We last checked in on orchestral indie pop multi-instrumentalist Kishi Bashi last year, when he both headlined The Basement East and played the inaugural Church Street Block Party. Since bursting onto the scene in 2012 with his debut solo effort 151a, the eclectic artist, who previously toured backing both Regina Spektor and of Montreal, has become a beloved musical fixture, known for his smart, layered and worldly style, most recently showcased on 2016 third full-length Sonderlust. Kishi returns to Music City tonight, Jan. 18, for an especially intimate performance at Fort Houston, amidst a fundraising effort to produce a new documentary, Omoiyari: a Songfilm by Kishi Bashi, described as “a groundbreaking film and soundtrack exploration about history, empathy, and social change.”
Not your typical Kishi Bashi show, this stripped down acoustic performance will feature music mixed with multimedia and storytelling, focusing on Japanese internment during WWII. Julian Saporiti, a collaborator on Omoiyari as well as a Brown PhD student is a perfect compliment to this bill, as he’s developing his own similar spirited multimedia project, No-No Boy, which mixes music, storytelling, and media inspired by his doctoral research and growing up the son of a Vietnamese refugee right here in Nashville. Neo-classical cellist Takénobu opens what’s sure to be a unique night of music and social discourse, centered on a topic that feels more relevant than ever in our current political climate. Grab tickets here.
Kishi Bashi, Julian Saporiti, and Takénobu will perform tonight, Jan. 18 at Fort Houston. The show is all ages, begins at 7 p.m. (doors at 6:30 p.m.), and tickets are available to purchase for $20.
