Belle and Sebastian treated fans this week to an intimate show at the Ogden Theater; just last year the Glasgow legends performed at a sold-out Red Rocks affair. In opening duties, Japanese Breakfast from Philadelphia “oooh’d” and “ahhhhhhh’d” a crowd that exercised the better judgment of ignoring an opening act. Michelle Zauner’s project is one of dreamy shoegaze and melodic synth pop.

“J-Brekkie” performed what felt like the slot of an opener delivering a generous set of 10+ tracks. At the current time, Japanese Breakfast is currently supporting “Soft Sounds from Another Planet” from 2017.

Scotland’s unapologetic high brow indie darlings immediately captured the audience’s attention with lead vocalist’s Stuart Murdoch’s screaming orange Denver Broncos v-neck that he scored earlier in the day over at thrift shop, Buffalo Exchange. One of Matador’s finest luminaries displayed the musical prowess of a playful veteran act that seemed comfortable enough to banter with fans on setlist choices without coming across as schmaltzy. Murdoch is the example of a consummate showman in every way possible from stage presence to working other bandmates during Tuesday night’s performance. Belle and Sebastian’s trajectory over the course of their last EP trilogy (How To Solve Our Human Problems) is one of discopop meets glam-mod.

There’s a comforting sense of familiarity in the voice of Stuart Murdoch; one of the golden age of when cinema and song co-existed without the stigma of being labeled as a “musical” experience. A career spanning over twenty years would point to the end of a career for most acts, however, Belle and Sebastian have legs for days with much promise for mobility in any direction they choose to move going forward.

Of course they played, “Cuckoo,” and the not so bittersweet irony of “‘Piazza, New York Catcher,” with the New York Mets in town playing the Colorado Rockies across downtown. There’s still plenty of gas in the tank and don’t write them off yet.

Japanese Breakfast Tour Dates

6/22 – San Diego, CA @ The Observatory North Park ~
6/23 – Pomona, CA @ The Glass House
6/25 – Oakland, CA @ Fox Theater ~
6/28 – Vancouver, BC @ Vogue Theatre ~
6/29 – Vancouver, BC @ Vogue Theatre ~
6/30 – Portland, OR @ Oregon Zoo Amphitheater~
~ w/ Belle & Sebastian

Japanese Breakfast

Belle and Sebastian