Khruangbin, The Suffers + DJ Sun Light Up White Oak Music Hall
There’s a reason why GQ called Houston “the New Capital of Southern Cool” -- they were just catching onto what artists, athletes, chefs, designers, culture drivers and anybody born or bred in Harris County has known for years. Houston isn’t just the “New” Capital of “Southern” Cool. It’s the epicenter and impetus for much of the culture around the world.
The United States’ most diverse city is home to more sonic, culinary and business innovation than anywhere else, and it’s evidenced in the exports (see food, fashion, boobs, music). Rap aside, you can’t even turn on Spotify’s indie or pop radio stations without hearing screwed up vocals popularized by, guess who, Houston’s own Robert Earl Davis. What Houston lacks in natural aesthetic beauty, it more than makes up for in the radiant brilliance of its people. Rarely do the hustlers of Houston take their noses off the grindstone to celebrate momentous achievements, but Saturday night was such a time.
As the sun sank into the horizon, White Oak Music Hall coarsed with throngs of friends and family, to see Houston’s own Khruangbin play a love song to the city that made them. Fresh off The Green Balloon Tour with Tank and the Bangas, The Suffers opened with their heart-starting brand of Gulf Coast soul. Led by the radiant Kam Franklin and a collection of Houston’s finest musicians, including the newly minted member, Juliet Terrill, on bass guitar, they brought saudade, smiles, and sweet, strong energy to the set. Houston vocalist Lisa Harris joined the group and honored the crowd by bringing her overwhelmingly talented chops to the table.
As the temperature dropped below 55F, Houstonians bundled and huddled as if lost on Hoth, until Houston’s own DJ Sun (The Flat, MFAH Mixed Media) took the stage to play a dance heavy set of soulful sounds. As a highlight, Sun reverbed out of an old Sade crooner to announce a song from his native Suriname. Hips, hands and feet responded to the sultry South American rhythms.
70 Likes, 8 Comments - SUN (@djsun) on Instagram: "Thx @khruangbin for a magical night and a great opportunity to play some #vinylrecords for an..."
Then, the main act.
As Sun exited the stage, the crowd went quiet, then began to soar. Drummer Donald “DJ” Johnson sauntered out in a dashiki drug rug and made his way behind the kit, where his tight licks give this trio their firm foundation. Then the bang-sporting bunch, guitarist Mark Speer and bassist Laura Lee(zy), took the stage in fits that fired up the night; the crowd responded in fiery-kind.
From the first haunting note to the final ferocious hit, Khruangbin brought a beautiful musical performance to the frigid hometown fans on the White Oak lawn. They jammed some of their most well known tracks from The Universe Smiles Upon You and Con Todo El Mundo. Then they dropped in some rich Dub versions from the newly pressed Hasta El Cielo. Sprinkled into this tremendous Thai-funk, the band played a fluid series of instrumental covers from The Isley Brothers’ “Footsteps in the Dark” to Ghetto Boys “Mind Playing Tricks on Me” (I know it’s Isaac Hayes’ “Hung Up on My Baby” so chill. I’m from Houston, let me rep).
Then came the guests. Oh baby, the guests. First, percussion professor Charlie Perez brought bongo beauty to the beats. Then out came Will Van Horn, the pedal steel saint himself. Next up? Leon Bridges trotted out to woo the crowd with two sweet songs. If that weren’t enough, the techs rolled out a xylophone and @__chaseatpeace went loco with the mallets.
706 Likes, 24 Comments - Kam Franklin (@bamitskam) on Instagram: "Last night we opened up for @khruangbin, and it was one big family reunion. @leonbridgesofficial,..."
The crowd didn’t budge when the band took their pre-encore costume change (Laura came back out STUN-TIN ON EM) and the Houston threesome finished their set with flourish and fanfare that reverberated soulful waves like every highway loop in the city.
After the set, the bands and DJ gathered at The Flat, DJ Sun’s bar in Montrose, to celebrate Mark’s birthday. Strangers toasted, old friends hugged, and bravely bundled bayou babies held strong in the frigid 50 degree fall air. This is where everything started for Khruangbin and, after trekking around the wide world, this is where they come home. This is Houston, and it’s a family affair.