The Japanese House brings her energy to Glasgow’s SWG3
Amber Bain was supported by Bonnie Kemplay and Esme Emerson.
Photo: Isla Kerr
Glasgow was host to the first night of The Japanese House’s final tour in support of her 2023 release In the End It Always Does this Tuesday. This is the second time this tour has graced one of the many stages under the SWG3 banner and there has been a massive upgrade in the size of venue since the previous October date.
Brother-sister duo Esme Emerson were up first tonight and were joined by one of their “oldest friends” Matt Owen on guitar. They played a very gentle set to “the biggest crowd” they had ever played to. Without being told this bit of information you would never have known. They allowed enough time for the crowd to get to know them while performing a mix of released and unreleased songs.
Good as Gold was introduced by Esme as, “It’s about, I dunno… being a bad person. When I was a kid I would swear in my head and think I was awful and would get coal for Christmas”. The crowd laughed at this personal memory as Esme then questioned the name of the track suggesting it should have instead been called ‘Coal for Christmas’.
Esme and Em continued these short and sweet explanations of the meaning behind every track as their set neared an end. It created a bond with the audience and an understanding of their thought process while writing. Please started as a love song but after “putting everything romantic from books into it”, Esme felt it began sounding desperate which is why she gave it the name Please.
The duo shared the rotten week they’d had, with both Em’s guitar and their own car breaking. Against all odds, they made it on tour and we can only be so glad that they did. Their set was the perfect way to start the evening and I’m sure they have gained a whole host of new listeners.
Rising indie star Bonnie Kemplay took to the stage alone tonight. Her coveted support slot on The 1975’s tour last year solidified her standing as one of the most exciting new artists to keep an eye on. Against the white backdrop she launched into the intimate Checkers.
Scottish-born Bonnie has been to this venue many times before. She informed us that one of those nights was for Billie Eilish, where the crowd was ‘so loud’ she contracted tinnitus for 6 months. She then jokingly told the crowd to “Shh” as they cheered for her, commenting that it “was too loud”.
Taking a break to tune her guitar allowed Bonnie’s distinctive northern humour time to shine as she quietly joked, “There’s quite a lot of you, I didn’t even think there would be this many, well… I know you’re not here for me”. She has a quiet charm that would unite any group in supporting her and — from the muted cheers the crowd continued to let out — it was clear she had already done so tonight.
An unexpected track on her setlist came in the form of an Adrianne Lenker cover. Bonnie asked if there were any fans of hers here tonight, to which she received a cheer: “Oh no, OK,” she countered, now realising the weight that came with covering the solo artist and Big Thief vocalist’s track. Fool was a perfect fit and felt like it was made for Bonnie in some ways.
Blushing rounded out what was a beautiful set. Kemplay is just at the beginning of her career and I personally can’t wait for the release of her first album (whenever that may be).
An artist that first gained reputation for her mysterious character, Amber Bain — better known as The Japanese House — is now synonymous with her personal, sometimes vulnerable and overall heartfelt lyrics. Her tracks toe the line between sad indie ballad and upbeat pop.
The Buckinghamshire-born musician has had a busy year already: it aptly began in Japan back in January. Two sold-out shows in Tokyo later, Bain joined The 1975 the following month to support their UK leg of their The 1975 Still… at their very best tour. A Coachella appearance, multiple festival announcements and a US tour beginning later this month later she really does seem at home up on a big stage.
Tonight’s gig began with Touching Yourself from In the End It Always Does. It is one of the singer’s faster moving tracks and the room was swaying around and singing the lyrics as loud as they could in no time.
A welcome rewind came in the form of 2019’s Follow My Girl which led into Something Has to Change from Bain’s 2020 EP Chewing Cotton Wool. Amber took time to address the crowd as she noted how many more people were here tonight than the last time she played in Glasgow. She was right, the room was packed.
Baby goes again slowed things down and gave Amber’s incredible vocals time to shine. The serenity didn’t last for long, however, as the chords of the rarely played live f a r a w a y rang out across the room. Phones were raised and record was pressed to document the monumental occasion that came to an end all too quickly.
Tonight’s setlist was a joy as Bain drew from both her albums, EPs and even treated the crowd to an unreleased track: smiley face. She informed us that we were “the first to hear it live” and, upon finishing it, remarked “absolutely terrifying”. There was not one inch of fear in her performance and it was an instant hit with the crowd who bopped along to the track as if they knew it already.
Amber Bain is a talent that the world needs and it is so great to see her finally getting the recognition she deserves. I truly can’t wait to see what the rest of this mega year has in store for her.
All photos by Isla Kerr.