Sampha’s first appearance in Chicago since his 2017 Lollapalooza performance was moving, addicting, and truly incredible.
Seeing this set was an unforgettable experience that set my expectations sky-high for his worldwide, but abbreviated ‘Lahai’ tour. My expectations were met and would eventually be surpassed as Sampha opened with one of my favorite tracks, “Plastic 100°C”. It had been a while since I covered an event; as soon as the first recognizable note of that cut hit, I felt overwhelmed with gratitude for both Sampha and live music in general.
The five-piece ensemble created hundreds of musical voices as the night rolled on through churning percussion, harmonic synthesizers, and unmatched cohesion. The perfect mix of digital, analog, and human elements made for an inviting set that captivated lucky concertgoers from start to finish.
If anyone had their doubts early in Sampha’s set, the enthralling performance of “Blood On Me” won the crowd over as a whole. The fast-paced nature of the track was a change of mood from the majority of the headlining set. On this one, the ensemble especially fed off of the enamored crowd’s energy.
Solo performances of “Too Much” and “(No One Knows Me) Like the Piano” were outstandingly important to hear live for many fans.
Whoever was lucky enough to be at The Riv on this particular evening received hugs of beautiful music all night long. Be sure to grab tickets to his remaining dates if you have the opportunity to do so!
Nov 11 – Howard Theater – Washington D.C. (Sold Out)
Nov 12 – Howard Theater – Washington D.C. (Sold Out)
Nov 13 – Franklin Music Hall – Philadelphia, PA
Nov 15 – The Eastern – Atlanta, GA
Dec 4 – Theater Des Westens – Berlin, DE (Sold Out)
Dec 5 – Royal Theatre Carré – Amsterdam, NL (Sold Out)
Dec 7 – Cirque d,Hiver – Paris, FR (Sold Out)
Here’s Sampha’s performance of “Without” at Lollapalooza 2017 to get a taste of his live performances.
Check out our pictures below!
