On Friday night in Dallas, Khruangbin drew a huge crowd to The Factory in Deep Ellum – their fans formed a sea of sequins, fringe, tie dye, and psychedelic prints. Standing atop three spaceship-esque platforms, the Houston trio transcended what you’d assume a three piece band with practically no sing-a-long melodies can deliver to create a sultry, vibrant, and impossibly cool atmosphere for the Dallas crowd to enjoy.
Before the band took the stage, a couple at the barrier tried to explain to a security guard the type of music he’d hear while working the show: “It’s hard to pinpoint their genre, exactly. It’s just…music. It’s chill and funky and every song is easy to vibe to.” Drawing inspiration from Thai funk, Jamaican reggae, Asian pop, and American Funk and R&B, Khruangbin accomplishes a global sound that any music lover can appreciate.
Photos by Natalie Perez / @natperezphoto
After playing tunes from their recent album Mordechi and more notable hits from previous records, the band pulled from that global influence by playing an expansive, genre bending medley of covers that took the crowd on a ride through space and time. It was during this medley where the band really showcased their chemistry and craft by weaving effortlessly in and out of their own songs and covers like “Back In Black,” “Rapp Snitch Knishes,” “Rhythm Is A Dancer,” “I Got 5 On It,” “Bennie and the Jets,” and “Jump On It” (just to name a few). Mark Speer on the guitar and Laura Lee on the bass proved themselves to be experts of tone and timing and Drummer Donald Ray “DJ” Johnson Jr. craftily kept up, never missing a beat.
After they completed the set and quickly thanked the crowd, Khruangbin returned for a dazzling extended encore, and to the crowd’s surprise and delight, accompanied by their long-time friend and collaborator: Fort Worth-native Leon Bridges. Together, the group performed Chocolate Hills, a song yet to be released from their upcoming Texas Moon collaboration followed by their wildly popular fan-favorite, “Texas Sun.”
