Live: Thundercat @ O2 Academy Brixton
Credit: Colleen
“It Is What Is’ won the GRAMMY for “Best Progressive R&B Album” (2020). Thundercat’s latest musical collaborations were with Ty Dolla $ign, Anderson .Paak and Kanye West on ‘Track 6’ from Ty Dolla $ign’s 2020 album and most recently he featured on HAIM’s expanded “Women in Music Pt III” album on the track ‘3am’ and Flying Lotus’ beautiful score for “Yasuke” – LeSean Thomas’ anime series about a Black samurai in medieval Japan.
Thundercat is the bassist / singer Stephen Bruner, the mercurial talent and GRAMMY award-winner, highly respected and much in-demand with his peers who has previously worked with the likes of Ariana Grande, Kendrick Lamar, Pharrell, N.E.R.D., Erykah Badu, Herbie Hancock, Childish Gambino, Mac Miller, Anderson .Paak, Janelle Monáe, BADBADNOTGOOD, Moses Sumney, Michael McDonald, Kenny Loggins, Wiz Khalifa, Robert Glasper, Kamasi Washington, Travis Scott, Little Simz, Louis Cole, and Shabazz Palaces in addition to his longtime writing partner Flying Lotus.
Credit: Colleen
'Hello London I've missed you. This is first place I came to, to do my own music' said Thundercat excitedly. He was on a raised stage with two other musicians behind a white string curtain which was taken away after the fourth song. We particularly loved the headgear he was wearing and we've missed him too. His set was something to behold showing acid jazz in modern way. With captivating instrumental breakdowns and plenty of stank faces in the room to go along with it. The band were tight with plenty of syncopated patterns and interesting rhythms as we remembered what eargasms were.
We all entered his world as passenger's on the Thundercat train.
Sharing his love of anime and giving us a few insights of some of the best ones to delve into. Telling us the funny story of how him and Louis Cole met, followed by ‘I Love Louis Cole’. He paid homage to Issa Rae he recently worked with her and you could tell he was beaming about her work on her TV series 'Insecure'. He followed this beautiful homage by performing the track featured in season 5 ‘Satellite Space Age Edition’ p.s would highly recommend watching ‘Insecure’ amazing.
He did a touching tribute to Taylor Hawkins he recently passed away. He spoke about how his brother wanted to stay up a watch his set with Alanis Mossisette but because of church his mother wanted him to go to bed early. However his Father taped the set for him to watch. Thundercat says he remembers his Mother shouting from outside the home about the fact they were going to be late. His Father, brother and him trying to catch as much of the set as they could half bodies out of the room my head still in the living room. It was this set that changed his brothers life and so when he found out about Taylor he called Thundercat and became quite emotional. The audience were touched by the story, it was endearing. He then performed ‘A message for Austin / Praise the Lord / Enter the Void’. When you listen to lyrics you can tell there was an emotional connection and potentially may have been difficult to record
On a lighter note there was definitely some durags in the audience including myself. So when he performed ‘Dragonball Durag’ we knew it was just for us and I proudly sang along. I appreciated the clever transition from 'Show you the way' into 'Black Qualls. It was unexpected and glorious.
Another moment was a drum solo I remember during an instrumental break I was so taken aback by I stood there with my mouth open. That double pedal was on fire I'm surprised we didn't see smoke coming from it.
Credit: Quinn Dunziellas
For us the stand out moment was near the end of the set when he told us to get up and he sung ‘Funny Thing’ and the audience didn't waste anytime, dancing along to the music and singing. It was a beautiful sight you looked around and all you could see was joy it was truly special. For a few minutes the world melted away and you couldn't help but be drawn in. We all needed this after the past few years we've had
Not once have we ever been to concert where the majority of the audience is singing meow backing vocals.
Only Thundercat.
Credit: McKay Felt
It Is What It Is - European Tour 2022:
29 Mar Barrowland Ballroom, Glasgow, UK
01 Apr Manchester Academy, Manchester, UK
03 Apr O2 Academy Brixton, London, UK
04 Apr Paradiso, Amsterdam, NL
05 Apr Melkweg, Amsterdam, NL
06 Apr Élysée Montmartre, Paris, FR
09 Apr De Roma, Antwerp, BE
10 Apr Astra, Berlin, DE
Be sure to follow Thundercat for the latest. His music - including ‘It Is What It Is’ available to stream now. Get your merch and tour dates too.
