SNL came back from a week’s break with Leon Bridges taking the stage. The week’s host Ryan Gosling warmly introduced Bridges to the sea of cheers. He performed two tracks from his album Coming Home, Smooth Sailin’ and River.
Smooth Sailin’ was up first. As soon as the jazzy sound prompted the stage to light up, the spirit of the 50s washed over Bridges. He immediately started to groove his hips and click his fingers to the beat. This continued as he sang with a crisp, pitch-perfect tone. He quickly became lost in the song, dancing behind the microphone while the saxophone roared. The song powered on with stellar harmonies between Bridges and his back-up vocalist and The stage lights twinkled as the song came to an end.
When Gosling introduced River, Bridges returned with a guitar in hand; a notable change from the upbeat song we saw previously, but the soul was still there. The stripped down song allowed the audience to concentrate on Bridges soothing vocals. As the slow song sailed on, he proved the value in his versatility and wowed the audience once again.
Adele left a lasting impression on the SNL audience two weeks ago, so it was a hard act to follow. However, Bridges pulled through, giving two amazing performances. Next week, we’ll see Chance The Rapper take the stage.
Don’t forget, you can see Bridges in the flesh during his Falls Festival set and forthcoming side shows.
Side Shows:
Sun, 3rd January – Metro Theatre, Sydney (TICKETS)
Thurs, 7th January – 170 Russell, Melbourne (TICKETS)
The Falls Music And Arts Festival
Wed Dec 30, 2015 – Lorne, VIC (SOLD OUT)
Thu Dec 31, 2015 – Marion Bay, TAS (Tickets)
Fri Jan 1, 2016 – Byron, NSW (Tickets)