Read previous – Luna Li debut LP and tour announcement
Luna Li (the stage name of singer-songwriter/multi-instrumentalist Hannah Bussiere Kim) played her first ever Philly show at the upstairs lounge at World Cafe Live on Wednesday, 3/23. Opening was local band Naked Lake who are a self-proclaimed “queer, alt-surf rock” band. Their danceable rhythms and jangly guitars are reminiscent of some my favorite indie rock bands from the aughts. They just released an excellent new single “Running Away Again“, a follow-up to their 2021 4-song EP Dreaming Of. I have a soft spot for the electronic version of that song that harkens back to ’80s new wave a la OMD. I’ll be keeping an eye on this band and look forward to what comes next.
With the announcment of the postponement of Mitski’s Philly show (due to a band member getting COVID), I was in dire need of a pick-me-up. Fortunately, my week wasn’t ruined due to still being able to catch Luna Li for a mid-week show. Luna Li is an artist that’s relatively new to me that I only learned about after she played dates with Japanese Breakfast in late-2021 and after catching a highlight of her performance of “2516” at Head In The Clouds. Upon hearing the full version of that track (from Luna Li’s 2021 intrumental jams EP), it immediately reminded me of a video game-y version of George Benson’s “Breezin'” and I knew needed to hear more. Clocking in at just around 10 minutes, the EP bridges jazz/R&B, psych, and indie pop beats. If you’ve ever found yourself vibin’ to “Great Fairy’s Fountain Theme”, you’ll dig it.
If vocals are more your speed, Luna Li just released their debut LP Duality earlier this month – it features previously released tracks like “Cherry Pit” and “Afterglow”, as well as new ones including “Silver Into Rain” (featuring beabadoobee). It’s chill vibes only. For their live set, Bussiere Kim’s Asian boss musicality was on full display as she effortlessly switched between guitars (including a short scale butterfly guitar), violin, and harp. The performance even featured a mid-set wardrobe change that I have no clue how she pulled off in such a short amount of time (seriously). Bussiere Kim is an electrifying performer and absolutely kills it while enjoying herself on stage. The next time Luna Li is in town, I will definitely not miss it.
While finishing out their headlining tour, Luna Li will be joining beabadoobee for their west coast dates in April. Beyond that, nothing has been announced yet, but summer festival dates would seem likely. Check out Luna Li’s recently released video for “What You’re Thinking” (from the Duality LP) below and keep scrolling to see more photos from the show.
