Lamp’s Minneapolis Debut Was a Soft, Bossa Nova Dream
Lamp’s performance and debut in Minneapolis was a reminder as to why so many of us fell in love with their music (and why so many showed up too!)- it’s intimate, warm, and a joy to listen to. Everywhere you looked, the crowd was bobbing their head to the bongo drum beat, or the gentle hi-hat pushing the rhythm along, and faces were full of smiles seeing the main trio crack jokes in between gentle strums of their guitars and pianos.
Walking on stage, the dim blues accompanied by the warm oranges (props to the lighting guy here) and titular, perfectly placed lamps, Lamp was welcomed warmly and excitedly by almost a full house, and while seemingly a little nervous, the band seemed happy to be there. Almost immediately the band broke into song, starting with “Hatachi No Koi”, giving us an immediate glimpse into the gentle vocals of frontwoman Kaori Sakakibara, who guided us into relaxation right away. The thing that I was most impressed by personally, was that the three other band members (outside the main trio) for the live performance were all clear professionals- the sound was tight, locked in, and each of them playing with eyes closed intermittently, staying together with ease and listening to each other with clear intent. It was really nice to see the whole band being in tune with each other!
One thing fans often talk about is how intimate and comfortable seeing Lamp perform live is, not just due to the sound, but how deliberate their actions are on stage. In previous interviews, the band has stated that they of course get nervous even after 25 years of playing, but performance isn’t their main purpose. They take the time on stage to cultivate their sound, get comfy, and really deliver what they know they can do- their best. And evidently, they delivered. It wasn’t flashy, it wasn’t a show with a lot of movement, but the notes were all intentional and the little variations fit in without pause. Springing into action, practiced and perfected, the eventual lean into a more comfortable playing and less nervousness began to show with each passing note.
The setlist (although spoiled by eager fans from previous shows) spanned all across their discography, playing fan favorites like From “The Window” and somber, quiet songs like “Yume Utsutsu/Half Asleep”, taking us into a dreamlike atmosphere with quiet vocals. I’m glad to say I didn’t see a single disappointed face, and saw quite the opposite- fans who were delighted to finally see a favorite live, in their city, and smiles rewarded by the awesome performance put on by Lamp.
If you missed them on this tour, be on the lookout for their next one, especially since they don’t get to do a full USA tour often!
