Not a Review: Thundercat at 2021 Indy Jazz Fest
I’m not a huge Thundercat fan. That’s not because of a lack of interest but just a matter of time. I think he’s all the amazing things people say he is but I haven’t had the time to thoroughly investigate the depths of his musical prowess.
I'm the type of person who gets kinda obsessed about stuff. If I like something… I REALLY like that shit. I get so into whatever I’m liking at the moment that I don’t make a ton of space for new things until I’m finally ready to move on. After this past weekend at Indy Jazz Fest, Thundercat has moved up to the top of my obsession list.
I hauled ass across town to get to Garfield Park Sunday night to see Thundercat’s show for a few reasons. I was extremely curious and I also wanted to spend time with my sister Renee who is a legit fan. I am always down to hang out with her because there’s never a dull moment when we’re together. Seriously, I would buy a ticket to watch paint dry if she was gonna be there too.
I got to the ampitheatre with minutes to spare and when Thundercat stepped on stage the atmosphere shifted. This was the moment we’d been waiting for… the die-hards and the uninitiated alike. The stage lights casted a fluorescent shadow on his eyelids and a rainbow across the drummer’s cymbals. Was this rock and roll magic or the result of me running around town all day on an empty stomach? Who knows.
The band started to play and I couldn’t believe the things I was hearing. Like, the music was invasive... the type of shit you feel in your toes and fingertips. I was blown away by the lyricism too. He sang songs about friendship, love, empathy and video games. How sweet?!
I looked around me and saw all kinds of people enjoying themselves… utterly entranced. It made me want to ask him all sorts of questions. Questions like, when did you decide to change your life and share these gifts with the world? Or, what does it feel like to see people dance erratically, make out, scream to your music? (Yes. All these things happened. Simultaneously.)
The band kept rocking and before I knew it the show was almost over. Already? I was disappointed but also slightly relieved. My senses were in overload anyway.
At the end, Thundercat said he loved us and played one of his last songs two times in a row. How kind?! We begged for an encore but once a stage hand came on to start removing instruments it was obvious that our request had been denied. Bummer.
We packed up and headed home. I was spent in the best of ways. I felt a little better about the fucked up predicaments we as a society find ourselves in presently too. For a moment, with my bare feet in the grass, the stars shining above my head and the sounds wafting past my ears... shit felt alright in the world. Is that rock and roll magic too? Maybe… but we need all the magic we can get.
About Not A Review: I enjoy cultural experiences and sometimes I write about them. I like what I like and though I consider my thoughts to be solid critique, I would never front like I’m some damn Siskel & Ebert.
