The London-based group Jungle arrived in Paso Robles on Sept. 25 to turn a regular Wednesday into a night of entertainment with a performance in support of their latest album “Volcano.”
The crowd, shivering from the cold and anticipation, filled the grand theatre from within the pit, to the rows of seats and out across the distant stretches of the lawn.
Once the lights went out, clusters of audience members gasped, stood up and cheered at once. It was almost as if a teleprompter was flashing, inviting everyone to stand and applaud in unison.
The venue was bathed in sudden flashes of red light as dark silhouettes of the English musicians took shape against the backdrop of the stage. Jungle had arrived and their presence was enough to electrify the energetic crowd.
The opening sounds of a blaring siren were recognizable to fans familiar with the band’s 2014 track “Busy Earnin’” off their debut self titled album.
As vocalist and multi-instrumentalist Tom McFarland hit the first note of his keyboard, excitement erupted within the Vina Robles Amphitheater. At this moment, it felt clear that there was no teleprompter in sight and that the band had mastered the ability to lead a crowd
The lights then settled into a vibrant orange color, a visual homage to the album cover of Volcano.
With the crowd dancing and the orange hue of Jungle acting as a sun over the venue, the coldness of the night was now long forgotten.
Vocalist Lydia Kitto took center stage to sing Jungle’s 2022 single “PROBLEMZ” and from that point forward, her voice demanded the spotlight.
Whether Kitto was harmonizing in the background or enmeshed with the audience up front, her magnetism was noticeably present. Kitto’s infectious smile could be seen as she moved freely about the stage, exuding her high-pitched vocals while dancing freely.
Jungle captivated the audience with its upbeat electronic dance music which seemed to resonate across the crowd and foster a space to escape from reality.
Together, longtime Jungle fans and newcomers bounced at the sound of “Back On 74,” the band’s big hit with nearly 3 million streams on Spotify.
Finally, the band’s departure from the stage brought forth a wave of applause as the crowd demanded an encore.
The group reappeared to perform “Keep Moving” and would all link arms and bow at the end, displaying their appreciation for the crowd while taking in how far they had come.
As Jungle left a second time, vocalist and multi-instrumentalist Josh Lloyd-Watson grabbed the microphone and said: “See you sometime soon.” And just like that, Jungle vanished from the bright lights of the stage, leaving a firm promise of return.
