![]() And as he did, you could feel the inherent melancholy that lies below the surface of Bridges’ smooth easy-to-listen to music. “Someone should hand you a felony/Because you stole from me my chance to be,” he sang. Meanwhile, his passionate performance of “Sweeter,” a meditation on racism which he released following the murder of George Floyd, was just as moving live as it was when I listened to it at home in the days following the tragedy. He floated sensually through the pick-up lines inherent to “Details” and pulled out all the sexy baby-making vibes during the provocative love ballad “Motorbike.” The art of Bridges’ performance was not only in the music, but also in the way it was delivered: emotional and energetic highs and lows weaving seamlessly from one song to another.īridges show-stopping voice rang true throughout. “We got something so funky they gonna smell it across the Summerfest grounds,” he teased as he and the band broke into the psychedelic disco groove that introduces the neo-soul tune “Lions.” His demeanor oozed cool confidence as he goaded the audience, shouting “Summerfest, make some noise!” It was an invitation met with cheering, as he opened up the show with the single-worthy jam “Shy,” the moody, sexy “Steam” and a rocking version of “Bad Bad News” that pumped the air with palpable energy.Ī post shared by Lori Fredrich later on in the set, Bridges asked the audience if they were ready for something funky. A black tee peeked out from a silver-buttoned satin shacket, while form fitting flared jeans flowed over the top of Western boots befitting of a Texas native. His wardrobe – once comprised of snazzy suits and deco-patterned ties, along with a signature Stetson fedora – was stylish, yet far more casual. At that point, he was still new on the scene and just a few weeks into a 22-show tour for his debut album “Coming Home.” Even then, his stunning vocals and innate showmanship easily overshadowed any foibles of a first-time tour and he carried a diverse crowd of new fans along on a hip-shaking, shoulder-swaying journey.įive years later, Bridges has come into his own. I saw Bridges for the first time at his sold-out Riverside Theater show in March of 2016. On Friday night, Summerfest-goers got the full complement of that evolution in the form of a well-orchestrated show that offered the audience the best of all three albums with a set-list that ran the gamut from popular hits to songs reimagined for a live audience. His evolution becomes crystal clear when you listen through his July 2021 release Gold-Diggers Sound, a two-year project finished during the pandemic, on which Southern soul is woven seamlessly with synthetic textures, beats and layers of sound, along with plenty of slinky smooth R&B grooves. ![]() As evidenced from the retro soul sound which permeates his Grammy-nominated 2015 album “Coming Home” to the eclectic sound of “Good Thing” (2018), which conjures the 70s with elements of both funk and disco, Bridges’ music seems to keep one foot solidly in the past, while moving deliberately into the future. ![]() ![]() It also marked his second performance at the BMO Harris Pavilion, where he performed as part of his “Good Thing” tour in September of 2018.Īnd it was a night to remember, thanks to Bridges’ high energy showmanship and emotion-driven 90-minute set.ĭespite opinions of early critics – who quickly pegged Bridges as “a retro soul star for the Snapchat era” – Bridges’ has continued to prove that his work is multi-dimensional. The Summerfest show was a precursor to the (sold out) Gold-Diggers Sound Tour, which kicks off Sept. What began as a rainy afternoon and evening on Friday warmed up nicely as crowds gathered for Leon Bridges' sold out show at the BMO Harris Pavilion. ![]()
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