Marble Factory , 20th October 2022
Japanese breakfast can really only be described with one word: Electric . The band were phenomenal, front woman Michelle Zauner has pure magnetism and truly brought the vibe that I personally needed after a long week, she bounced onto the stage to the roar of a crowd which had been far more subdued during the support act, which is no surprise, as Zauner and the rest of her talented band are no doubt on top of cloud nine at the moment, with an acclaimed album and a riveting memoir to boot, the band have come back from the manacles of covid and look to be thriving.
The performance started off with a bang ( literally) with Zauner running around the stage hitting a magnificent gong which I’ve rarely seen used so brilliantly on stage, with the song “Paprika” off of their new album Jubilee. Armed with a Saxophonist and violinist, Japanese breakfast seems to be breaking down barriers with what can be achieved within an indie record, giving the audience and myself a mind blowing sensory overload only achieved by the myriad of instruments before us.
Zauners’ stage presence is something to behold, by the second song “Be sweet” the artist was reaching out to audience members, making sure to give attention to all corners of the room, appearing to make sure that no one felt as if they didn’t belong in the space, which was full to the brim of positive energy, and the appreciation of what was unfolding before us.
Notably, the front woman’s infectious energy was not hindered in the slightest by any problems that transpired on stage, proving on multiple occasions that she wouldn’t allow wardrobe malfunctions or the switch over between instruments to stop her from getting the job done. The band went on to play some other great tunes from the album, such as ‘Slide tackle” which hit the venue like a wave, with its incredible bass riffs, causing the crowd to jump up and down with Zauner driving them along.
Along with the new tracks, the band treated the crowd to fan favourite Boyish ( from their 2017 album), which was haunting and melancholic, compared to their newer songs, Boyish brought a much needed calm to the excitement of the newer tracks. After a rousing encore, Zauner returned to the crowd equipped only with her stunning vocals and electric guitar, and as the song began to hit its crescendo, the rest of the band inched onto the stage to play with as much dynamism as they had at the beginning of the night, highlighting the passion Japanese Breakfast instills into the room every time they perform. Although new and replenished after a hard couple of years for the music industry, the bands heart remains with their beginnings and their adoring fanbase. Japanese breakfast has certainly gained a new fan, and they certainly look like they aren’t slowing down any time soon.
Rosie Risdale
