Japanese Breakfast is the musical project of Japanese-Korean-American musician Michelle Zauner. Since starting Japanese Breakfast in 2013, Zauner has released 3 studio albums, toured extensively, and performed at major music festivals around the world. Fans who get the chance to see Japanese Breakfast live often wonder – how long are their shows? What can you expect if you go to a Japanese Breakfast concert?
Typical Japanese Breakfast Setlist Length
Based on recent setlists from Japanese Breakfast’s 2022 tour, their shows tend to run between 75 and 90 minutes with an average length of approximately 85 minutes. This gives them time to perform around 18-22 songs per show.
Some key stats on Japanese Breakfast’s typical show length:
Average Set Length | 85 minutes |
Shortest Recent Set | 75 minutes |
Longest Recent Set | 90 minutes |
Average # of Songs | 18-22 |
The length provides fans with a nice range of both old and new material from Japanese Breakfast’s catalog. For context, their third and most recent album, 2021’s Jubilee, contains 10 tracks.
Setlist Factors
Of course, the exact length of a Japanese Breakfast show can vary night to night depending on several factors:
Venue Size
Japanese Breakfast has played everything from small clubs to major festival stages. A shorter set is more common when they are the opening act for another band. Headlining shows allow more flexibility for a longer setlist.
Tour Type
Japanese Breakfast’s 2022 tour was focused on headlining shows and festival appearances in support of their latest album. More extensive headlining tours allow for longer sets compared to quick opening stints or festival appearances.
Time Constraints
The venue or event may impose time limits that shorten the length of the band’s performance. At festivals, multiple acts are on the billing, so set times tend to run shorter.
Songs Performed
While Japanese Breakfast’s setlists vary from show to show, here are some of the songs they are most likely to perform during a typical concert:
Most Common Songs
- “Paprika”
- “Be Sweet”
- “Everybody Wants to Love You”
- “Diving Woman”
- “Road Head”
These radio and fan favorites get played on a regular basis. “Paprika” in particular has become Japanese Breakfast’s signature hit live.
Other Likely Songs
- “Machinist”
- “Glider”
- “Slide Tackle”
- “Boyish”
- “In Heaven”
- “Posing In Bondage”
- “Kokomo, IN”
These tracks represent a good mix of deeper cuts, older songs, and hits that often find their way onto setlists.
Album Distribution
On average, Japanese Breakfast’s setlist contains:
- 5-6 songs from Jubilee
- 4-5 songs from Soft Sounds From Another Planet
- 3-4 songs from Psychopomp
- 1-2 covers/other songs
This allows them to showcase new material while also revisiting older fan favorites from their catalog. Covers and collaborations with opening acts also frequently appear.
Recent Setlists
To illustrate their typical show length and setlist makeup, here are 3 example Japanese Breakfast setlists from their 2022 tour:
July 30, 2022 – Osheaga Festival, Montreal
- “Paprika”
- “Be Sweet”
- “Jimmy Fallon Big!”
- “Savage Good Boy”
- “In Hell”
- “Posing In Bondage”
- “Diving Woman”
- “Road Head”
- “Glider”
- “Slide Tackle”
- “Boyish”
- “Everybody Wants to Love You”
- “Machinist”
Set Time: 60 minutes
Songs Played: 13
August 24, 2022 – Stubb’s Waller Creek Amphitheater, Austin TX
- “Paprika”
- “Be Sweet”
- “Kokomo, IN”
- “Slide Tackle”
- “In Heaven”
- “Jimmy Fallon Big!”
- “Posing In Bondage”
- “Diving Woman”
- “Road Head”
- “Till Death”
- “Everybody Wants to Love You”
- “This Heart of Mine”
- “Machinist”
Set Time: 80 minutes
Songs Played: 13
September 9, 2022 – Summerfest, Milwaukee WI
- “Paprika”
- “Be Sweet”
- “Savage Good Boy”
- “In Heaven”
- “Posing In Bondage”
- “Road Head”
- “Jimmy Fallon Big!”
- “Everybody Wants to Love You”
- “Glider”
- “This Heart of Mine”
- “Slide Tackle”
- “Diving Woman”
- “Boyish”
- “Machinist”
- “Tactics”
Set Time: 90 minutes
Songs Played: 15
Encore
Most Japanese Breakfast shows wrap up with a 1-2 song encore. Some of the songs they have used for encores include:
- “The Woman That Loves You”
- “Triple 7”
- “Essentially”
- “Jane Cum”
So while the main set will end up being around 75-90 minutes, plan for an additional 5 minutes or so of encore performance.
Takeaways
To summarize key points on the length of a typical Japanese Breakfast concert:
- Average show length is approximately 85 minutes
- Sets have ranged from 75 to 90 minutes recently
- 18-22 songs get performed on average
- At least 5-6 songs from newest album Jubilee
- Mix of old and new material & occasionally covers
- Plan for a short 1-2 song encore at the end
Of course, lengths can vary per show – but knowing what to expect can help fans plan for attending a Japanese Breakfast concert and getting the most out of the experience. The band makes sure to bring lots of infectious energy no matter how long they are on stage.
Setlist Sources
For fans interested in looking at recent Japanese Breakfast tour setlists:
Setlist.fm has an extensive database of Japanese Breakfast setlists from past tours. It can give fans a sense of song selections and show lengths night to night.
Conclusion
Japanese Breakfast concerts offer an energetic and emotional musical experience for fans. Knowing what to expect regarding the typical show length and setlist contents can help fans better appreciate the live performances. While exact details vary night to night, Michelle Zauner and band put on an enthralling show each time they hit the stage. For those lucky enough to catch one of their shows, it will be a memory to cherish no matter how long the set ends up being.