Bonobo at Greek Theatre, Los Angeles (27 Sept 2017)

  The twilight met the cool crisp breeze of fall as I made my way up the hill to the Greek Theater to see British legend/DJ Bonobo perform with Bob Moses and Tourist. Seeing a show at the Greek is a magical experience in and of itself (in the middle of the forest amidst Griffith Park) regardless of the artist…however it has turned into a kind of Mecca for the best of the best to shine their light and please our ears.

  London native and Grammy winner William Phillip, also known as Tourist, started the night with his head-bobbing beats that the early bird crowd appeared to know all too well. The self-taught musician/songwriter has remixed artists such as Sharon Van Etten, Chvrches and HAIM. His style is a mix between poppy breakbeats that slowly go into an immersion of soul and drum n bass…with uplifting buildups that tickle your spine. His most popular single “We Stayed Up All Night” featuring the trance-like vocals of Ardyn is a laid-back track filled with youthful angst and enchanting optimism. He has indeed said that the past year he has been writing more colorful, joyous tunes at home, in contrast to the more bittersweet tracks he’s know for. So much energy and talent in this dude. His EP U came out last year and we’re expecting a new album before 2018.

  Canadian duo Bob Moses (also Grammy winners, btw) came out with guitars and keys a’ blazing with a badass drummer joining them (who’s name I never caught). Lead singer/guitarist Tom Howie was an all-black-wearing hottie onstage as they opened with the track “Far From the Tree”. Tom and Jimmy Vallance decided to start a band in high school in a parking lot in New York, and it’s been a long list of successful hits ever since. A blend of danceable melodies with haunting vocals sure to get your heartbeat racing, these guys know how to work a crowd. Jimmy  is a beast on keys…with at times a creepy kind of sound. The band killed it with their breakthrough hit “Tearin’ Me Up”, leaving the crowd all hot and bothered before Bonobo.

  Simon Green a.k.a. Bonobo’s latest album Migration came out last January to rave reviews. The sound has an overall indigenous feel, a lullaby and a dance party all wrapped into one. Bonobo hit the stage, front and center with his synthesizers. He was surrounded by a strings section, trombones, drummer and guitarist. Our beautiful guest act for the night was the lovely British singer Szjerdene, who has been touring with Bonobo for years enhancing the already brilliant performance with her soulful and brazen vocals. After Green discovered Szjerdene, and their sounds were a match, the birthing of musical collaboration began.

  The violins and cello complete with rock formations and images of the ocean on the screen made the start of the set feel like a  tribal symphony on LSD. In fact the whole set of Bonobo was like being at Burning Man without all the ridiculous outfits. Never have I felt more of a sense of community and oneness during a show (especially a show in LA) as I did dancing in the aisle of my seat, smiles and hip-swaying Angelenos abound. Green has been in the game for 15 years, with recent collaborations with Rhye and Nicole Miglis, both featured on the new album. Szjerdene’s voice on the song “Break Apart” nearly brought me to tears and felt like she was inviting us up to the stairway to heaven…beyond the venue to the place of musical divinity where we take long drives with a lover to a place we’ve never been.

  After a salsa/tin can sounding number Bonobo exclaimed “This is a hometown show…I made the album 3 miles away from here!”. He has lived in LA for the past 3 years and it seems this influence has come out in his music…it is somehow more bright and expansive, airy and loving. “First Fire” was up next, my favorite track from his 2013 LP The North Borders. When Szjerdene belted out the lyrics I was looking around and everyone was smiling and holding their hands up in the air, kissing their partner…just grooving to the music. It was as if she was telling us that it’s going to be ok…that the world might be a mess and the devastation is certainly palpable, but fear not because we are here and alive and sharing something that is a wondrous comfort to all of us…music.

  Next up was the monstrous beat of “Bambro Koyo Ganda” and everyone basically lost their minds. The tribal theme of the night continued and the lights and backdrop onstage seemed to ignite more energy into the crowd. By the time confetti glittered the stadium after “No Reason”, a song he said he wrote with his friend Murphy, Bonobo announced that he was going to get into something a little more gentle. He then played a couple older tracks which blended seamlessly into his current stuff, and everyone knew the night was coming to an end. It didn’t matter though because the photosynthesis of vitality and spirit that was being exchanged was still pumping through all of us…and wasn’t going away any time soon.

  The Grand Finale for Bonobo is November 28th in London. Be sure to catch him and his mates for a night of boogying and liberation.