As I approached the box office of the Fox Theater, I was greeted by a bustling line of people stretching hundreds of feet across 3rd Street. Although it was an hour before the show, eager fans were already lined up to catch Jungle’s performance, only two days before their highly anticipated Coachella appearance. Basking in meteoric success following the release of their fourth studio album, Volcano, it’s no surprise that they have managed to sell out the Fox.
The night was opened by Salute, a Manchester based DJ and producer who mixed groovy beats as the crowd filed in. As people were grabbing drinks and catching up with their friends, Salute’s heavy bass and high tempo set the perfect energy for Jungle. With a quick flick of the trim knob and swift wave to the pit, the crowd applauded him out.
Watching the staff erect Jungle’s stage design was pretty amusing, as I haven’t seen a production this grand inside a venue this small. Perhaps we were getting a sneak peak at what was to come at Jungle’s Coachella set! Within the half hour before their performance, hundreds of colorful stage lights were tested, dust covers were ripped off to unveil a plethora of instruments, and a huge sign reading “JUNGLE” was hung above the stage. Not only was this extravagant set up constructed in the Fox Pomona, but the band also brought their own bauhaus-style stage to assemble their set on top of.
Suddenly, whirling synthesizers reminiscent of a wind storm gave way to rising Shepard tones, and the band took the stage as the intro of “Busy Earnin’” pounded across the walls of the Fox Theater. Jungle’s stage setup burst into action, as the countless strobe lights illuminated the band in front of a morphing LED backdrop. I was immediately captivated by their electrifying rhythms and soulful melodies, their energy igniting the intimate venue of the Fox.
Vocalist Lydia Kitto’s melodies signaled the intro to “Candle Flame,” which was met with huge cheers from the crowd. Flashing lights mirrored the timing of drummer George Day’s four count, which launched the six-piece band into a simultaneous groove. This song featured the first virtual appearance of the night, with a video of Eric the Architect rapping his verse projected on the LED screen behind the band.
“Back on 74” was phenomenal live, as Jungle’s extravagant range of instruments led to a fuller than life sound. Josh Lloyd-Watson picked up an acoustic guitar, Kitto joined the front of stage donning an electric guitar, and percussionist Dominic Whalley alternated between spiral cymbals, drums, and a tambourine. They amplified the distinct sounds present in the recorded track, with the voices of their multiple vocalists harmonizing perfectly.
With their rapid transitions between tracks and quick swaps of instruments, Jungle did not pause for a break the whole night. Their energy was infectious, and they seamlessly mixed most of their songs with their decks and keyboards. The rhythmic synths in “You Ain’t No Celebrity” smoothly dropped into “Coming Back,” as the crowd was instantly flooded with beach balls. Kitto took center stage and had the entire pit jumping, her movements guiding the audience into a single bounce.
Their intricate layering of sounds was prevalent throughout the night, but their performance of “All of the Time” blew me away. Chorus pedals, high tempo drums, and sophisticated bass riffs crafted a sonic ecstasy that drew elements of disco, dream pop, and R&B. The crowd clapped along to the outro, hands outstretched in the air, just until the pulsing bass of “Holding On” escalated the energy even more. As their set crescendoed into ringing synths, they announced “We’re Jungle, we will see you next time!” Their backlit silhouettes, which were carefully aligned at the top step of their platform, slipped into nothingness and suddenly the stage was empty.
Once again, mysterious Shepard tones penetrated the Fox Theatre, and six silhouettes returned to the stage. The lyrics “Unless you understand it and find out what to do / Don’t think about it, I’ll be running with you / If I can’t understand it, I’ll find another way / Keep moving, keep moving” rang out into the crowd, with all four vocalists combining their voices into a powerful harmony. “Keep Moving” off of 2021’s Loving In Stereo proved to be the perfect end to the night, as the fan favorite had every person in the venue dancing.
Jungle’s performance was an extraordinary showcase of artistry that left me awestruck. Their carefully crafted sonic atmospheres combined with their spectacular visuals and stage design definitely solidifies them as a must-see act, and I can’t wait to see what the rest of 2024 has in store for the band.
Listen to Jungle’s recent release, Volcano here:
