Kishi Bashi & The Oregon Symphony Light Up The Night at Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall
It’s not often we’re so enthralled with a concert that we forget to take pictures or videos, but last night when Kishi Bishi played with the Oregon Symphony at the Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall, that’s exactly what happened. Truly a show of a lifetime, we can’t wait to detail for you legitimately one of the most profound and emotional shows we’ve ever witnessed.
Self-describing the night as the pinnacle of his career thus far, right from the get go Kishi Bashi and provided for us a concert memory that won’t be forgotten anytime soon. With the help of the Oregon Symphony to bring tears to our eyes consistently throughout the set, he treated fans to some of his greatest work off records like 151a, Sonderlust, and his latest, Omoiyari. Having gotten to interview him not too long ago about his Emigrant EP, this was the first time we’d seen him since, and we really can’t make it clear enough just how monumental of a performance it really was.
From the start, you could seriously feel the energy in the room. It’s almost as if the stakes were higher given the circumstances of being accompanied by a full orchestra, but like a true professional, Kishi handled it effortlessly. Although the music throughout the night was heavenly to say the least, one of our personal highlights was his banter, explanations, and backgrounds between songs. So many artists get up there in a normal setting and don’t even acknowledge the crowd, but this was the complete opposite. After so much turmoil in the world, it felt like two hours of all being in this night together for a breather from the craziness.
While it appears that this orchestra show was a one off event, we can confidently tell you right now that even if Kishi Bashi comes to a city near you without an ensemble, it’s a show you can’t miss. We’ve had the privilege of seeing him throughout the years and it’s always been a fantastic evening, but this was truly next level. His music is built and structured around the strings, so you can only imagine how it sounded in person.
Lastly, we’ve included all the important links below so that you can listen, watch our interview, and keep up with his music. Enjoy!
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