On the freezing night of October 13th, singer, songwriter, producer, and DJ Sega Bodega graced the stage at Metro. Walking into the venue, I expected a laid-back, relaxed performance, but I experienced so much more than that. As a longtime fan of Sega Bodega, I had been eagerly awaiting this show for months, and it did not disappoint. Arriving before doors, I was second in line for the show and secured a spot right at the barricade, giving me an incredible view of the entire performance.
The night started off with Cecile Believe, whose set I had also been greatly anticipating. Familiar with only a few of her songs, I still knew her performance would be great, and I was not let down as she delivered a captivating set. Two tracks in particular stood out: “Blink Twice”, a recent release on her new label ambient tweets (founded by Sega Bodega), and “My Forever”, another recent release on SOPHIE’s newly released posthumous self-titled album.
Before Sega Bodega even played any music, his stunning set design immediately blew me away. He stood at center stage encircled by 360-degree light stands that shifted in synchronized movements with each song. This mesmerizing visual experience complemented his outstanding performance. The set flowed seamlessly, shifting between laid-back, atmospheric tracks and high-energy, sonically intricate, danceable tracks. Sega Bodega opened with some of his more relaxed tracks, including “Adulter8″ and “Elk Skin,” both featuring beautifully layered vocals and lush, layered synthesizers. As these songs played, I resonated deeply with the music, as if it were touching my soul.
As the chill part of his set faded, Sega Bodega got into some of his more energetic tracks, including “Effeminacy” (a personal favorite), “Deer Teeth”, and the stunning closer “Kepko”, which beautifully capped off his performance. As he transitioned into these tracks, the energy and atmosphere of the room shifted from serene to lively with the whole room dancing and shaking their heads along to the music.
Sega Bodega, along with opener Cecile Believe, were both outstanding performers that I highly recommend seeing live. If you have the chance, be sure to catch either of them on their next tour and you will not be disappointed!