Rising London electropop group Kero Kero Bonito made their way to Motorco Music Hall in Durham on October 6, playing to a large crowd of eager fans.
The band consists of producers Gus Lobban and Jamie Bulled, as well as Sarah Midori Perry–known as Sarah Bonito to fans–who weaves her Asian heritage into the group, singing lyrics in both English and Japanese.
The band first gained popularity in 2014 after releasing its first single “Flamingo,” a pop song about embracing uniqueness. The trio’s bubbly, synth-based pop proved to be infectious, garnering buzz on music forums and webpages. The single remains Kero Kero Bonito’s most popular song on both Spotify and Apple Music.
In the years since, the band has released two full-length albums and multiple EPs. The trio’s 2018 release, Time ‘n’ Place, saw Kero Kero Bonito introducing new sonic elements to their music, including aspects of both indie and dream pop.
The bouncy energy produced by Perry’s uplifting and anthemic choruses gave the record a charisma their previous releases didn’t match.The album was released to widespread acclaim and appreciation, expanding the band’s dedicated followers.
Kero Kero Bonito embarked on a 36-date tour of North America in early October, playing shows in both Charlotte and Durham.
Opening for Kero Kero Bonito was Negative Gemini, the recording name of Lindsey French, whose music relishes in its ethereal and warm atmospheres that blur the lines of many genres. French’s crooning, dreamy vocals and her flamboyant personality prepared the crowd for the show to come.
Kero Kero Bonito started their set with “Battle Lines,” the first song off their newest EP, Civilization I. The band then launched into a career-spanning set, playing songs from every project it has released.
Perry was the center of attention for the entire show, reciprocating the crowd’s energy by frantically bouncing around on stage.
Occasionally she would grab props to emphasize the songs’ themes or structure, like when a house phone was used to reenact an interlude from the song “Break.”
“My Party” and “Homework” were interesting and unexpected additions to the band’s set, offering listeners the band’s early bubblegum-pop sound.
Kero Kero Bonito’s music can be found on most major streaming services, including Apple Music, Spotify and Bandcamp.
