Known for their mostly instrumental tracks and eclectic global influences, Khruangbin transported the audience into a dreamy, cinematic soundscape that was equal parts concert and art installation. Composed of Laura Lee Ochoa (bass guitar and vocals), Mark Speer (guitar and vocals), and DJ Johnson (drums, keyboards, and vocals), each member on stage played an important role in bringing the atmosphere to life.
The night began with an electrifying performance by Peter Cat Recording Co., an Indian alternative rock band from Delhi. The five-piece group set the tone for the evening with an energy that captivated the audience filled with vintage vibes and lots of dancing. Front and centre was vocalist and guitarist Suryakant Sawhney, whose voice rang through the venue with a jazzy strength reminiscent of Frank Sinatra. Surrounding him was Karan Singh on drums, bassist Dhruv Bhola, keyboardist/trumpet player Rohit Gupta, and multi-instrumentalist Kartik Sundareshan.
They opened their set with ‘People Never Change’, the latest single from their 2024 album ‘BETA’. One of the set’s standout moments came with ‘Foolmuse,’ where the guitarist Sundareshan took over lead vocals, earning enthusiastic applause from the crowd. The song offered a quieter, more introspective interlude—simple, short, and sweet—before the band transitioned into their closing number.
Their finale, ‘Memory Box’, and their most-streamed song on Spotify, transformed the venue into a jubilant dance party. Fans and newcomers alike were swept up in the infectious rhythm, a perfect send-off for an opening act that left the audience buzzing with anticipation for Khruangbin.
‘A La Sala’, Spanish for “in the living room”, is Khruangbin’s most recent album and the namesake for their tour. The stage design was inspired by the album’s cover. True to its name, the stage resembled a cozy yet surreal living room, complete with white steps leading to three windows that represented each member of the trio. As the performance unfolded, these windows became what can only be seen as metaphorical portals, illuminated with shifting colors that reflected the "weather" representative of each song’s mood.
The show opened with Khruangbin stepping into their makeshift living room with light-filled fog at their feet and greeted by excited applause. Warm, angelic lighting cast an intimate glow and faded to blue as the band prepared to play. Ochoa herself was dressed in an all white outfit fitted with a halo-resembling headband in angelic fashion. As they launched into the first notes of their set, the trio's precision and cohesion were undeniable. Even in the subtlety of their movements, Ochoa and Speer were synchronized without even needing to look toward one another. Each member’s contribution was distinct yet seamlessly organic. Although there were only the three of them on the stage, everything was brought to life around them.
Khruangbin opened their set with ‘Fifteen Fifty-Three’ and ‘May Ninth,’ the lead tracks from their latest album. The familiar melodies washed over the audience, eliciting a collective sigh of relief and wonder. Slowly but surely the beats began to pick up as the band grew more comfortable on the stage.
A highlight of the first act was the performance of ‘A Love International’. A track filled with lush grooves and an antsy guitar loop. This then gave way to ‘Les Petits Gris’ (French for "The Garden Snails"), a poignant piano-led piece accompanied by delicate electric guitar. The absence of lyrics only heightened the emotional resonance, allowing the music to speak for itself. As the song faded and each member left the stage, the windows filled with stormy grays, and a soundscape of rain, thunder, and lightning filled up the venue. For several minutes, the audience sat with interest and mild confusion in the surreal interlude, as if caught in the eye of a storm.
The shift into the second act was marked by ‘Friday Morning’ from their album ‘Con Todo El Mundo’. The gentle, uplifting tune broke through the metaphorical storm like sunlight after the rain as each member returned to their positions. The audience was warmed up once more by Khruangbin’s ability to genre blend and evoke such vivid landscapes through their artistry. Needless to say, the applause was paramount upon their return.
Khruangbin closed the evening out with two older and very beloved tracks: ‘Time (You and I)’ from ‘Mordechai’ and ‘People Everywhere (Still Alive)’ from their debut album, ‘The Universe Smiles Upon You’. The former brought the audience to its feet with infectious dancing around the venue as the latter served as a triumphant finale and throwback to all that Khruangbin has accomplished in their career.
Setlist:
‘Fifteen Fifty‐Three’
‘May Ninth’
‘Ada Jean’
‘Farolim de Felgueiras’
‘Pon Pón’
‘Todavía Viva’
‘Juegos y Nubes’
‘Hold Me Up (Thank You)’
‘Caja de la Sala’
‘Three From Two’
‘A Love International’
‘Les Petits Gris’
‘Friday Morning’
‘Rules’
‘August 10’
‘Lady and Man’
‘Evan Finds the Third Room’
‘María también’
‘Time (You and I)’
‘People Everywhere (Still Alive)’
Molly Spencer
Images: Molly Spencer
No comments:
Post a Comment
Comment Here;
Note: only a member of this blog may post a comment.