Blu DeTour: Blu DeTiger at the El Rey
If you think you don't know Blu DeTiger, yes, you do. Allow me to jog your memory. Maybe you saw her playing bass on SNL with Jack Antonoff’s Bleachers this past January. Maybe you caught her surprise set at this year’s Coachella (weekend 1), where she got the whole Do LaB vibing. Most likely, you’ve probably heard her hit song ‘Figure it Out’ since it was in almost every TikTok video in 2020, at least that’s how I discovered her. I started following her around that time and was in awe of her incredible bass riffs to hit songs like Britney Spears’ ‘…Baby One More Time’ or Ginuwine’s ‘Pony’. I had never seen someone play bass the way she does.
Other than Paul McCartney, what bassist do you know who is an equally exciting frontman? If your answer isn’t Blu, think again. I saw Blu’s concert last Friday evening at the El Rey Theatre in Los Angeles, the midway point of her first headline tour, appropriately and wittingly titled “Blu DeTour”. I had high hopes for the evening which were exceeded. The show was absolutely incredible. Miss DeTiger can transcend time with her 70s funk sound mixed with some sassy pop flair. Throughout the night, she played her bass in a more standard way, supporting the overall band, but at the drop of a hat, Blu would riff and shred. She brings a new and fresh meaning to the instrument and, I’d argue, to the dynamic of a band unit as a whole. Blu’s backing band was out of this world. With her older brother Rex DeTiger on drums and Horace Bray on lead guitar, her band “blu” me away... I’ll show myself out… Moving on, when she introduced the two, they each had a moment to shine and shine they did. Both Rex and Horace performed solos with their respective instruments and played to their strengths.
I had so much fun dancing to my favorite songs ‘Hot Crush Lover’ and ‘Vintage’, but I was particularly impressed with Blu’s cover medley. Taylor Swift’s ‘Style’ echoed through the room and MGMT’s ‘Electric Feel’ had the whole room jumping. A song with an already memorable bassline, ‘Electric Feel’ should now be in Blu’s catalog because she made it her own. I also want to acknowledge Horace who shined with a killer guitar solo. If that’s not enough of a good time, electro-funk duo Chromeo, who collaborated with Blu earlier this year on her singles ‘Blutooth’ and ‘enough 4 u’, came out and turned the El Rey into their own private disco. Speaking of disco, the stage dressing of mirror balls was a fun touch.
Blu showed off her other musical talents Friday evening. Aside from her signature bass, she played rhythm guitar and sang lead vocals on each tune. I want to applaud her effortlessly beautiful singing voice. ‘Blondes’ was probably my favorite song of the night. It convinced me that Blu is actually a time traveler from the late 70s. I was reminded of Leo Sayer’s ‘You Make Me Feel Like Dancing’. Later in the set, Blu asked if anyone in the audience played bass. She invited an eleven-year-old boy up on stage and he jammed with Blu, a sweet moment to see her interact with a young fan and the kid could really play!
Also, shoutouts are in order for Ryan Woods who started the show, and Tiffany Day, the second opener who’s been opening for the entirety of Blu’s tour. This Friday performance was Ryan’s first show with the Blu DeTour, (he will be opening for all the California shows so if you’re in the state, go check him out!) Ryan has a great voice, I was particularly impressed with his falsetto. For someone who told the crowd he was an introvert, Ryan sure looked at home on stage. And Tiffany’s energy was through the roof. Mix that with her loyal fanbase who was just as much there to see her as they were for Blu, you’ve got an enthusiastic concert experience.
Finally, I want to applaud the El Rey for its stellar sound system. When I headed to the bar, located in the back of the venue, for a Cherry Coke, I noticed the sound was just as good, if not better, as it was up front. 10/10. And the Cherry Coke, 10/10! ;)
Check out my interview with Rex DeTiger on my radio show: https://www.mixcloud.com/TheHotChildintheCity/rex/
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