I feel like I have just been taken on a magic carpet ride into a psychedelic, jazz infused forest of love with Khruangbin in the drivers seat! What an incredible gig! The Texan three piece tonight created more funk than Nina Simone’s mosquito’s tweeter!
Tonight’s gig was sold out at Alexandra Palace with 10,000 of us ‘Khru’ in attendance in the big hall. The stage was adorned with two huge glitter balls suspended from either side of the stage with a crushed velvet backdrop, only fitting for one of the coolest, best dressed bands around. Their attire was no exception tonight as they entered the stage to a crescendo of noise, Khruangbin begin to play the opening number ‘First Class’ from their most recent album ‘Mordechai’ with its lyrics of ‘Champagne, First Class, Solamente’ ringing out to the sultry bass line from Laura Lee (Leezy). Mark shows off his love for the psychedelic guitar sound throughout the track ‘August Twelve’ which in essence feels like, to me, a song that is telling a story as it progresses and completely changes its direction half way through.
Khruangbin moved through the majority of their well known back catalogue during the course of this evening which included ‘Lady and Man’, ‘Evan Finds The Third Room’, ‘Maria Tambien’ and wherever you looked from front to back everyone was dancing, moving and making friends. Its impossible not to move your body to the grooves that Khruangbin create, even if you consider yourself not to be a dancer you’ll soon be shaking those hips like you never knew you could.
The Khruangbin setlist is synonymous with a medley of a variety of different songs played in part and tonight is no different. We were treat to an opening with David Bowie’s Let’s Dance, followed by three MF Doom numbers including Coffin Nail and Deep Fried Frenz. This then flowed (weirdly but it worked) into the Eastenders theme tune, a nod to obviously being in London, which then moved into Ice Cube ‘It Was A Good Day, Warren G ‘ Regulate’, Dr Dre ‘Nuthin’ But a G Thang’, ODB ‘Got Your Money’ with the medley finishing with Spandau Ballet ‘ True’ and Chis Isaak ‘Wicked Game’.
Moving into the encore, and a quick outfit change for bassist Laura, this is the time for drummer to DJ to further show off his skills on the uplifting number ‘Time (You & I)’ before ending the ride with ‘People Everywhere (Still Alive)’.
We were also treated to a sublime support band tonight in the form of Secret Night Gang, the Manchester jazz funkers were the perfect band to warm up the crowd with their soulful jams and heady mix of gospel and R&B. Their self titled album came out in October 2021 and is a great listen, the band will also be playing at Portsmouth Guildhall on 20th May 2022 as part of a run of shows put on by our friends at The People’s Lounge. Tickets for the event can be found here.
