Khruangbin sends St. Louis into a dreamlike trance with mesmorizing set

Khruangbin, a musical trio from Houston, Texas, put St. Louis into a trance when they took the stage at The Factory, supported by Pakistani-American artist Arooj Aftab and her band. Both acts delivered slow-building sets, with songs that started off low-key, minimal on lyrics, and gradually lulled the audience into a meditative state as they crescendoed.

Arooj Aftab opened the show, bringing a jazzy, sultry mood. She crooned into the mic, sipping wine and softly singing lyrics that were only occasionally in English.

Her band, composed of a standing bass, drums, and guitar, set the perfect moody vibe for the night.

Khruangbin followed, captivating the crowd with a funky, enchanting set. Like Aftab, they began with plodding, subtle melodies. The guitar and bass weaved together seamlessly, neither overpowering the other, but each vying for attention as the drums kept them in sync.

The audience was fully absorbed in Khruangbin’s bass-heavy, psychedelic sound—a sound that defies genre classification.

As The New York Times put it, it’s “the sound you hear inside a lava lamp.”

Mostly instrumental, with sparse lyrics like the opening act, the set placed full emphasis on the musicianship. This approach leaves little room for error, challenging the band to execute flawlessly. And Khruangbin rose to the occasion, delivering a mesmerizing set that left the crowd buzzing long after the final notes faded.

Photography by Sean Rider

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