Last Tuesday night we caught the all female-led show over at The Roxy in Hollywood. The current tour follows the release of headliner, Japanese Breakfast’s sophomore album, Soft Sounds From Another Planet.
To get things going just right, they brought along Maryland’s Snail Mail. The indie band is led by the 18 years young stunner, Lindsey Jordan. To sum up my thoughts on this three-piece – wow! Newly becoming label-mates with some favorites like Julien Baker and Lucy Dacus, the Matador Records band is surely one to watch.
Jordan is responsible for the gritty and honest songwriting that is Snail Mail, backed by some drums and bass. Having to ask for some permitted leave from high school to go on tour and open for bands like Girlpool and Beach Fossils, Lindsey Jordan is determined to get her music out there. I was stoked to catch them open for Japanese Breakfast and now I can confidently recommend checking her stuff out. They have their EP Habit out and have their debut full-length record Lush set for release this June.
Don’t be fooled by the petite lady who comes center stage. With a sharp voice, Jordan captured some very strong eye contact throughout the crowd and crushes.
Snail Mail was only fitting to warm the anxious room for the Philadelphia’s striking Japanese Breakfast. Frontwoman Michelle Zauner has come a ways since the release of Jbrekkie’s defining rock debut Psychopomp just two years ago. I discovered her beautiful music back in 2016 when she greatly paired with Jay Som to open for Mitski on tour.
Zauner’s experimental lo-fi tunes are strongly influenced by her marriage to fellow guitarist for the band, Peter; her mother’s passing to cancer; and other strongly relatable life experiences. The thing I really love about listening to Japanese Breakfast, whether its at a live-energy show or on record, is the almost sunny take on sensitive subjects expressed throughout the musics lyricism.
Psychopomp was a phenomenal debut recording influenced by Zauner’s mom passing and the sophomore record we can now happily own, Soft Sounds From Another Planet fills more of that experimental mix the band truly loves. The sold out Roxy audience crazed over this performance and just couldn’t get enough. Cheers to badass women in music today.
Words and photos by Danielle Gornbein
