"Two songs into Khruangbin's intimate set at San Francisco's Regency Ballroom, Khruangbin guitarist Mark Speer took to the microphone to address the sold-out crowd. He asked that everyone turn to their right and left and introduce themself to a stranger, a gesture of good will and comradery and, perhaps most of all, vibes. If there's any word in millennial parlance that's been used into oblivion, it's the V-word. One could say it's the new "cool" but more "low-key." There's something ineffable about the word; you know it when you see it, and in Khruangbin's case, even the New York Times hears it."
"Originally hailing from Houston but now scattered across the country (Speer is said to live somewhere north of San Francisco), the band broke out in the mid-aughts playing sparse, mostly instrumental meandering songs. The tracks sounded like vintage funk from Thailand, classic Nigerian afrobeat, and '70s AOR, all anchored by a boom-bap percussive backbone with a hip-hop swing. Or you could say they sounded like the first few moments of band practice when everyone's just noodling around, trying to find a common groove."
Khruangbin opened a sold-out Regency Ballroom set by urging audience members to introduce themselves to strangers, fostering connection and emphasizing vibes. The band is marking the 10-year anniversary of its debut album with a rerelease featuring new versions of each song. The anniversary tour favors smaller, intimate venues rather than the larger theaters the band has previously played. Originating in Houston and now geographically dispersed, the group rose in the mid-aughts with sparse, largely instrumental tracks blending Thai funk, Nigerian afrobeat, '70s AOR, and a boom-bap, hip-hop-inflected percussive backbone. Streaming success and notable collaborations expanded the band's reach.
Read at SFGATE
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