The Japanese House Returns to Milwaukee with a Sold-out Show

The last time indie-pop act the Japanese House came to Milwaukee was to open for the 1975 in 2016, alongside fellow English band Wolf Alice. This time, the Japanese House played to a sold-out crowd at the Back Room at Colectivo, following the release of their debut album “Good at Falling.”  

Amber Bain, the solo singer-songwriter and mastermind behind the Japanese House, kept her connection to the 1975 by co-producing the album with drummer George Daniel, and added to the pool of talent behind “Good at Falling” by also collaborating with BJ Burton, the producer behind the likes of Bon Iver and Francis and the Lights. Arguably one of the most breakout acts of 2019 in the alternative music scene, the Japanese House’s set in Milwaukee was long anticipated by fans across the state. 

The night of synthesized music began with opener Art School Girlfriend, the musical project of Polly Mackey. Mackey’s solo set utilized just a synthesizer and an electric guitar, providing a minimalistic, yet powerful introduction to the Japanese House’s set. Mackey’s soft vocals and style mimicked the likes of Romy Madley Croft of the XX as her slow but electronic beats boomed throughout the small venue. With minimal crowd interaction, Mackey let her music do the talking. Though Mackey’s music was simplistic in sound, her lyrics were the opposite- tackling themes such as queer identity, lust and the qualms of life.  

As Mackey left the crowd engaged and excited for what was to come, the Japanese House’s pre-show playlist provided quite the stark contrast to the dark and edgy set from Art School Girlfriend. Uniting the crowd with classic anthems like “Everywhere” by Fleetwood Mac and “Dancing Queen” by ABBA, attendees had their vocals warmed up to scream along to both old and new tracks from the Japanese House. 

The night’s rainy and foggy weather outside the venue provided the perfect aesthetic to the night of both dreamy and dark music. Coming on stage to “Face Like Thunder,” an exploration of love and yearning, the crowd welcomed Bain and her supporting musicians with enthusiasm, and even some roses from a die-hard fan in the front row. 

It’s easy to forget that the Japanese House only has one album, as frontwoman Amber Bain plays like a music industry veteran. Even an issue with her guitar didn’t trip up the singer-songwriter, as Bain invited her drummer and bassist to perform a jazz freestyle while she worked quickly to get in the right tuning. Bain continued the set with humor and laughter, transitioning between both old and new songs with ease. 

If you couldn’t snag a ticket to the highly-anticipated show, listening to the track “Saw You in a Dream” could paint a picture of what the night felt like to fans. Showcasing Bain’s classic synthesized vocal style and electronic effects, the track on the surface represents the Japanese House’s easygoing pop style, while at the same time being laden with heavy emotional themes.  

“I saw you in a dream, you came to me. You were the sweetest apparition, such a pretty vision. There was no reason, no explanation, the perfect hallucination,” Bain sang with her eyes closed, recounting the experience of seeing a vision in a dream of a childhood friend that passed away.  

Despite Bain’s sometimes dark lyrics, a smile rarely left her face as she fed off the crowd’s adoration and enthusiasm. “I’m loving this vibe,” Bain said of both the crowd and the venue. Ending the show with “Clean,” one of the Japanese House’s singles from 2015, Bain left the fans wanting more, as it may be impossible to ever have enough of the Japanese House.