Khruangbin delivered groovy and danceable tunes to a Saturday night crowd at Observatory in North Park .
Khruangbin
The three piece from Houston, Texas, mixes of psychedelic soul, funk, and jazz influenced by artists from Thailand, Spain, and Afghanistan. The bass drives the music while the guitar gives ornamentation, and the drums provide a clean backing rhythm.
When you listen to a Khruangbin record, they sound like the most chill band in the world. It’s the kind of music that you bob your head to as you walk down the street, feeling good all by yourself. Seeing them live is quite a different experience; they are loud enough to shake your entire body, which is what inevitably happens because you can’t help to dance.
They played a healthy balance of music off of their two albums. Off their first album, The Universe Smiles Upon You, they played favorites like “Dern Kala” and “People Everywhere (Still Alive).” Latin inspired “Como Te Quiero” and funk bass powerhouse “August 10” were among songs off their second album, Con Todo Del Mundo, which was released this year. They also played personal favorite “Evan Finds the Third Room,” which I got a little too excited about in the moment.
The most exciting and unexpected portion of their set however, was a medley they played right in the middle, fusing short instrumental sections of popular hip-hop and R&B music. The crowd went wild when they heard the melody of Dr. Dre’s “Next Episode,” Ice Cube’s “Today Was a Good Day,” and Warren G’s “Regulate” mashed together for one giant throwback.
They played the surf-y Mediterranean tune “Maria Tambien” before leaving the stage. When they came back out for the encore, bassist Laura Lee, known for her flashy outfits, had changed into an all sequin bodysuit. Together with two oversized disco balls on stage, the room had become a surrealist dance floor for the final stage of the show.