The ethereal mystique of Khruangbin’s A La Sala Tour visited Arizona Financial Theatre on Tuesday. The Texas trio floated into the desert heat, bringing warmth of their own and joined by composer and instrumentalist John Carroll Kirby.
The room was already filling up when John Carroll Kirby and his band walked onstage to begin an amazing show. No one in the room was having more fun than this group and the crowd immediately tried to keep up with Kirby’s sincere smile and flutist Logan Hone’s infectious dancing and positive energy. Kirby’s blend of jazz, indie and more didn’t need vocals, as the band let the music do all the talking. They were funny, personable and the perfect start to a joyful evening.
A shallow flight of stairs led to the appearance of Khruangbin- the trio began their set silhouetted against the arches of their stage. The band cut striking figures against the vivid lights bathing the stage from each side and launched into their first set- A La Sala in full. The audience was mesmerized by the colors and the sinuous music, drawn in by the band’s stunning instrumentation that was backed by minimal vocals.
At the conclusion of their 2024 album, the group continued the night with a second set of carefully selected favorites that kept the audience on their feet and swaying through the rest of the night. Their cheers brought the band back out for a three song encore, ending a visually compelling night with “Zionsville” and “People Everywhere (Still Alive)”. Like our first meeting with them at RiverBeat Music Festival, Khruangbin retained that magnetic quality, pulling people in and keeping them at rapt attention throughout the show. It was a treat to see them again so soon and their music will always be welcomed back to the Valley.
