Photos and Review by Emily Gringorten
@emgringo

Khruangbin brought their trademark groovy sound and amazing vibes to a sold-out Greek Theatre in Berkeley, CA, on August 15th, 2024. The band, whose unique music fuses elements of funk, soul, psychedelia, and surf rock, is touring in support of their most recent release, A LA SALA. Alternative rock group Peter Cat Recording Co. energized the crowd with an upbeat opening performance, setting the perfect tone for the night. Khruangbin’s fantastic outdoor set, the second of three back-to-back shows in Berkeley, had the audience dancing non-stop, perfectly accentuated by the setting sun.

Before the show, audience members could grab a pamphlet with song lyrics and tour credits. The trifold included the message, “Please take this time to introduce yourself to those around you…” and urged viewers to refrain from using phones or cameras to photograph the show—a refreshing plea, though unfortunately, it was not widely followed.

Around 8:15 PM, the band—comprising Laura Lee Ochoa (bass/vocals), Mark “Marko” Speer (guitar/vocals), and Donald “DJ” Johnson (drums, keyboard, vocals)—took the stage in their signature black wigs, sat down, and began with “Fifteen Fifty-Three.” Laura Lee, wearing a bedazzled pantsuit that shimmered to the farthest corners of the theater lawn, cruised through each song and danced across the stage with confidence and poise. A fun fact: she never performs in the same outfit twice. She debuts two new outfits per show, and it’s estimated she has worn around 600 different outfits while touring. As for the wigs, they wear them to create a sense of mystery and privacy.

They proceeded to play the entirety of A LA SALA in order. The album’s title, which translates to “To the Room” in Spanish, was inspired by Lee’s childhood experiences of gathering her family in the living room. It’s a dreamy and stripped-back project that sees the group return to their roots in both sonics and feeling. According to the band’s Bandcamp page, the project is an exercise in “returning in order to go further, and to do so on your own terms.” It’s a refueling and reimagining of their vision and sound for the long haul ahead, confirming their intention to continue releasing and performing for years to come.

Playing into the living room theme, the set design featured three large screens designed to resemble windows. Scenes of comforting rainstorms, colorful sunsets, and dreamy landscapes flashed behind the band as they played, immersing the audience in the carefully curated world they’ve created.

The second half of the set featured fan-favorite tracks from their older projects, such as “So We Won’t Forget” from their 2020 LP Mordechai, “María También” from 2018’s Con Todo El Mundo, and “The Number 3” from 2014’s The Infamous Bill. During the three-song encore, which included “Bin Bin,” “Evan Finds the Third Room,” and “Time (You and I),” Laura Lee and Marko playfully kicked a balloon from the crowd across the stage back and forth. 

Attending a Khruangbin concert is like watching old friends jam together in someone’s garage. The show was comforting and cozy, with infectiously groovy basslines that made it impossible not to bop your head along to the beat. The A LA SALA tour will continue throughout the U.S. in September before heading to Europe and Australia, concluding in the spring of 2025.