Texan pride was on full display at the Leon Bridges show at the Bomb Factory on Saturday night. It was the biggest night of “Edge: The Texas Monthly Festival,” a three-day event hosted by the magazine. Leon Bridges not only headlined the evening, he also invited local artists Medicine Man Revival and DJ Sober to play with him, making for a truly southern showcase.
But if you’d hoped for country music, this show wasn’t for you. All three artists have roots in everything but country. Medicine Man Revival touts a brand of soul-soaked rock ‘n’ roll while DJ Sober mixes together everything from funk to hip-hop. Leon Bridges pulls from all different eras. His two albums evoke classic R&B, soul, jazz and contemporary.
In between short mixes from DJ Sober, Medicine Man Revival swept the stage with the kind of fiery blues that leaves you sweat-soaked and breathless. Their relentless energy, as well as the staggering vocal prowess of Keite Young made the room move. When Young wasn’t wailing on the mic, keyboardist and guitarist Jason Robert Burt was taking the lead with a solo that slowed things down and demonstrated the group’s maturity.
After another short set from DJ Sober, Bridges glided across the stage with the opening track “If It Feels Good (Then It Must Be).” His caramelly voice and debonair persona were on full display from the get-go — along with his fancy footwork.
Fans across the floor couldn’t resist grooving along. One glance across the venue revealed that Bridges possess the skill all musicians covet: His decade-spanning music brings people together.
He crooned his way through an expedited version of the swaying doo-wop number “Better Man.” He jived along on the punchier “Bad Bad News.” His warm energy and laid back vibe lit up the stage and gave everyone permission to make the evening their own. Even when songs like the tiptoeing ballad “Beyond” hushed the room, Bridges’ delivery mesmerized the crowd.
As graceful a vocalist and songwriter as Bridges is, he’s also a talented entertainer. He strolled about the stage with a contagious pep during “Smooth Sailing,” with its swirling chorus and cheeky horns. He was right in stride with his band and its backing vocalists.
The encore performance of “River” was the pinnacle of the show. Bridges and vocalist Brittni Jessie stood by themselves onstage and delivered a stunningly delicate version of the song. A lull fell across the venue as they carefully floated every syllable into the air. Thanks to the song’s baptismal lyrics, the performance felt cleansing and even a bit transformative.
The festival’s Texas showcase did more than just live up to the big name it had proclaimed for itself. It brought fans together for an unforgettable performance complete with all the neighborly charm and high-stepping grooves one could want.