Growing up with a mom who played The Clash in car rides home from school, and still unapologetically turns the volume up any time a Billy Bragg song comes on, King Krule always felt like a familiar sound.ย With that same raw, emotional, deep voice championed by artists like Bragg and Strummer, but incorporating jazz, and hip hop influences, King Kruleโs singular sound will make you feel reflective in one moment, and like you just want to jump around in the next.ย Hailing (originally) from London, King Krule (aka Archy Marshall) brought this duality to the Fox Theater in Oakland this past Saturday night, touring his latest album release: Space Heavy. Pushing eight oโclock, a notably younger crowd filed into the sold out venue. As people settled into the once converted movie theater, opener Slauson Malone 1 took the stage. Personally, I think this was an act apt to open for an artist like Marshall. His set was full of distorted sounds as he screamed lyrics that cut through the crowd. Between these intense, deeply emotional moments, he had fun with the crowd. Between songs, he employed an air horn sample that harkened to the days of Vine, and even jumped into the audience and started performing amongst the crowd. Openers donโt usually leave an impression on me, but his set is not one I will soon forget. After he wrapped up, the venue filled out, and anticipation for King Krule grew. Whispers of what songs he might play rang out around me as people carefully carried practically overflowing beers to their friends, and subtly lit joints. Slowly the lights in the Fox dimmed as Marshall took the stage. Fans were chanting King Kruleโs name, yowling and howling and clapping as he and his band members came into view. Without hesitation Marshall started playing, opening with โPerfecto Miserableโ from his 2020 album Man Alive! It was a slow, melodramatic sound that, in true King Krule fashion, got the night started.ย Marhsall then quietly signaled an album shift, โNow weโre gonna OOZ.โย Marshall drove the energy of the pit right up with โDum Surferโ off his 2017 album: The OOZ. This song’s heavy guitar and bass lines make you want to throw something at a wall and bang your head around. A mosh roiled as the lyrics stabbed through the air.ย Cheekily, Marshall muttered he was, โfeeling like a reptile tonight.โย Followed instantly with the sharp sax sounds heavily intertwined in, โA Lizard Stateโ off his first album 6 Feet Beneath The Moon (2013), that kept the pit going. Yet another King Krule song that makes a person feel like they have got to get moving, and thatโs exactly what everyone was doing (including me).ย He then moved through much of his latest album, Space Heavy (2023). A slew of slower, melancholic songs brought pensive consideration through the crowd. Tracks like โTortoise of Independency,โ unfurled with the audience hypnotized by Marshallโs poignantly sentimental sound, cut through by sharper sounds like the heavily resonant chords in โFlimsier.โ As the opening chords for โSeagirlโ spilled out into the crowd, the audienceโs excitement rose to a crescendo, and as Raveena flowed onto stage to perform with Marshall. Featured on this track, she brought an ethereal layer of hypnosis to his darker hypnosis. Attendees of the Fox that night were the first to ever hear Marshall and Raveena play this song live together (!!). Raveenaโs tranquility didnโt last for long as Marshall jumped into another heavy hitter: โEasy Easy.โ His brutal honesty brought everyone back down to earth. Lyrics came from all directions as people belted out this classic.ย There was no shortage of fan favorites, as Marshall played through โStoned Again,โ โBaby Blueโ and โRock Bottom.โ Ending his set with โItโs All Soup Now,โ he left the crowd still wanting more, inciting an obligatory encore. Chants of his name echoed once more throughout the venue. Some foreshadowed what was to come, yelling โOut Getting Ribs!!โ hoping thatโs what they were about to hear. I think everyone knew what song was coming, but Marshall made us wait for it. He came back on stage and started slowly strumming on his guitar, toying with the crowd until those distinct chords dove deep down into โOut Getting Ribs.โ Everyoneโs voices came together in unison as Marshallโs stark lyrics filtered through everyone in the audience. It was my perfect ending to this show, with the first King Krule song I ever heard.ย ย Article and Photos by Lucy Gleeson Share this:Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)Click to share on Tumblr (Opens in new window)Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window)Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window) Leave a Reply Cancel ReplyYour email address will not be published.CommentName* Email* Website Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Currently you have JavaScript disabled. In order to post comments, please make sure JavaScript and Cookies are enabled, and reload the page. Click here for instructions on how to enable JavaScript in your browser. Δ