Japanese Breakfast lulls St. Louis into shoegaze dreamscape

I can’t think of a better way to start the week than to see a Japanese Breakfast concert at The Pageant. Rather than begin another dreadful Monday the same ‘ol boring way, I had this show to look forward… making me wonder why I don’t go to more concerts on weekdays!

Opening for Japanese Breakfast was SPELLLING, who had just joined the tour a day prior in Tennessee. Since 2015, Chrystia “Tia” Cabral has been making music as a solo artist with a style heavily based in progressive and experimental pop. Alone onstage, Tia was accompanied with only her synthesizer, her laptop, and her unique vocals.

Early on in her set, she notified the audience that her music was “weird”.

While her music is certainly strange, SPELLLING brings the right type of weirdness — both impressive and otherworldly. There is something whimsical and childlike about her performance, creating a type of fantasy journey through lyric and sound. It’s imaginative beyond most adults’ capacity and it made all the more sense when I discovered that Tia was previously an elementary school teacher. It was like every song was a page right out of a storybook. 

After SPELLLINGS’ performance, the stage was transformed into an underwater dream. Centered was a giant open clam shell, with heavy fog seeping from either side and small lanterns emitting a soft glow placed about the stage. Frontwoman Michelle Zauner and her team appeared from the dark and hazy mist; it was a dreamy entrance that makes you pinch yourself to be sure you’re awake. By the time Zauner began to sing, the audience was locked in a hypnotic lullaby.

Zauner’s voice is a true siren’s song. 

Japanese Breakfast first formed over 10 years ago in 2013 altbough Zauner was performing long before the band’s start. From this performance alone, it’s clear why she is a highly skilled and adapted musician. Known for shoegaze-y, dream pop creations, Japanese Breakfast has just released For Melancholy Brunettes (& Sad Women), their fourth studio album consisting of 10 tracks emitting addictive, ethereal sounds. During the show, a handful of songs from this album made an appearance, including “Picture Window”, “Magic Mountain”, and “Men in Bars” (with the original track featuring actor-turned-musician Jeff Bridges). 

It’s no doubt that Japanese Breakfast outdid themselves with this soft and enchanting performance. Zauner sat within the curves of that big clam shell, her face illuminated from the glow of a lantern in her hand. She sang so beautifully; I couldn’t believe how lucky of an audience we were to witness so much talent and dedication. Who needs Disneyworld when you can see a real princess singing right before us?! Be sure to check out Japanese Breakfast, as they set the performance bar high. 

Photography by Sean Rider; article by Michelle Zigler

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