Secondhand Setlists

“Boy, you sound like an old man,” Mrs. Bridges once told her son, Leon, echoing the sentiments of everyone who’s ever heard Leon Bridges’ retro vibes. Not only does he sound like one, he performs like one too.

At a Leon Bridges show, the boundless energy revolves just as much around “big band” as it does Bridges’ himself. Guitars mingle with a brassy tenor sax and upbeat percussion, and it feels like an old-school dance floor, Bridges’ acting as the Master of Ceremonies.

No other title than MC does Bridges justice. He matched his old-timer timbre with sharp, nuanced movements of his hands and feet, winding and shuffling like music is being yanked from his very soul. His dance training shows well here, and Bridges incorporates it flawlessly into his performance.

Singing almost 20 songs, Bridges put forth a show longer than his debut, featuring deluxe tracks from Coming Home while showcasing some promising new material like “Golden Room.” A highlight came when just he and his backup singer remained onstage for a rousing rendition of “River.”

The only real critique one can give Bridges is that this act, the smooth crooner from the south, while certainly compelling and entertaining, is not entirely novel. Bridges evoked the past greats like Sam Cooke and Otis Redding so well it felt more like imitation that innovation.

But even then, such comparisons reinforce the beauty of Bridges’ sound and work. In an age where an artist can deliver an entire album on his/her own laptop, it refreshes to see a young artist refer back to the sounds that brought us here. In this case, Bridges may not have created original recipe, but he’s most certainly refined it for his own palate.