Bonobo Kicks Off Tour in Nashville, Tennessee
Following his new album Fragments, Bonobo, the Los Angeles based, British producer and DJ, kicked off his North American tour on February 18th in Nashville, Tennessee at the Wildhorse Saloon. His mellow, almost meditative production, presence as a DJ, and help from a full band allowed Bonobo the versatility to traverse across multiple genres during the show. The nearly two hour set included most of Fragments, extended versions of “Kiara” and “Cirrus”, and full on jam sessions. Seamlessly transitioning from classic Bonobo, to deep house, to tropical house and back was truly impressive to see, and kept the party going all night.
The versatility of the band was a pleasure to see in action. Bonobo himself switched between synths, drum pads, and bass guitar. The wind instrument musician switched between clarinet, saxophone, and DJ, and multiple guest singers rotated throughout the show. When the band needed a break, Bonobo did a short DJ mix alone on stage, and the show finished with the full band crushing a hard rock jam as a grand finale. The show highlighted Bonobo’s incredible ability as a producer, composer, and musician.
The visuals consisted of aerial nature shots, with a focus on water, mountains, and bright colors, mixed with an ever evolving light show that grew with the energy of the show. One moment it felt like a bright euphoric festival stage, and the next a deep underground night club. At first thought, having a show at the Honky Tonk heavy Wild Horse Saloon seemed like an odd choice, but it revealed the true potential of the venue. The large floor space and mezzanine, along with an amazing sound system and light setup, led to a packed house. Bonobo set the blueprint and brought big shoes to fill for future artists performing at the Wildhorse Saloon.
Overall, Bonobo has evolved into an audio-visual project that transcends one true description and genre. It has become an experience, and a showcase of musical talent and composition. While it was the first show of the tour, self admitted weeks of rehearsal in Nashville paid off with flawless execution. Bonobo is a must see artist, and his evolution has been amazing to witness.
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