By: Emil Jraissati
If you couldn’t make it to ACL, Houston had its own mini-festival Thursday night at White Oak Music Hall when Japanese Breakfast and Wet Leg teamed up to put on a co-headlining show for all the indie rock lovers.
What originally started out as two separate shows at the same venue turned into a big outdoor party. Japanese Breakfast and Wet Leg brought their respective tours to Houston with supporting acts INOHA, mary in the junkyard, and SPELLLING.
Still weaning off summer, the sun was strong Thursday as the opening acts took the stage in the late afternoon.
As the sun began to set on the lawn, smoke enveloped the stage as Japanese Breakfast started their set. The sweet sounds of Honey Water opened the show. Michelle Zaulner, the lead singer, walked out in a purposefully tattered dress with her electric guitar. She smiled as she greeted the crowd. There’s something about Michelle Zauner’s presence that’s both grounding and euphoric. Even in the chaos of sound, she still feels at the center. The first few songs from “For Melancholy Brunettes (& Sad Women)” set the tone for a somber start. What really got my attention was the outro of "The Body Is a Blade," where she absolutely tore on the guitar.
As the night went on and things started to get a little loose, they performed favorites like "Kokomo, IN," and "Slide Tackle." She had the entire crowd jumping and singing along (including me). Eventually, she made her way into the seashell that sat center stage. Immediately, my mind went to The Birth of Venus painting by Botticelli. Through her music, as well as the production, it’s clear that she feels reborn in this moment.
By the time Wet Leg took the stage, the night was fully underway. They went minimalist: a bare set, heavy smoke, and flashes of blinding strobes. Appearing out of thin air, Rhian Teasdale walked towards the crowd with both arms up in a T-shape, flexing her biceps, flaunting her strength. Wet hair, a knee bandage, tight gold shorts and a tank top, topped off with a neon green translucent electric guitar. Opening with "Catch these fists." The band made it clear they were ready to deliver a strong performance. As she moved into "Wet Dream", she put on the guitar and commanded every bit of our attention.
They performed "pillow talk" and "Ur Mum," and the crowd watched and jumped along and, of course, at the request of Rhian, screamed at the end of "Ur Mum." There was something that felt so liberated about her movements, her voice. She blended in with the band and at the same time stood out for how she conveyed the emotions through her body. She conveyed such a range of sensuality, tenderness, and rage; it was captivating. By the time "Chaise Longue" hit, the whole lawn was one big dance floor. It was messy and joyful and a little bit feral, everything a summer (well, technically fall) night should be.
Overall, a fantastic night for Houston’s indie music scene. Catch Japanese Breakfast on their Melancholy Tour and Wet Leg on the Moisturizer tour across North America this fall.
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