By Jonas Broom
Kishi Bashi kicked off his 10th anniversary tour for Sonderlust here in Athens at the iconic 40 Watt venue last week on Tuesday. The evening was warm, downtown was lively, and the show was a spectacle. I was joined by the legendary DJ Fishman, host of WUOG’s very own Oddballs. It was a night full of great tunes, exciting surprises, and it was something that could have only taken place here in Athens where Sonderlust was recorded and brought to life.
The show’s opener, Bayonne, set the mood just right with some hypnotic alternative piano pop-rock, a description that does not do the performance justice. I had never heard of Bayonne before, let alone their music. As the lights dimmed and the murmur from the crowd died down I did not know what to expect. Bayonne performed alongside a hired drummer which gave him more freedom to get a little crazy. After the set I briefly talked with Bayonne and he said that he has always wanted to perform in Athens, calling it an “artsy fun” city. He felt welcomed by the crowd’s energy and said that he would absolutely want to come back.
After a short intermission, myself and the people around me mentally prepared for what was in store for us, we were ready for the prince of Athens to perform! Kishi Bashi, accompanied by his three–piece band, made his way onto the stage as the crowd welcomed him with cheers and applause. Bashi donned a beautifully tailored black and gold suit that was covered with the same elegant artwork that can be found on the album cover for Sonderlust. A faint fog crept from the stage into the audience as the band prepared to start playing; one could only wonder if it was the fog machine or just Kishi Bashi’s aura?
They jumped right into the magic and played the entirety of Sonderlust all the way through, something that Kishi Bashi had never done before. Songs like “m’Lover” and “Can’t Let Go, Juno” had me bouncing around like a frog in a field of fruit flies. Similarly, songs such as “Hey Big Star”, “Say Yeah”, and “Statues in a Gallery” had in my smooth-disco bag, shaking hips and busting lips. The closer for the album “Honeybody” was especially memorable because it was the introduction of a new touring mascot, a creature with a honey body! Those who have seen Kishi Bashi live before are likely familiar with the Mr. Steak mascot, another touring mascot and (before Honeybody) the only touring mascot Kish Bashi had.
The 40 Watt was the perfect venue for this occasion. From the dim lighting, vibrant Panhandle Slim artworks, and noticeable lack of seating the Athens venue was exactly what Kishi Bashi needed to properly celebrate the 10th year anniversary of Sonderlust, a landmark album in Athens music history.
Leave a Reply