Kero Kero Bonito @ 9:30 Club [DC] - 10/8/2019
Welcome to the weird world of Kero Kero Bonito. The quirky British synth-pop band is led by Sarah Midori Perry, who sings and raps interchangeably in English and Japanese. Their sound is a product of the internet generation, inspired by video games and cats, so it's no surprise that their niche following has grown. (In slightly absurd related news, early track "Flamingo" recently experienced a meme renaissance of sorts on TikTok.) Three albums later, that niche following has turned into 9:30 Club-sized crowds.
Sarah Midori Perry of Kero Kero Bonito at 9:30 Club (Photo by Mauricio Castro)
However, the three-piece band has diverted away from that production-driven sound compared to the last time they played down the block at U Street Music Hall. The group recently dropped a surprise EP, Civilisation I, just days before their 9:30 Club show, and it’s more apparent than ever that they’ve evolved beyond their trusty laptops and MIDI pads. The computer-heavy production that dominated songs like "Lipslap" and "Trampoline," both off of Bonito Generation, and debut album cuts like "Homework," "Pocket Crocodile," and the ever-popular "Flamingo" have been completely reworked for their live show. The results are surprisingly great with guitars and drums, even without the impeccable production value of their album counterparts.
They may be as traditional of a band as they've ever been, trading Mario Kart 64 sound bites for guitars and drums, but Perry and company still have the quirky charm that made them internet favorites in the first place. Perry showed off loads of on-stage props during the show, including stuffed flamingos (for "Flamingo), stuffed crocodiles ("Pocket Crocodile"), and even a landline phone ("Break" and "Homework"). They threw fans for a loop with a surprisingly great cover of "Vertigo," something that the previous iteration of the band would have never been able to pull off. In spite of the change in sound, they still let their weirdness shine first and foremost.
Kero Kero Bonito's latest release is the EP Civilisation I, out now through Polyvinyl Records.
Indie electronic artist Negative Gemini opened for Kero Kero Bonito with a wild mashup of inspirations, from trip-hop to chillwave to pop, brought to boisterous life with a three-piece band. Her latest release is the song "Different Color Hair," released through Adult Swim's singles program.
