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Setlist
Tour Dates
02/11/2018 Seattle, WA Neumos
02/13/2018 San Francisco, CA Regency 02/14/2018 Los Angeles, CA The Theatre 05/12/2018 Richmond, VA The National 05/14/2018 Atlanta, GA Terminal West 05/15/2018 New Orleans, LA Republic NOLA 05/21/2018 Santa Fe, NM Meow Wolf 05/22/2018 Denver, CO Bluebird Theater 05/26/2018 Solana Beach, CA Belly Up Tavern Read More
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It was a top of the world moment as Kimbra played a crowded Cedar Cultural Center in Minneapolis, previewing her upcoming new album and setting the stage for bigger things from the artist, in the year ahead.
The evening got an experimental start from electro trio Arc Iris, a project that bloomed from former Low Anthem member Jocie Adams (vocals, guitar), adding in Zach Tenorio Miller (keys) and Ray Belli (drums), and in support of recent releases Moon Saloon (ANTI- Records) and their covering of Joni Mitchell’s entire classic album, Blue.
Their style is an eclectic mix of electro driven, experimental indie pop sounds, as evidenced on previous single, ‘Kaleidoscope’, which takes the essence of its 70’s folk and pop elements, twists them slightly, and updates the sound for the modern palate. Adams’ art pop seems to echo Mitchell’s line in ‘A Case of You’- “love is touching souls”, which is what they’re trying to achieve through their own music.
In the middle slot was Los Angeles-based KING, (not to be confused with 80’s UK pop band of the same name) an R&B electronic dream pop trio that has its roots in South Minneapolis, as that’s where twin sisters Paris and Amber Strother are from, with Anita Bias completing the group. Prince took notice of the group early on, having them open for him at the LA Forum, and well as at Paisley Park a handful of times for one of those legendary late night parties.
The Grammy-nominated We Are King (King Creative Records) is the group’s latest, with many of the performed songs culled from the release, including ‘Supernatural’ and ‘Native Land’, with the trio adding in ‘The Story’, the first song they worked on and an extended version of which, appears on the latest album.
The stage had been set all night for a conceptual audio/visual experience unlike the venue has seen before, with a large projection screen backdrop and sets of lighted vertical bars (resembling a jail cell) that would encase her two sideman, as Kimbra took to the stage for her eighty-two minute headlining set.
The new album is called Primal Heart (Warner Bros Records) and is out on 20 April (after being pushed back from January) and the loyal audience was treated to a generous portion of the new material, as well as previous favorites as the set began with a series of bleeps, bloops, projected patterns, sequentially lit poles, and the new ‘Version of Me’.
Her music can be best described as a modern melting pot- part electro, some R&B/dance, and art/dream pop, with a voice that can coo and yelp like Kate Bush one moment, emote like Imogen Heap the next, and raise to the rafters on command.
Veering from the printed setlist, first solo hit ‘Settle Down’ was bumped to the third song played, with its tempo changed to slower and more reflective, and filled with sounds from her electronic ephemera.
“Are you guys down for some new music?” she mused, going next into new album opener ‘The Good War’ as the screens filled with patterned warplanes arching across the somber sky. ‘Love in High Places’ from 2014’s The Golden Echo seeks to unify through music in this current world of division and the crowd was completely quiet for the low electronic knocks that began and ended ‘Everybody Knows’.
Kimbra returned to her songwriting roots, taking up the guitar for an acoustic and tender ‘Past Love’ with the set of widescreen music becoming much more danceable during ‘Two Way Street’, played about two-thirds through. ‘Sweet Relief’ was built around a funky bassline and a didgeridoo-like drone began the set-closing ‘Top of the World’ with Kimbra half-rapping the lyrics, saying “I knew this would be fun, Minneapolis!” as she introduced the song.
The encore began with another insight into her craft as Kimbra emerged solo for the new ’Real Life’, playing it in almost demo form, and as it appears on the new album, using looping effects to magnify her voice to choir-like levels.
After participating in the Prince Tribute concert and joining The Revolution more recently at First Avenue, there was probably no way she couldn’t honor Prince at this show, choosing to play a just-rehearsed version of 2004’s ‘Call My Name’ (“the first Prince record I ever heard was Musicology” she said in her song intro {...yes, I feel old) alongside Arc Iris, to end the show solemnly and dignified.
With a new album imminent, a fully realized stage show, and vocal chops to match, look for Kimbra to play even bigger venues as the record releases and gains momentum, ever expanding her electronic pop sound palette, while still showing things close to her primal heart.
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