Internationally renowned, Grammy award winning bass maestro, Thundercat, brings Distracted AF to Manchester.
THUNDERCAT
Thundercat is a world renowned musician. He’s got the kind of lineage that commands respect and he has a list of collaborators that is wildly impressive.
Distracted AF is the impending new Thundercat LP, and tonight serves as a showcase for that album. It also takes in plenty of reference points over Thundercat’s previous records over the last 15 years or so.
Assisted by Dennis Hamm on keys and Justin Brown on drums, Thundercat, aka Stephen Bruner; the trio showcase an incredible level of musicianship and skill in a close to two hour set.
A MASTER AT WORK
For anyone that has followed the work of Thundercat, you’ll already know that he is a master of his craft. Distracted AF keeps up his long tradition of genre pushing jazz, soul, funk and fusion, all anchored by his bass work from his customised six string Ibanez bass.
Arriving onstage, cutting a silhouette through the brightest of white lights, Bruner throws up a peace sign before launching into Children Of The Baked Potato. It is an instant hit and the crowd responds with massive appreciation. There is a sense of anticipiation in the air as to the musical offerings in store.
A LOTTA CAT EARS…
“I see a lot of cat ears in the audience tonight…hell yeah!” says Bruner. The personality that Thundercat has on the mic is totally endearing. He plays with a smile on his face throughout and interacts with the front rows all night. There are lots of shouts of, ‘Hell yeah Manchester!’ Each interaction is greeted in kind by the gathered masses. It is a joy to be a part of such an atmosphere.
Musically, the basslines from Thundercat’s 6 string move from slow, deep and earthy to bouncy and elastic. It is hard not to make reference to the greats of funk in how he carries himself. The spirits of Collins and Clinton are firmly embedded in the DNA of the music. Then there is the love of anime, gaming and movies. On this night, Thundercat sports neck jewellery with Sonic The Hedgehog front and centre.
MESMERIC
“You all ready to sing with me tonight?!” Bruner asks. Yes, Manchester is,, and they do. Them Changes closes out the main set in rapturous fashion, the entire room shifting back and forth in unison. I Wish I Didn’t Waste Your Time is another crowd highlight.
It is the music, and wizardry of it, that moves this writer. When the band lock into more extended jams, it is jaw droppingly mesmeric. Hamm and Brown are constantly locked in. Bruner makes subtle signals left and right to denote where the song goes next.
Vocally, Thundercat can play it hard or soft, acting as ringleader. He as an innate knack to make himself sound like an entire harmony section all at once. Hamm’s keys are delicious for the duration as he adds extra colour. Brown is a powerhouse on the drums. His rhythms, like Thundercat’s vocals, go hard and soft. The stamina he has to sound so impeccable and pristine is amazing. This is true of the whole band; pristine and perfect. It is a thrill to watch a band seemingly putting the puzzle together as they move through each composition.
DISTRACTED AF
Distracted AF is sure to be one of the years standout albums. Just shy of half the set is from the new record, with the Mac Miller featuring She Knows Too Much bringing the house down at the end. It has an infectious bassline and is catchy as hell. There is already a whole host of tracks available from the new record; it gives a real flavour of what is to come. You can expect tracks with Tame Impala, Lil Yachty, Willow Smith and A$AP Rocky amongst others.
Hopefully it isn’t too long until Thundercat returns to Manchester; on this evidence, you can sign us up for mandatory attendance! To see such talent on show is a pleasure and a privilege.
Thundercat: Website