Musician, author, and all-around ethereal artist Michelle Zauner, who leads the band Japanese Breakfast, mesmerized MGM Music Hall on May 7 with a performance sewn from dreams. Japanese Breakfast released their stunning fourth studio album, For Melancholy Brunettes (& Sad Women), in March and embarked on the Melancholy Tour shortly after. Their expressive and otherworldly aesthetic translated to a show so exquisite it is almost impossible to articulate.

The night began with the groovy music group Ginger Root. Frontman Cameron Lew led the charge with infectious charm and an 80s office aesthetic. He sported a crisp suit and sang into a red telephone handset microphone. His gravelly and raw vocals reverberated throughout the venue as fans danced to each track. He introduced the audience to the “Ginger Root cinematic universe" by playing The End Of Shinbangumi, a short film that features visuals like Lew getting sucked into a CRT TV and a one-woman high school adventure show. Lew used a variety of instruments throughout his set, like a melodica that made a pleasant surprise appearance and added intrigue. To enhance each beat of the music, a dedicated cameraman in a red "Ginger Root Productions” jumpsuit roamed the stage, switching between the drummer, the guitarist, Lew, and the audience, eliciting cheers with each turn.

Lew chatted with the crowd between the bouncy synth piano anthems. He shared that his family was in town for his sister who’s graduating from a Boston institution in 3 days…and that his parents will ensure all merchandise profit goes to her. He joked about how he planned to sprint out of the venue after his set to grab a hot dog at the baseball game going on next door at Fenway, which helped him determine who was a jock growing up and who was an art kid based on who showed up to this concert. The band finished their set with what Lew deemed was a very “glizzy tune” called “Giddy Up,” which he topped off with a classic cowboy lasso wrangle dance move. Two projector screens sat on each side of the stage, sharing cheeky messages that captivated fans, who attempted to bargain for Ginger Root to play longer when they announced their set was only 40 minutes.

Before stepping off the stage, he shared a story about a school assignment that asked him to write about a piece of music that changed his life: he wrote about Psychopomp by Japanese Breakfast. He was incredibly grateful for this full circle moment and gave the audience a final piece of wisdom to help them achieve their dreams: “You’re going to fail, but try again, you’ll learn so much." 

Soon after, the lights dimmed again and the venue released thunderous applause. The volume fell to a whisper when Zauner emerged in a Thom Browne dress ensemble carrying a lantern. A match-lighting sound effect played as she lit the lantern and floated to the center of the stage. The band kickstarted the show with the wistful album opener "Here is Someone." Like the painting Birth of Venus by Sandro Botticelli, the stage was adorned with a giant peachy pink scallop shell, wooden panel waves, and a rich cloud background, making the show a living and breathing art piece. The visuals reference the set's second track, "Orlando in Love," where Zauner sang about someone emerging "from the water like Venus from a shell."  

Zauner infused the set with humor, noting Boston was "home to the number one melancholy brunette, Mr. Ben Affleck" before scanning the crowd to search for him. Japanese Breakfast's music may favor mellow and dreamy melodies, but Zauner was here to rock, shredding on the guitar during songs like "Honey Water." Stunning lights reminiscent of a sunset and cotton candy treat flashed throughout the night, underscoring the percussion and making the show look like a watercolor painting.

The band effortlessly balanced recorded instrumentals with the punch of live music. A saxophone player held attention on the stage like a magnet during songs like "Slide Tackle." Zauner guided the venue between high-energy moments by jumping on the stage and nostalgic tracks where she'd soak up luscious spotlights inside the scallop shell. They sectioned off smaller areas of the stage to create intimate acoustic moments during songs like "Men in Bars," where drummer Craig Hendrix lent his husky vocals to the track. Theatrical elements helped foster a deeper bond with the crowd. Zauner frequently grabbed her lantern to wander around the stage, sometimes dipping down to the barricade and holding it up to the audience.

The group returned for a four-song encore, with Zauner banging a floral light-up gong during the song "Paprika" as she hit the highest notes of the night with ease, a testament to her stamina. During the penultimate track "Posing for Cars," fans were compelled to raise their flashlights and sway, a heartfelt moment that Zauner spent smiling ear to ear and looking around the tiered venue in awe. They ended the night with "Diving Woman" before blowing kisses to the audience and escaping backstage for the final time.

Japanese Breakfast and Ginger Root were a match made in music heaven. Their playfulness, catchy melodies, and magnetic stage presence cultivated a palpable command of the crowd. Ginger Root's high-energy performance and personal anecdotes invited fans to form genuine connections with the band and their music. Zauner serenaded the audience for a full 90-minute set, crafting a setlist that spanned fan favorites and deep cuts. Each detail, from the stage design to the lighting, immersed the venue in their enchanted world. Make sure to catch Japanese Breakfast live before the Melancholy Tour ends in September. Buy tickets here.