Kishi Bashi

Incredible artists who are fearless in their mix of sound and lyrics.

Great show - Mr. Steak and crowdsurfing with the violin was fun - but he started so late that anyone depending on the Red Line to get home (toward Shady Grove) had to leave early, about 11:30, right after Mr. Steak. He should have known that, and if the Fillmore didn't tell him, that's even worse. We don't pay your crazy service fees to pay surge-pricing Uber after a late show.

I wish the phenomenon of this wonderful performance would carry on and on. Grade A!

I was pretty unfamiliar with Kishi Bashi going into the show, but I heard some buzz and decided to check it out. I was really blown away. He plays a violin and does a lot of live looping. He is a technically masterful violinist who plays with much soul. On top of that, his voice and songwriting are powerful and original. His band complemented him nicely, especially the artist "Tall Tall Trees", whose affected banjo and impeccable harmonies adding greatly to the musics power. This is one artist I will see again.

This was my 3rd time seeing a Kishi Bashi performance and I enjoy it more each time! He is very talented on the violin, and the dynamic between him and the banjo player from Tall Tall Trees is very entertaining. This time he played a few new songs which got me excited for his next album. At the end he did an encore followed by crowd surfing! Great night. I highly recommend Kishi Bashi's live shows - the music is even better than on his recorded albums.

Excellent. Go see him. Opening band sucked, hence the 4* and it took too long between bands.. But, amazing show, nonetheless. Id see Kishi Bashi again in a jiffy!

I went in to the concert relatively unfamiliar with Kishi Bashi's music and not knowing what to expect. I was blown away by his talent, voice, performance and uniqueness. He's a virtuoso on the violin and it's evident that he's classically trained. He combines this rare talent with cutting edge loops and vocals for a sound that is beyond electronic music and miles away from classical but still fun, accessible, evocative and at times deeply moving. He was accompanied by an equally talented vocalist/percussionist and banjo player (tall tall trees) and the result was incredible.

excellent.! we would definitely see each of them again

Wonderful and creative. Great live show. Opening acts Tall Tall Trees and Elizabeth and the catapult werw alao great. It was amazing what Tall Tall Trees could do with a banjo and electronics. And the venue was really good too (except for lack of parking). Al the performers werw really crowd friendly. I'd go again.

It was Kishi Bashi...enough said. The one and only Kishi Bashi.

Kishi Bashi was amazing at the Attucks Theater in Norfolk. His live performances are SO unique and definitely show him to be nothing less than an incredible musician with great talent. The music he manages to make with just his voice, his violin, and a looping machine is almost impossible to believe if you aren't there to see it. Tall Tall and Zim Zim do a good job of rounding out the music and adding some depth and complexity to it. To be honest, KB really doesn't need it, but it was nice at times to add some vocal variety. If you haven't heard Kishi Bashi's music, LISTEN. If you haven't seen him live, GO. If you have seen him live, I don't need to tell you to go, because you will probably already be buying tickets to his next show!

Phenomenal. The theater, the bands, the talent. I wouldn't miss a chance to see this again.

I love Kishi Bashi's music, however, you should not expect to his songs on his album performed the same way live. He often changes up his songs when playing them live, and in my opinion makes them better. The opening act, Plume Giant was also very good. Highly suggest going to one of his concerts!

Gorgeous show for $15 bucks! Would have paid upwards of $40 for the sets, the band, the opener, Kishi Bashi's humor... loved it all. Coat check was sort of a mess at the end (1 person getting every coat?) but other than that the venue and show was a great choice all around.

I wasn't sure if Carolina Theatre would work for Kishi Bashi, but it was perfect. The sound was perfect ant Tall Tall Trees and Kishi Bashi killed it! One of the best performances I've ever been too.

Kishi Bashi put on a very impressive show. He mentioned that he's already had the #1 song in all of Japan, and his performance showed why he may soon be a star in the U.S. as well. He mixes his proficiency playing classical violin, with dance, pop, and hard rock influences, to appeal to a diverse audience. He played nearly nonstop for almost 2 hours to the delight of the crowd. Would definitely see him again.

This concert was amazing. The two opening acts were fantastic. Then Kishi Bashi, as always, killed it. The bands energy on stage is amazing, the pace of the show is great, and the encore was extremely fun.

Good music, great performer. Seen him a few times and blown away every time.

Excellent show by Kishi Bashi. Very good turn out. Venue's HVAC had trouble keeping up with the amount of people and showroom became very hot.

I can't get enough of Kishi Bashi's music! Every time I hear him it's inspirational, beautiful and perfect! I love Tall Tall Trees and the drummer and bass player really add emphasis to Kishi's music. I will never be disappointed hearing Kishi.

Kaoru Ishibashi is possibly the most talented living person.

The show started off with Sunbears opening, they were pretty great and had some incredible effects going on with their projector. I liked them so much I bought one of their albums after the show. Their drummer kicks some serious ass. Tall Tall Trees played next and man that guy has some SERIOUS talent man. Between ripping that banjo a new one and his vocals, then you've also got his INCREDIBLE rhythm. I'm a percussionist myself and that was just amazing man. I'll definitely be bringing some of those rhythms to the drum circles. He's also got an amazing energy and aura. Kishi Bashi of course played and I might be biased since I'm absolutely in LOVE with his work, but man. Everything sounded beyond amazing. He's got a beautiful aura and persona, and his energy is off the charts. Absolutely amazing guy. He covered Live and Let Die in honor of Robin Williams(he died the day of the show). He actually dedicated a few to him. Kishi Bashi has an amazing voice and talent and playing with Tall Tall Trees was incredible. We demanded an encore and they came back with an incredible improv and a couple more Kishi Bashi songs and then K walked off stage but then the rest of the guys started playing Whole Lotta Love by Zeppelin and it went crazy. I've been to a quite a few shows, and I gotta say this one was the best I've ever attended.

Exceeded my expectations, I was exhausted from the weekend and work, but immediately upon the start of the opening acts all fatigue was forgotten and I was soooo thankful that I came!!

Kishi Bashi was all that was expected and so much more! Not only did he exceed my expectations as a performer but as a personality. He was warm and generous and tremendously entertaining. Many artists don't live up to their album performances but Mr. Bashi did and blew those away. The guys who accompanied him on stage were a perfect match and brilliant in their own rights. I would definitely recommend this show! The opening acts were the Sunbears! out of North Florida and Tall Tall Trees. The Sunbears brought their own small multimedia show and their not-inconsiderable talents to the stage and got the crowd revved up with their driving songs. Tall Tall Trees was entertaining and wonderful as the second act and he joined Kishi Bashi on stage for his entire set as well. Don't miss either of these acts if they come to your town.

Great live music. True talent and artistry shines through in a live performance.

great. I've seen him twice now, and both shows were unforgettable. Highly recommended to anyone who enjoys high energy and great music. Thanks K

Great show, definitely a calmer experience to watch from the balcony

Kishi Bashi was fantastic life, as were his on stage support. The opener, Buried Beds, though I had not heard of them before were very good. I particularly enjoyed the myriad of expressions their drummer exhibited. He was so into his playing, it was hard not to get lost in the music yourself.

Every Kishi Bashi show I've been to has been wonderful, and this was no exception. He is incredibly talented, and it seems like he loves what he does. His conducting and playing with the string quartet at the end was a special treat. Can't wait for his full orchestra album someday.

Perfect concert! As always, these guys leave me breathless!

A truly breathtaking performance by and undoubtably stellar group of musicians. Approaching the stage, you're immediately hit with the beautiful stage set-up of white linen sheets draping what appear to be wooden rods connected in a seemingly random fashion, and the wooden tree cut-outs covered in shiny black strips of materials. The lighting consisted of a wide range of beautiful hues shining through the linens, evoking a sort of "aurora borealis" phenomenon in the background. The artistic director for the group, decked out in a black, draped maxi-dress and black sun-hat, would also casually stroll onto the stage mid-performance and feed the band grapes or mess with props on stage. The entire group was in rare form this evening. We got some classic Kishi Bashi looping and some hardcore shredding between K and Mike Savino, coupled with some intense eye-contact. There was also a moment when the lights dimmed and K had a 3 song solo period of just him playing with some simple light effects. The show was closed out be a STRING QUARTET! Out of smooth nowhere, when we all thought the show was over and we could only hope for an encore, he pulled that surprise on us and performed a series of covers and an original rendition of Manchester for the quartet. I honestly have never been to a concert as completely enrapturing as this one. Literally every detail of the show was perfect, and they also started on time, which was a definite plus.

Kishi Bashi's energy on stage was like no other, his individual performance was perfectly supported by the vibrant, tight band of musicians around him. The creative design elements in backdrop and lighting provided a unique and complimentary scene for KB to thrive in. Very special; great heart pumping, foot stamping times.

Kishi Bashi is jaw droppingly talented. Do not miss an opportunity to catch one of his live shows. Plus- the band.... man. So so so good. With Michael of Tall Tall Trees on Banjo- you're essentially getting two for the price of of one with this band.

Wow. wowwwww... Playing the violin, singing, vocal looping, beat boxing...what can K. Ishibashi NOT do. The show was phenomenal and I can't wait to see him play again. Mike Savino on the banjo was also amazing! After the encore he came back out to play three songs with a string quartet. It doesn't get much better than that!

Great show... if you get a chance, see him NOW! You will love the show he puts on. We've seen him 4 times over the past 2 years, and he just keeps getting better.

Everything about it from the music selection to the Amazing Amy. everything was not just a concert but a show. it was amazing

LOVE LOVE LOVE this band live - such a great performance!

I don't get to see concerts very often, but I'm glad I made the trek to Cambridge for this one! The crowd was great, the musicians were great and the Sinclair has great beer on tap too!

amazing show. kishi bashi was extraordinary. the venue was great too. i brought 3 people to the event who had not heard of the artist and the three of them had a great time! we all left very happy that night.

Kishi Bashi will be the next coldplay if they play their cards right. Kishi knows to orchestrate a phenomenal show - to take their energy and channel it back to them. He understands what the crowd came there for - the perfect balance of violin, bass, vocals and... humbleness.

Kishi Bashi's was easily one of the most powerful, inspiring, and emotional concerts I have ever attended. If he comes to you area: Drop all prior obligations and do not miss this show. You can thank me later.

The most incredible live show I've seen in years. A mind-blowing musician, even better performer. And all of the band members look like they're having so much fun! <3

Kishi Bashi was amazing. Complex, layered music, interesting instrumentation, high energy (they were just having an awesome time and we were there to listen), and very chill with the audience.

Great show, Cool venue, however the sound seemed a bit off, I've been to other of his shows and it just seems like it was the venues problem. Band members very cool and fun! The opening act, a former member of kishi bashi, came out into the audience during the show and seemed genuinely nice.

I wanted to take my three boys ages 12, 14, and 17 to their first concert, and Kishi Bashi seemed like a good choice. We're all fond of the 151A album, although I had no idea what it would be like live. I have to say, my kids are really lucky because this was one of the best shows I've ever been to! Sunbears! were a very good start, but Tall Tall Trees really blew me away with both his showmanship and his musicianship. So strange to see a solo act upstage the full band that preceded it. I was thrilled that Tall Tall Trees remained for almost all of Kishi Bashi's set, as they complimented each other brilliantly. And Kishi Bashi was just flat-out incredible. So much fun! What a fantastic show! My kids are so lucky. My first concert was Freedom Rock.

Kishi Bashi is brilliant, and a nice person to boot. This was the best rock performance I have ever attended. Kishi Bashi has his own style, but I heard hints of everything from Nashville country to soul to disco, and more. Tall Trees complemented his work beautifully. His acoustic encore (performed in the middle of his fans) was great fun.

Kishi Bashi was hands down one of the greatest performances I've ever seen. a really high energy show and amazing talent. Tall Tall Trees as an opener and performer with Kishi Bashi was also fantastic. Don't miss this show.

He is such a lovable man and so is every member of the band. What an amazing performance, they all have so much wonderful energy.

Intimate setting, great music, good time and Kishi Bashi was so fan friendly. Tall Tall Trees was wonderful too!!

Kishi bashi always puts on an amazing performance. Tall tall trees was amazing too

The Kishi Bashi concert was one of the best I've been to. He sounds exactly like the album and impressed everyone with his many musical talents. It was such a fun concert to be a part of! Can't say enough great things about this show!

It was one of the most amazing concerts I've ever attended. Saw him twice on this tour (including driving 7 hrs to ATL and then in my hometown area near Raleigh). Simply brilliant and so much fun!

We'd seen Kishi Bashi before, but this show was unforgettable! He played the best of his new album and many of his most popular songs from before. They crowd was great - all dancing and singing along, too! <3 A really sweet show.

I love Kishi Bashi and this was my first time seeing him live. He and all of the musicians wee amazing and fantastic to see live. And the intimate space made it all the better. Can't wait to see him perform again.

He played at a theater that I'd never been to before. An historic downtown palace. We arrived and the opening act was playing. They were fine but nothing terribly memorable. Especially not after watching Mr. Ishibashi perform, what an amazing event. He's excited, entertaining, talented, and the songs were great. The sound was good, mixed decently well. The room felt good, was easy to stay comfortable in the space.

I don't want to give it up but it was really surprising, super fun, emotional at times. Genius

Such a fun show. High quality music, and kishi bashi has a wonderful stage presence. His shows are much more fun and upbeat than you might expect, and he performs a good blend of old and new music. He goes from a heartfelt, sad song in which he loops the violin into something fun and dancy like Mr Steak (complete with someone dancing in a steak costume!) to strumming on his violin. He's a very talented musician (the looping of the violin and his voice is amazing!) and makes it a point to showcase his supporting band at every show. He's a must see!

Unbelievable live performance by Kishi Bashi! Incredible musicians.

Kishi Bashi remixes all of his songs. I think he is reaching out to a wider audience now. He made everything more loud. Lots of electric guitar, lots of drum, lots of folk and blues elements. The soft solos are no longer an element. I miss the old 2010 kishibashi. I leftthe show early

My girlfriend and I were so impressed by Kishi Bashi and the energy, passion, and creativity he brought to the show. Everyone started the show sitting, by a few tracks in everyone was on their feet, and by the encore he and his string quartet were in the middle of the audience playing Bright Whites unplugged in the middle of the audience, standing on benches. Unreal.

It was really cool to see a Kishi Bashi show with a strong quartet instead of his usual band. This venue was perfect for the acoustics. Can't wait for him to have a backup symphony!

Wonderful venue. Great performers. Great chemistry between performers and the audience. I attended Kishi Bashi's performance in Baltimore in 2014. Awesome, as well. This guy needs to be on SNL to get the broad recognition he so richly deserves.

Kishi Bashi's show on February 17th was the second time I had gone to see the indie baroque pop songsmith perform his latest pieces, as well as some old favorites. Once again, the show took place at the Royale, where I finally realized how wonderful the acoustics in that place were. This worked well to his advantage, as his band for this performance consisted of himself, a string quartet, and right-hand banjo player Mike Savino (Tall Tall Trees). The concert began with "Manchester" off of his debut album, a personal favorite of this reviewer. The addition of a string quartet gave the song more of a neo-classical air than the original as well as presented more opportunities in fleshing out additions to the arrangement that wouldn't have otherwise had the same effect if Kishi Bashi had performed it in his trademark "loop pedal orchestra" style. Several songs in, I was beginning to feel as though this was going to be a pseudo-formal event, given the soothing nature of the music and the fact that we were all sitting down, a practice I wasn't used to in that kind of setting. Despite that fun, lively nature of Kishi's shows being absent for part of the set, that soon changed when the band performed "Bittersweet Genesis for Him AND Her" off of his latest offering "Lighght". Just as with many of the songs during that set, the simple narrative of the song soon grew into an epic, almost cinematic experience. The quartet swooped in with their strings at full force, with Kishi Bashi stepping in as a fifth violinist and singing with an unwavering purity and sincerity in his voice. It was an instance where these songs weren't just heard, but felt in rare and priceless moments of emotional connectivity. The party really began, though, when Mike Savino brought his unorthodox banjo chops to a number of Kishi Bashi's songs, including a highly-rhythmic rendition of "Atticus, In the Desert" and "In Fantasia", where the banjo acted as a makeshift ondes martenot that fit the song's narrative of vampiric immortality. The addition of Savino later on in the set reaffirmed my realization in the venue's helpful acoustics. Although there was a lack of a bass player and drummer on stage, the band completely compensated for that through craftwork that demonstrated how well these musicians know their instruments. The show's main set closed with a dance party that was an explosion of color, light, and sound. If this portion of the set were any more exciting, there would be fireworks going off inside of the venue. If there was one pattern I observed closely over the course of the evening, it would be that Kishi Bashi's humble nature in talking to the audience (though cracking a few jokes here and there) was directly parallel to the energy he put in each one of his songs. There was more audience participation during this portion of the set, with the audience clapping along, dancing, and even providing a looped choral vocal for "Philosophize In It! Chemicalize In It!". It seemed as though the rest of the set was designed to warm everyone up for this exercise in controlled musical chaos. At that moment, the performers and audience were more connected than ever, with that portion of the set only being topped by the hushed unplugged sing-along of "Bright Whites" at the end of the evening. If you hold any cynicism towards the idea that there's no good new music being made in this day and age, you owe it to yourself to go to one of Kishi Bashi's show. At around $25/ticket, I felt completely spoiled in experiencing a concert of this caliber at such a low price. Clever musicianship, excellent songwriting, and an atmosphere warm enough to melt the mountains of snow outside were all on display at the Royale. My love and appreciation for what Kishi Bashi does as a musician were once again reaffirmed that night, proving that he is most certainly one of the best musical artists of this decade. I've seen him twice since late 2013, and I would definitely go see him perform a third time.

Saw him at Royale Boston. What a fantastic show. When I first heard of kishi Bashi and his loops technique I immediately thought of one of my favorite artists Andrew Bird who uses a similar technique with looping. Kishi Bashi takes it to such a joyful energetic level! His interaction with the crowd was so cool and collected. His vocal range was so great and he didnt seem to ever run out of steam. He closed his set with an unplugged version of Bright Whites at a corner of the stage and asked everyone to gather close and sing a long. One of the best shows I have been to. Period. Also the opening act Busmans Holiday was also very impressive and sound great live WOULD RECOMMEND

Cannot say enough good things about Kishi Bashi. The music is haunting and creative, stage presence is spectacular, and the string quartet back-up was wonderful.

great show as always, but what was special was the classical feel it had what a great show with talented people. Perfect theater for his music.

this concert was like no other show i've ever been to. the string quartet was such a twist, compared to what you'd usually see. and it was so intimate, which made it unforgettable. can't wait to see him again!

Kishi Bashi is incredible and the band that he had around him made the concert even more enjoyable. We had an awesome banjo guy from the tall tall trees, Elizabeth from Elizabeth and the Catapults, along with a quartet of string players to accompany Kishi Bashi.

Kishi Bashi is a one-of-a-kind artist. Capable of producing beautiful ethereal sounds with his voice and violin alone. The backup string quartet was wonderful, but the real standout (besides Kishi's vocals and virtuoso violin) was Tall Tall Trees and banjotron combination banjo/drum/electric looper monstrosity (and epic beard). Overall, this was the best live show I've had the opportunity to go to. It almost makes me want to drop everything and follow Kishi Bashi on the road :)

Kishi Bashi, Tall Tall Trees, an incredible string quartet, and Elizabeth & The Catapult combine to form some kind of magical super group! Wow. We were seriously blown away. The Palace of Fine Arts is not a favorite venue of mine. Whoever runs the house music must be deaf, because it's ALWAYS too loud to chat between sets. Kishi Bashi did a great job of integrating what he called "Exercise Songs" where he asked the crowd to stand and dance. It was a wonderful break from sitting and probably ensured fewer crowd members fell asleep. (: It's so dark and cozy in there!

Awesome show - Great opening act, followed by amazing performance lead by a musical genius. Beautiful venue too!

This ranks in my top 3 of best shows I've seen. He's so dynamic and with the quartet, the banjo player, and his energy, it was just a fun, memorable experience.

A violin standoff with a banjo? A giant dancing Mr. Steak? A wedding proposal on stage? Overall, a great concert and a great way to start the New Years.

No pun intended. Seriously. No more steak jokes. No more trying to say the word "steak" in every song after introducing Mr. Steak. Mr. Steak should dance during "The Ballad of Mr. Steak" then leave until maybe, just maybe, coming out to dance during the encore. Kishi Bashi's music is too good to be derailed by a giant steak costume. Also, Tall Tall Trees should always open the show, period.