THUNDERCAT PERFORMS A BIRTHDAY SHOW IN DC

BY EJ LOLLY (THEY/THEM)

“How do you celebrate your birthday? By playing another f*cking show!” yelled Stephen Lee Bruner, better known as Thundercat. Turning 39 on Thursday, October 19th, 2023, Thundercat celebrated it in style in the nation’s capital. The concert took place at The Anthem, a large auditorium settled in the heart of the Wharf, a recently developed waterfront district on the south side of Washington, DC.

Opening was the DJ duo Coco and Breezy, twin sisters who infuse a variety of R&B and Latin influences into their music. Their movements were in sync, easily working around each other on the turntables. “DC is so black and beautiful”, Coco said, looking out over the crowd of fans.

The stage was transformed into a giant cat fortress, the head of a giant cat with glowing red eyes towering over it all. Bruner entered cloaked in a red haze, from the lights to his outfit. The musician is a 2 time Grammy award winner for his performance on Kendrick Lamar’s “These Walls” and his most recent album It Is What It Is. Still, during the show, he was much more interested in talking about one of his favorite anime, Neon Genesis Evangelion. His crocheted hat was adorned with buttons and the signature red hairpins of one of the main characters, Asuka Langley. Underneath his sweatshirt was her pilot bodysuit, and a fan gifted him a very cozy-looking sweater with the same exact design.

Thundercat’s pop culture influences don’t keep his music from being meaningful though. It oozes with lyrics expounding on existential crises to complex polyrhythms he makes look effortless on his 6-string Ibanez bass guitar. Below is a photo gallery where you can see Thundercat in action. Be sure to check out the rest of his In Yo Girl’s City tour at a date near you.