Photos by Andrea Mejia

Traveling all the way from Japan, Lamp, made their way through California, making sure not to skip San Diego. The indie-pop band first became a  sensation in Japan, but their fame quickly spread to the west when a song off their seventh album, Yume, gained traction on TikTok. They finally made their North America debut when they released their ninth album in 2023, Dusk to Dawn. 

When I saw Lamp perform on the 25th of September at the House of Blues. The atmosphere was one that surprised me. They had skipped an opener and went straight into their set. My attention was immediately caught by the environment they created with their fans. It was an intimate concert and their fans seemed to love them, respectfully cheering them on. While they were playing, everyone’s eyes were on them. I noticed not many people had their phones out and conversations were limited. Everyone seemed to have their full attention on the music being played in front of them. 

Their sound has a dreamy indie-pop vibe, though their music is very unique to that genre. They have a complex rhythm section to each song. One of the aspects of their music that I was most impressed by were the eccentric melodies and harmonies that complimented each song. They were able to sing with haunting dissonance while still keeping a cozy, comforting, and relatively happy feel. 

The band didn’t have many words to say between songs. They would occasionally say something about how they were so happy and thankful to be playing a show in San Diego or throw in a joke to get the crowd laughing. But the focus on their music was enough to keep the crowd captivated, allowing their music to speak for itself.

Lamp’s concert had to be one of the most mesmerizing concerts I have ever been to. It was the type of concert that you leave feeling good and having gained even more appreciation for the artist you just saw. Can’t wait for their next album and North American tour!