Walking in to the Fillmore on Tuesday night, I did not know what to expect from Khruangbin’s live performance. The Texas based, groovy instrumental trio packs a lot of punch on their albums. I had doubts their studio complexity would translate to an outstanding live performance. As soon as the eccentric opener, The Mattson 2, left the stage, tensions began to rise. The crowd, which seemed to consist entirely of extras from IFC’s Portlandia, soon became restless. As soon as the lights began to dim, the crowd erupted. Shortly after, Mark Speer (guitar), Donald Johnson (drums), and Laura Lee (bass) glided out in cool confidence.
Cover art for Con Todo El Mundo (2018)
Khruangbin’s sound is as hard to describe as their name is to pronounce. Their name comes from the Thai word for “airplane.” Fittingly, their sound is internationally inspired and generationally eclectic. While their live performance lacked the additional percussion found on their albums, the songs seemed even more there. They were able to evoke joy, melancholy, and introspection solely through the core three instruments. In lieu of any lyrics, they vocalize through soft exhales – which worked surprisingly well with their instrumentation. On your first listen, you’d assume the lack of lyrics makes Khruangbin a jam band; however their melodies are calculated and their transitions are mapped out – immediately separating them from your high school friend’s jam band. Speer did have some improvisational fun throughout the show – throwing in some southern rock, funk, and jazz jams here and there.
While primarily a tour of their recently released sophomore album Con Todo El Mundo (2018), the setlist included several tracks from their debut album The Universe Smiles Upon You (2015). There was a seamless transition from smooth and calming to sharp and thought provoking.The trio threw in some expectation-defying 90s hip-hop instrumental covers; specifically, “Next Episode” by Dr. Dre and “Today Was a Good Day” by Ice Cube.
It’s amazing how three people can create a sound so concise, yet so descriptive. Each song was different from the last, followed an outline established by the records, but differed just enough to show the audience they never play a song the same way twice. Especially impressive was Speer’s ability to simultaneously play rhythm and melody. His technical skill was astounding and his creativity was inspiring. Together with Johnson’s tight drum patterns and Lee’s bouncy, supportive lines, Speer was able to tell an instrumental story filled with emotion and void of lyrics.
I left the Fillmore completely surprised and impressed with their performance. Even though this is only their second album, Khruangbin’s stage presence was on par with 10-album veterans. They possess the rare ability to make songs sound better live than they do on the album. Khruangbin wraps up their US tour this Saturday in Santa Ana. They will begin the international leg of their tour on May 19th in Seoul, Korea.
Written by Brendan Redmond