There was a sense early on that this would be no ordinary night at Aviva Studios. A large crowd had packed into the cavernous space, and from the moment Thundercat and his band took the stage, through the larger red-eyed cat that dominated the stage, the atmosphere turned jubilant—an energy that never really dipped, even as the music twisted and stretched into more exploratory territory.
Opening with “Children of the Baked Potato,” the trio set the tone for a performance that constantly danced between groove and virtuosity, but straight away also flirting with jazz phrasing and looser structures, giving the audience a first look at the brilliance of all three as they took turns in the spotlight. “Candlelight” and “I Love Louis Cole” followed, locking into a rubbery, elastic funk before “Black Qualls” and “How Sway” began to push outward, Thundercts’s 6 string bass both setting the groove and soloing fluidly. At times, the set veered more toward jazz than the punchy, immediate funk Thundercat is often celebrated for, but rather than alienate the audience, it seemed to draw them further in.
Much of that came down to the sheer musicality on display. As a three-piece, there’s nowhere to hide, and each member embraced that exposure. Extended passages in tracks like “Uh Uh,” “Overseas,” and “A.D.D. Through the Roof” became platforms for fluid soloing—bass runs spiralling into the upper register, drums snapping into double-time bursts, keys colouring the edges with harmonic depth. Yet just as quickly, they would snap back into tight, unified grooves, reminding you how disciplined the band really is beneath the looseness.
Mid-set highlights included the dreamlike “Walking on the Moon,” the frenetic “Dragonball Durag,” and a particularly playful double outing of “Funny Thing,” which the band leaned into with a knowing grin. “Them Changes” drew one of the biggest reactions of the night, its familiar bassline met with a near-singalong from the crowd.
The encore only heightened the sense of occasion. “Show You the Way” and “Lava Lamp” stretched luxuriously, before a left-field but warmly received cover of Mac Miller’s “What’s the Use?” added a poignant touch. Closing with “She Knows Too Much,” the band left the stage having taken the audience on a winding, unpredictable journey.
Despite some of the more abstract moments, the crowd stayed with it throughout—cheering solos, swaying through the grooves, and embracing the musical detours. It spoke to the connection Thundercat has built with his audience, one rooted as much in curiosity as it is in hooks.
In the end, although it might sound a little outdated to say so, this didn’t feel like a conventional gig. It felt more like a happening—something communal, slightly chaotic, and alive in the moment.
