Concert review: Thundercat at Rabbit Rabbit
In the realm of popular music, the bass guitar is often viewed as utilitarian. Whoever wields it stands near the back and to the side of the stage, supporting a song while mostly keeping out of the spotlight. There are exceptions to this rule, of course, from virtuosic frontmen like Sting, Paul McCartney, Les Claypool, and Geddy Lee, to larger than life ensemble players such as Flea, Jaco Pastorius, and Bootsy Collins.
The realm that Thundercat lives in, however, dares to occupy both spaces simultaneously.
Emerging from the head of a giant cat and armed with a six-string bass prominently featuring an anime character, the man born Stephen Lee Bruner proved himself charismatic and talented in equal spades at Rabbit Rabbit on Aug. 27. Flanked by a sparse band consisting of keyboardist and backup vocalist Dennis Hamm and drummer Justin Brown, the trio ripped through an eclectic set in support of the musician’s latest release, It Is What It Is.
As Thundercat opened with the lead-off track from that latest LP, the [insert adjective] “Lost in Space/Great Scott/22-26,” the Asheville crowd packed itself densely in front of the stage to catch a glimpse of the talent on display. From there, the setlist melded together to create a borderline fever dream.
Coming from a musical family, Thundercat got his start in the seminal California hardcore punk outfit Suicidal Tendencies before playing with the likes of Erykah Badu, Kendrick Lamar, and Flying Lotus, the later of whom received a special shoutout during that night’s set before a jam-laden rendition of his “U Have to Be Odd.”
These far reaching collaborations and influences shined throughout the set, as everything from yacht-rock-inspired jazz to thrashing punk and funk-infused grooves mixed together and blended occasionally with classic pop-song structure. The equal squelching of keyboard and bass meshed to create a truly intriguing wall of sound, as Brown’s own jazz fusion prowess was on constant display, holding down the proceedings as his bandmates tore through one song after the next.
Not content with simply showcasing his musical mastery, Thundercat also flexed his recent ventures into other art forms: “I was just in Star Wars,” he boldly announced, referencing his acting debut in The Book of Boba Fett earlier this year. His query of “Who here likes anime?!” was another showing of Thundercat’s media eclecticism, followed by an announcement that he’d recently worked with Hajime Yatate, the creator of the legendary series Cowboy Bebop.
The bassist also took the time to muse about his friendship with Knower co-founder Louis Cole, launching into a number aptly named “I Love Louis Cole” as further tribute, all the while reminiscing about one notable drunken night that he was glad occurred before the days of Instagram. These moments of humorous self-effacement leant a sense of humility that one couldn’t help but find endearing.
At the end of the day, underneath all the virtuosity and charisma, is a human just trying to spread the good word of positivity. That sensibility was perhaps best felt via the evening’s quieter moments, including a shoutout to Thundercat’s friend and collaborator, the dearly departed rapper Mac Miller, which united much of the crowd in joyful remembrance.
As the sun went down and the lights around the stage flashed in sync with each song, the unbridled exuberance of Thundercat was what shone the brightest. Even at the back of the venue, stragglers could be seen dancing to the likes of “Funny Thing” and “Black Qualls” as if no one was watching — purely in the moment, feeling every note throughout their entire being as night fully enveloped the city.
(Photos by Jonny Leather)
