Japanese Breakfast performs unplugged concert in New York City

Japanese Breakfast, an indie pop group led by Michelle Zauner, performed a special unplugged concert in New York City on March 22, 2025. This event showcased songs from their new album, "For Melancholy Brunettes (& sad women)," released just a day earlier. The concert took place at El Museo del Barrio, a museum dedicated to Latino culture. Zauner explained in the playbill that this album is more delicate than their previous work. She aimed for a simple, stripped-down presentation that mirrored the album's intimate nature. The stage design reflected this approach, resembling a grade school recital. The packed crowd enjoyed an intimate show, with Zauner dressed in an 18th- or 19th-century style, accompanied by guitarist Peter Bradley, keyboardist Craig Hendrix, and a three-piece string section. They performed the new album's songs, which explore themes of aspiration and struggle. Despite the absence of the album's full production, the unplugged versions highlighted the beauty and depth of the music. One notable moment was Zauner's introduction to “Leda,” where she shared a personal story about her father. After performing the entire new album, the band closed the show with a selection of older songs, including a new version of "Be Sweet." The concert lasted about an hour and ended with enthusiastic applause from the audience. Japanese Breakfast's tour is set to begin on April 12 at Coachella in California, promising more performances to come.