[ATTENDED: May 6, 2025] Kishi Bashi
This was our seventh time seeing Kishi Bashi. We had seen him not too long ago in Philly for his Kantos tour. But we knew that this was going to be different. It was a RETROspect tour and I knew it would be a very different kind of show. The previous show was a pretty big production with a full backing band (and costume changes). This one was a trio. K. on violin and guitar, Tall Tall Trees (Mike Sorvino) on his Banjotron and keyboards and cellist Emily Hope Price (all three of whom sing like angels).
The place was sold pretty well, but we were still able to get close. It was bizarre that there were people there with little kids. One of whom kept sneaking back and forth between their hangout spot–off to the side–to their guardian. It was pretty distracting but I’ve seen things that were a lot worse. And it was pretty clear all the adults were big fans.
To the side of the stage was a small easel. And throughout the show, K. changed the image to reflect the cover album of the songs he was going to play.
The first image was the cover of his debut EP Room for Dream. He played two songs from the EP (which both appeared on 151a). There was even an opportunity for him and Mike to have a little solo improv piece (and there’s always room for beatboxing).
Then when he switched the easel to 151a, he played a fairly deep cut Wonder Woman Wonder Me (it was really cool hearing this mellow song).
Then he jumped to the big ones: Atticus in the Desert and I am the Antichrist to You. They were glorious. And it was really fun seeing Mike use a violin bow on the Banjotron–meaning all three musicians were bowing their instruments. But Mike’s the only one who busted out a drum mallet to whack on the banjo (so fun when he does this).
The fabulous Lighght came up next. Up first was Philosophize with It, and the show just got better. He told us that he had written the song for a commercial in Japan–it was only the chorus and people wondered where the rest of it was. So he fleshed it out. He followed this with a big surprise for me (although it probably shouldn’t have been). This felt like a fairly small show, and when he started Mr Steak in a quiet, almost ballad style, I didn’t expect Mr Steak to come out. But he did! And we all danced along with the Grade A wonder.
I was a little surprised there were only two songs from Lighght, but he’s got a lot of music now, so we moved onto Sonderlust and the gorgeous m’lover. It was followed by Can’t Let Go Juno, played in a different style from the record. Rather than the intense dancey synth of the record, K. played acoustic guitar
Then it was on to Omioyari and the always amazing to see live Violin Tsunami. That he could follow up the intensity of Tsunami with the beautiful and delicate Marigolds shows what a complex songwriter he is. The three of them stood in front of a central old microphone and sang the gorgeous songs together. This set up continued through the next album. Continue Reading »
I had a ticket to this Free at Noon and drove into Philly to see it.
I Just Read About That... 