost wearing just pants with glowing red eyes. I love how she weaves mythological creatures and urban legends into her songs, elevating them to a whole new level.
Beyond her storytelling and fan connection, she’s backed by a talented band: incredible bassist Alicia Vigil (who, funnily enough, used to play for DragonForce—small world!), shred master Sam Fairless on guitar, and hard-hitting drummer Kyle Brian Abbott.
Other highlights included Mia playing directly to a duo of youngsters who were rocking out the whole time, her notable covers like the “Pirates of the Caribbean” medley, and the encore when Billy Wilkins joined her for “The Devil Went Down to Georgia.” This was my first time seeing Mia in concert, and she and her band were absolutely amazing, refreshing, and full of energy. I’m already looking forward to catching her again and highly encourage anyone who loves violin, heavy metal, or genre-blending music to check out her current tour—you won’t be disappointed!
Mia Asano Setlist
Storm
Power Rangers
Labyrinth
Lunar
Dragon
Mothman
Sea Serpent
Night Crawler
Death Worm
Jorogumo
Kraken
Phoenix
Halo
Pirates Medley
Last Resort (Papa Roach cover
X-Men Theme
Devil Went Down to Georgia (Charlie Daniels cover w/ Billy Wilkins)
Thank you—and please check out my photo gallery!
