Photo Story: Leon Bridges brings Neo-Soul to Boston on his Good Things Tour

News · October 7, 2018

Leon Bridges brings neo-soul to Agganis Arena in Boston, Massachusetts on his Good Thing Tour on Oct. 4, 2018.

Leon Bridges performs at Agganis Arena in Boston, Massachusetts on his Good Thing Tour on Oct. 4, 2018. Photo by Brittany Chang.

I think the best way to describe the kind of music Leon Bridges crafts is with this little anecdote: A couple years ago, I decided to make a “Throwback Jams” playlist on Spotify, composed of a variety of genres from the 60’s to mid-90’s. The purpose of the playlist was to make me a bit nostalgic whilst reminding me I can still groove to some classics.

I unknowingly chucked Coming Home by Leon Bridges – not knowing exactly when it was made but acknowledging that it made me feel nostalgic – onto the playlist. I didn’t realize that he actually isn’t a “classics” until a couple months in.

Leon Bridges performs at Agganis Arena in Boston, Massachusetts on his Good Thing Tour on Oct. 4, 2018. Photo by Brittany Chang.

Todd Michael “Leon” Bridges has a classic, soulful R&B sensation in his music that he radiates on stage as well. It’s evident in his button up jean vest and single cuff beanie that this man was made to bring the past to the present. Think of a softer, more blues-based Anderson .Paak.

The 29 show tour, which ended with double dates at New York’s Radio City Hall after the Boston show, was named after his 2018 record Good Thing. The sophomore record comes after his 2015 Grammy nominated record Coming Home. Good Thing debuted at an impressive number three on the US Billboard 200 Charts.

Leon Bridges performs at Agganis Arena in Boston, Massachusetts on his Good Thing Tour on Oct. 4, 2018. Photo by Brittany Chang.

He opened with the very funky, very groovy If It Feels Good (Then It Must Be) which immediately got the crowd bopping on their feet. Hell, the song begins with “live from the funk.” Right off the bat, I had a “guitar face” kind of funk smirk.

He continued the groove with Bad Bad News, one of my favorite tracks off of the Good Thing record. The rhythm and blues jam, performed live, made me feel like I was in a 1970’s film, caught in a dark, candlelit underground jazz club sipping an Old Fashioned. The funk heavy keyboard and timeless, soft guitar solos contrast the fiery meaning of the song. “They tell me I was born to lose, but I made a good good thing out of bad bad news.”

The song is worthy of the self-validation he gives himself in the lyrics.

Leon Bridges performs at Agganis Arena in Boston, Massachusetts on his Good Thing Tour on Oct. 4, 2018. Photo by Brittany Chang.

Leon Bridges performs like a timeless artist. The way he moves in stage is like melting butter on a warm skillet; smooth, gliding and graceful. After the photographers left the pit, our contact picked us up and said, “I can’t believe he can move like that, sing and not be out of breath.” We were all in concurrence.

There a lot of (nameless) artists who try to imitate this classic 60’s, 70’s Motown vibe without much success. It can sometimes come off as tacky, try hard and inauthentic. However, Leon Bridges makes it seem effortless, paying respect to the genre by adding his own contemporary, personalty flair to the funk in a sensible, respectful manner. The man oozes vintage appeal in with a faithful, twenty-four carat air.