Lamp Lights Up Halloween Night with Lush Soundscapes and Sincere Connection
Written by Amethyst Chagolla | October 31, 2025
San Antonio - Outside San Antonio’s Aztec Theater, fans dressed as Luigi, hot dogs, and vampires stretched around the block, eager to experience Lamp’s Halloween night performance. The crowd’s playful mix of costumes and quiet excitement reflected the band's blend of whimsy, sincerity, humor, and heart. For many in line, the show was a rare chance to experience Lamp’s dreamlike sound in person years after first discovering them through late-night playlists and deep dives.
Formed in 2000, Lamp’s distinct style is the result of the trio’s shared artistry and long-standing friendship, which began in high school. Drawing influences from rock, French pop, and bossa nova, guitarist Taiyo Someya, keyboardist Yusuke Nagai, and vocalist Kaori Sakakibara have spent 25 years growing their bond and refining a sound that’s unmistakably their own — intricate, experimental, and deeply emotional.
Lamp took to the stage, inviting the audience to lose themselves in the warm, detailed textures of their music. As they opened with their hit, “Hitachi no Koi,” the room greeted them with cheers before settling into a calm and euphoric energy. Smooth vocals and lush instrumentals created vivid soundscapes full of feeling. Throughout the set, Lamp showcased their multi-instrumental range, weaving flutes, layered percussion, and gentle guitar lines into arrangements that felt both timeless and new.
During a brief pause, the band shared their first impressions of San Antonio. Having arrived just a day before, they confessed their love for the city. Someya even joked about moving his family there, earning loud cheers from the crowd full of hometown pride.
Caught up in the Halloween spirit, the group laughed as they pointed out costumes, realizing how surreal it was to hear “From the Midnight Shoreline” next to someone dressed as Monkey D. Luffy. Someya noted that while costumes have become more popular in Japan, they were once reserved for “party people.” Sakakibara expressed her desire to celebrate the holiday as well.
Venturing deeper through their musical soundscapes, the band’s focus returned to transporting the crowd. This time, they showcased their indie-pop roots, mixing airy synthesizers with classical touches like flute and trumpet. The result was a dreamlike atmosphere that shimmered with nostalgia and joy. As the rhythms grew livelier, clusters of dancing zombies and costumed fans filled the floor, swaying to the beat.
Beginning their next fan favorite, “Yume Utsutsu,” the band drew cheers as a fan let out a piercing yell that echoed through the venue, catching the attention of both the crowd and the band. Laughter echoed through the venue. Restarting the song with playful energy, the moment felt less like a concert and more like a shared celebration between artist and audience.
Photos by Amethyst Chagolla
For the encore, a spontaneous drum battle ignited the stage, met with chants of “Hey! Hey! Hey!” from the crowd. Following the drum battle, a trumpet solo captivated the crowd as the musician played a stream of unbroken phrases, seemingly without taking a breath. Someya, Nagai, and Sakakibara followed the sound of the music and cheers back onstage, dancing with the crowd to create one last energetic burst of fresh energy.
As Lamp exited, the energy lingered. Though the show had ended, the night felt as though it had just begun. The band had left their mark, inviting everyone to carry that same rhythm, wonder, and warmth as they stepped into the Halloween night.
