KCRW has released archival footage of an in-studio performance from Khruangbin in 2018. The Santa Monica College public radio station shared the full performance as part of its Throwback Sessions series.
The clip finds a slightly younger group that was just then on the precipice of breaking through to a larger audience. With two releases under its belt, 2015’s debut The Universe Smiles Upon You and the 2018 follow-up Con Todo El Mundo, it was only a matter of time before the band took the scene by storm. The Houston, TX-based group would reach a much larger audience with high-profile appearances opening up for Trey Anastasio‘s Ghosts of the Forest show in Berkley, CA, as well as a main stage slot at LOCKN’ in 2019 where the band was joined by Anastasio onstage.
The clip opens with the smooth roll of Mark Speer‘s guitar on “Cómo Me Quieres”. As drummer Donald Ray “DJ” Johnson comes in with the delicate tap of the snare, bassist Laura Lee drops in with an understated bass riff. The Khruangbin formula is in full effect as the band goes into the upbeat instrumental ear-worm “Maria Tambien”. Yet another Con Todo El Mundo track follows with “Friday Morning” as the three-piece once again returns to the ethereal soundscape of dreamy background vocals and gentle guitar licks. The session then closes out with a pair of old school (aka the first album) tunes in the form of “Mr. White” and “Two Fish And An Elephant”. Even in the short time between the band’s first two albums, it is clear from this performance and hearing the songs side-by-side how much Khruangbin has grown since bursting onto the scene. It’s all uphill from here.
Watch Khruangbin perform at KCRW in 2018 in the latest installment of the Throwback Sessions.
Khruangbin — KCRW Throwback Sessions
[Video: KCRW]
Khruangbin is currently gearing up for the release of its third full-length album, Mordechai, available on June 26th. The group has already released two singles from the album, “Time (You And I)” and “So We Won’t Forget“, as well as relaunched the AirKhruang playlist generator.