@nicholasraden

Japanese Breakfast puts on a show in every sense of the word, bringing you into the world of Melancholy. The venue seemed to suit her show very well, from colorful lights encompassing her, to shrouding her darkness only visible from the lantern she was holding, to a single beam on her while she sat on her shell. This isn’t discounting the set that was created allowing for intimate moments in many different parts of the set (assisted by the lighting) along with large moments as both Japanese Breakfast and the lighting moved across the entire stage. The set design also incorporates a nautical theme that was expressed on the album (lines such as “He cast his gaze toward the sea out the Winnebago” off Orlando In Love) through the aforementioned Shell of Venus, the waves that looked like an intricate sculpture, and well as the painted background. Her costume had a slight nautical theme to it as well the night I went she wore a sailor hat which tied the theming all together.

For Melancholy Brunettes and Sad Women always strived to create a complex understanding of Melancholy itself. This goal seems further expressed on the tour. She opens with the back-to-back songs of Here is Someone and Orlando in Love. These songs are the songs that kick off the album as well as a tour. It opens with her walking on stage in complete darkness and singing Here is Someone. Then transitions to the brightness in Orlando In Love. Though each show had definite beats she had to hit (playing most of Melancholy) it doesn’t stop each performance from feeling individual. Shouting out gamers then playing Glider off Sable (a soundtrack for a Video Game) and coving a Gorillaz song a first for the tour. It keeps the show feeling dynamic between the Melancholy songs which are by the nature of the album heavy.“This song is about how I am a Miserable Person” She then goes on to play Little Girl, one of the most heartbreaking songs of the Melancholy. This moment out of all others though stands out to me. Showing the respite humor can provide even when we are wallowing in sadness. The emotional arc of songs she plays from the album culminates in the song Men Behind Bars, a duet with her drummer. She Plays a couple more songs and then walks off stage.

Then all the other performers walk off stage and the stage becomes black.

An eruption from the crowd begins and she walks out on stage alone with no support from the band and begins to play Posing for Cars slowly as she plays her band begins to join her. This is the start of her encore performance. However, I think It is part of an excuse to separate the songs of Melancholy from the songs of Jubilee (Many of which are crowd-pleasers). I think this speaks to the intentionality of the sequencing that was placed into the tour as well as the fact that she wanted the highlight and the focus of the tour to be on Melancholy.

However, I think the reason for the abruptness of the ending was the constant misdirection throughout the show. I’m still not sure if it ties into the theme of the tour or if she simply found them amusing and engaging. Nevertheless, this comes up a few times throughout the performance: the cannon interrupting her during her introductory speech as well as thestage going black a Melancholy Sign flickering on and the earlier mentioned walk off. Not key but still an interesting piece of the show.

It definitely is a show but also I don’t want to downplay the performances by her or the band either. The music itself was amazing. You could tell this wasn’t their first time performing. It sounded amazing. Japanese Breakfast herself has a beautiful voice and it really comes alive listening to her live. It’s gentle but not at all shy (and of course wonderfully accompanied by expert instrumentation).

It was a wonderful experience and if you don’t get a chance to see her life I definitely think it would be worth watching the music video. The visual component of music is naturally secondary but Japanese Breakfast does a wonderful job of highlighting her music with a visual medium.