When Texas-native Leon Bridges was here earlier this year, one thing was for certain: he would be coming back to Australia very soon, and we couldn’t wait. Fast-forward seven months and he’s down under doing the rounds as part of the incredible 2016 line-up for Splendour in The Grass. This time, he brought his distinctive brand of Southern soul, infectious dance moves and undeniable charm along with his brilliant six piece band, to the iconic Forum Theatre in Melbourne.
We arrive to a buzzing venue cloaked in those unmistakable purple lights as one of our favourite Australian artists, Ngaiire, graces the stage for her support slot. With the attention her presence and her voice commands, it is totally unsurprising that much of the audience has turned up early for her set. With one of the most spectacular voices we’ve come across in a while, she envelops the room with an impressive tonal prowess. There is no better example of just how incredible her voice is than when she leaves the room seemingly shaking after a particularly powerful rendition of her single Diggin. She closes to a raucous applause with Once, reminding us precisely why she is one of the most exciting local acts on the Splendour line-up.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-9P7lilYw-c
The stage is a wonderful shade of gold and as Bridges and his band glide onto it, we seem to be transported to another time and place. Instantly, the images of televised music segments from eras long past spring to mind. However, that isn’t to say that Bridges is stuck without the ability to move. Not at all. While the references to Sam Cooke are perhaps omnipresent, there is no denying that Leon Bridges’ talent is a modern one – only, with a retro perspective.
With his energy as high as his pants, he launches into Smooth Sailing. The fan favourite has bodies twisting and turning immediately and it sets the mood for the duration of the set: fun, warm and high-energy. Bridges takes full advantage of the space offered to him on the Forum stage as he shimmies and shakes through key tracks from his Grammy nominated debut album, Coming Home.
Through Better Man, Bridges sings his case to be given another chance, the cries of “What can I do? What can I do?/To get back to your heart/I’d swim the Mississippi river/If you would give me another start, girl,” fill the theatre so complete, heartfelt need that one wonders if she ever did. A new kind of fervent enthusiasm is born soon after in both performer and audience with Bridges singing the praises of and celebrates Brown Skinned Girls. Throughout the set, Bridges has treated us to new tracks written during the whirlwind that as been his last year. It’s exciting and has us wondering if there’s a follow up to Coming Home in the very near future. The title track for his deb album calls, naturally, for a sing-along, with the room eagerly singing the hook – a duty that is only taken up stronger as the song wraps up.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pgS_xob1x4A
It is, however, River, in all its soft glory, that quiets the room as most of the band leaves the stage. Standing under a teal light, armed with his guitar and accompanied by keyboardist and backing vocalist, Bridges proves that his skill set is not rendered solely to his panache for nostalgia. He writes beautiful, soulfully modern songs and has the voice to bolster them.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0Hegd4xNfRo
After a lengthy set, an encore seems almost unlikely. Bridges thus far has one album to his name and he’s played a number of new songs tonight. However, after a few minutes, the band walks back out, grinning as they take their places and start up what sounds like an oddly familiar tune. Bridges joins the band on stage and, after quickly saying he’s taking us back to 1996, launches into a sultry, soulful rendition of Ginuwine’s infamous Pony. He gives us a look at a different side to Leon Bridges, one whose secret adoration for beloved and OTT ’90s R&B has paid off as the entire room turns to a cacophony of catcalls and constant, excitable cheers.
Pussyfootin’quickly follows and after he turns away from the crowd to mop his brow one final time before the band launches into the totally bombastic Mississippi Kisses. The song stretches through solos and as they have the entire night, Bridges and band seem to be genuinely enjoying themselves on stage, their love for performing is so clear and utterly contagious. Once again, seeing Leon Bridges live has been both a privilege and a pleasure.
Image: Juan Castro for Howl & Echoes. View the full gallery here.
Leon Bridges plays Splendour in the Grass on
We were lucky enough to catch Leon Bridges at his headline show in Melbourne on Tuesday July 19, while in Australia to perform at Splendour in the Grass. The stunningly soulful artist delivered an incredible performance, with support from Ngaiire, who recently released her brand new album Blastoma.
Leon Bridges and Ngaiire both perform in Melbourne again tonight, July 20, and on Thursday July 21 at the Oxford Art Factory in Sydney, before heading to Byron Bay for Splendour in the Grass, where they will play alongside the likes of The Cure, The Avalanches, The Strokes, James Blake, and Flume. Full details can be found here.
Howl & Echoes Top Picks: Splendour in the Grass 2016
Splendour in the Grass maps, timetables and more
Click here to view all other Splendour sideshow dates
Ngaiire
View our photo shoot with Ngaiire here
Leon Bridges
All photos: Juan Castro / Howl & Echoes
When you think of Leon Bridges, hip-hop and rap aren’t exactly the first words that come to mind. We have, however, recently learnt of the influence one of the most popular rappers in the world has on him as an artist.
Complex interviewed Bridges following his performance at the 325th anniversary of Ketel One in Schiedam, Holland about his growing success. When questioned about his musical influences, he mentioned Bobby Womack and Neil Young as examples of the “classics”. He then dropped in his love for hip-hop. “Listening to Kendrick Lamar challenges me to be a better writer. I like to pull inspiration from different places,” he said.
That’s hardly a surprise as we are all aware of the influence Lamar has on a variety of artists, as well as his fans. With his music and incredible lyrics, the Grammy-nominated artist was credited as one of the people who influenced the last album by David Bowie, one of the biggest and most influential stars to walk this earth, and saved a young fan’s life who was suffering from depression. He was also inducted into Time’s list of the Top 100 Most Influential People this year, which proves how far his impact had gone.
Bridges followed on from this question by speaking about the origins of his smooth, easy listening sound. “I listened to a lot of R&B growing up. It wasn’t even necessarily traditional soul music—from Ginuwine to Usher. That really built my foundation. It’s a blend of that, folk, and soul. I really don’t know how to explain it. It’s an accumulation of different things I’ve listened to my whole life.”
He has started working on the follow-up to his incredible debut album Coming Home. “This next record will show the growth of Leon Bridges,” he says, which ignites the excitement and anticipation that comes with the great news.
Read the full interview here.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MTrKkqE9p1o
Image: Danielle Hansen// Howl & Echoes
Texas born and bred Gospel and soul singer Leon Bridges has had a truly amazing year. Releasing his acclaimed debut album Coming Home in June through Columbia Records, he has since gone on to tour the world, also managing to pick up a sly best R&B album nomination at this years Grammy’s.
Now, thanks to the help of photographer and film director Danny Clinch we have a documentary retracing the phenomenon’s success, from his beginnings in Texas as the hopeful dishwasher with singer-songwriter aspirations to where he is now, selling out tours globally. The film, titled This is Home, runs for about 22 minutes and features interviews with close friends and family: saxophonist Jeff Dazey, bassist Andrew Skates, photographer Rambo, and of course his mother, Lisa Sawyer.
The film is beautifully shot and combines period settings with interviews, photographs and tangents which give an amazing insight into Bridge’s past and his artistry. Check it out below.
[vimeo 165299076 w=640 h=360]
Leon Bridges will be in the country once again this year for Splendour In The Grass, as well as some headlining sideshows. Check out the dates below.
Monday, July 18 – Enmore Theatre, Sydney (tickets and info)
Tuesday, July 19 – Forum Theatre, Melbourne SOLD OUT
Wednesday, July 20 – Forum Theatre, Melbourne SOLD OUT
Friday, July 22 – Splendour in the Grass (tickets and info)
Image: Danny Clinch
Leon Bridges is an old soul residing in the body of a jubilant 26-year-old, who manages to capture the essence of that spirit in his music so perfectly, it immediately conjures to mind some of the greats in the genre. One of the most defining and beautiful songs of his Grammy award-nominated album Coming Home, River, has lifted the melancholic beauty of his style and given it a new kind of life on the screen in the new music video.
The video is an homage to the recent turmoil in Baltimore and the lives lost along with it. Written and directed by Miles Jay, the clip pays tribute to the power of endurance in the face of great difficulty, which the people of Baltimore know far too much about.
The clip starts out with a man driving on a freeway, in the dusk or dawn – it’s hard to tell. Shipping cranes dot the horizon, evoking the imagery of the outskirts of a city. The driver and a passenger hum serenely to an unidentifiable tune, before the vintage car pulls up into a brightly lit motel lot.
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0Hegd4xNfRo&w=560&h=315]
The view shifts to a woman walking down the corridor and entering a room, where Bridges sits strumming a guitar, looking up as she enters the room. As he begins to strum the track, scenes of Baltimore flicker on the television behind them. Bridges serenades the woman in a beautifully stripped back, raw version of the song as the camera circles round before segueing into a shot of a woman and her child in an untidy house.
A man covered in blood walks down the street, entering his house and stripping off his soiled clothing. A group of people gather in the street to hold a vigil, releasing black balloons into the sky, the grief evident on their faces as they mourn those who are lost.
The video pauses at a point when the rain begins to pour heavily, and Bridges’ female companion begins to sing softly as images of families, children and mourners intertwine in an emotional and moving montage.
The video manages to convey this intense grief and devastation felt by the communities of Baltimore, but also shines a light onto the hope through the symbolic presence of a baby. Bridges’ beautiful and heady vocals are filled with the bittersweet melancholy of someone beyond his years.
“The river has historically been used in gospel music as symbolism for change and redemption. My goal was to write a song about my personal spiritual experience,” Bridges said in a statement about River.
“It was written during a time of real depression in my life and I recall sitting in my garage trying to write a song which reflected this struggle … I want this video to be a message of light. I believe it has the power to change and heal those that are hurting.”
The video is incredibly poignant, and although 2016 has just begun, perhaps this could be one of the year’s best yet. Released on the first day of Black History Month, the video is a metaphor for purifying and cleansing ability of water coming from the River.
So far, Bridges has captured audiences worldwide with his incredibly moving live performances on Jimmy Kimmel and SNL. Let’s hope his debut album will take home the gold at the upcoming Grammys.
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bsPeNrOzzZ8&w=560&h=315]
Image: Stereogum
Leon Bridges was just in Australia last week for Falls Festival and a couple of sideshows, and anyone who went along to any of these gigs can vouch for just how talented he is as a performer and a musician. There is some sort of humble charm that he has about him; extremely gifted and obviously hardworking, but humble and gracious as well. For those that haven’t seen him yet, it’s okay because there are now two examples getting some serious views thanks to his performance on Jimmy Kimmel‘s late night show last night.
Performing the upbeat, old school Twistin’ & Groovin’ as well as the stunning ballad, River, Leon Bridges made it almost look easy sounding this damn good. He effortlessly delivered his Sam Cooke-esque lyrics whilst grooving at the mic, before having a boogie around the stage for Twistin’ & Groovin’. Had the crowd not have been seated during this performance, I’m sure the crowd would have been doing the exact same.
For River, he donned his guitar and performed the stripped back track with his backing vocalist/duet partner. The intimate, emotive track was spellbinding over the audience, as he carefully plucked his way through his guitar melody and his voice rang out with it’s sombre sound. This clip is actually an online bonus, and bonus it is.
Watch the two performances below, and check out our review of his Melbourne sideshow here.
Leon Bridges has the charm and geniality of a man who has been performing in front of large audiences for a lifetime; that much is clear from the moment he shuffles on to the stage and greets his audience with “Nice to meet ya!” In reality, the Grammy nominee was signed just over a year ago after spending his days working as a dishwasher and his evenings performing to fewer than twenty people at Open Mic Nights around Forth Worth, Texas. Tonight, accompanied by his incredibly talented six-piece band on the intimate Corner Hotel stage in Melbourne, one can’t help but feel that now he is exactly where he was meant to be the entire time.
The set has kicked off with Flowers and after a quick address of the audience, Shine follows. Before launching into the third song of the night, Bridges warns his audience that they should hold on to their “boo things” should they not want to end up writing songs like Better Man. The sentiment is lovely, but by goodness if trying to make up after a break up results in songs such as this, then maybe it isn’t such a bad thing.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HLzr5xv36UI
Those who have previously seen him live know the stories that go with a fair few of the songs. Twistin’ & Groovin’ , the song about Bridges’s grandparents’ first meeting is introduced with their story as it always is, that is until Bridges adds an impromptu “he was like ‘wow-ee!'” much to the surprise and delight of both the band and the audience. When the song – referencing “long brown legs” and some serious twisting – is over, Bridges, still laughing at his earlier exclamation, repeats, “He was like ‘wow-ee!'” with a grin and a shake of his head.
Of course, the title and lead track of his debut album Coming Home is a crowd favourite and ignites the first proper sing along of the night. A true showman, Bridges tells the audience that he’s forgotten the lyrics, and everyone is champing at the bit to help him out.
Bridges has said in interviews that he doesn’t like to write flashy soul music – and he doesn’t. Instead, his throwback to Southern Soul music is filtered through contemporary authenticity and filled to the brim with storytelling and spirit. In a live setting, Bridges’ all too brief debut album Coming Home turns into an extended, deluxe edition and if the sheer amount of sweat and jostling bodies is anything to go by, everybody is grateful. There are solos of every kind: guitar; saxophone; vocal; percussion; keys; even a quick one on bass. However, it is perhaps the stripped back River which garners the most attention of the entire set. Accompanied merely keys player and backing vocalist, Bridges plucks up his guitar for the first (and only) time tonight. With his audience captive and swaying, Bridges’ voice shines through the soft audience sing along; backing vocalist Brittni Jessie has her own moment towards the end of the song when the crowd quiets down for a moment. The set rounds out beautifully and the crowd shows appreciation with the eager anticipation of an encore.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EC5Lisj1hGI
Soon enough, one by one, members of the band – which on this stage seems even larger than six members – make their way back to their instruments and play Bridges in. Just the way he appeared at the start of the show, he dances his way over to his microphone to a roaring applause. Throughout the extensive encore, we are treated to Pussy Footin’ in the middle of which there is a pause that invites each section of the audience to dance their hearts out. In My Arms follows before things wrap up with the wonderfully fun Mississippi Kisses. That final song grows from casual, flirtatious jaunt into a full blown jam session that allows Bridges to move around to the very front of the stage where the crowd is gathered. The lack of barrier between the performance space and the floor allows him to dance with the audience quite literally. The night doesn’t end with the set and for a while, it’s difficult to find a clear path to the exit. This is because after a quick costume change, Bridges is headed straight out to the merch desk for a meet and greet. As we exit, there is a line winding around the dance-floor with fans clutching their 12 inches and posters, most of them still dancing on the spot.
There are a couple of things certain of tonight’s show: 1) Leon Bridges is a bonafide songwriter with performance chops to match and 2) he’s going to be coming back to Australia – sooner rather than later.
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.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2u7P6YlN2zs
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.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bsPeNrOzzZ8
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)