Author: Zack Shapiro
London indie-pop trio Kero Kero Bonito will be coming to Madison after the release of a surprise EP on September 30th. This project saw the band returning to their vibrant and colorful electronic sound after a less than traditional album. Civilization I was released less than a week before they embarked on their North American tour, foreshadowing the dreamy sounds that fans are excited to experience.
Kero Kero Bonito was formed by Jamie Bulled and Gus Lobban after they posted on the Japanese forum MixB, looking for artists experienced with Japanese rap. There they met Sarah “Bonito” Perry, who would become the face of the band. They went on to drop their debut mixtape Intro Bonito in 2014 and then Bonito Generation in 2016. Kero Kero Bonito is known for songs like Flamingo that feature glitzy, spastic vocals and J-Pop inspired synth tracks, that take on experimental sounds at times.
The band's sound took a left turn with their 2018 album Time ‘n' Place, which featured live instruments and gave them a much more pop-punk influenced style. Still focusing on some electronic elements, the band introduced drums and guitar into their songs, showcasing their musical talent. This album showed they had matured from their earlier work, as the album focused on much more complicated and dark emotions. The album switches from jubilant to haunting on a dime and is truly a magical listening experience.
Kero Kero Bonito takes the stage at the Majestic on Friday, October 18th for an awe inspiring, WSUM sponsored show. Indie fans will not want to miss what promises to be a truly enchanting evening.
