CHICAGO- On October 22nd 2025, I had the honor to be a part of the crowd at Thalia Hall to see New Zealand’s pride and joy, Balu Brigada. Being in Thalia Hall itself was a surreal feeling, the venue was incredibly beautiful, and you could almost taste the rich history its walls held.
The opener for the show was none other than Harper Finn, who took away everybody’s breath with his electric moves and his suave voice, wonderfully accompanied by Jacob Stockman on the drums. He performed some of his hit songs, such as “Conversations (With The Moon)” and “Where Did She Go,” setting a dreamy tone for the evening. He also performed some upcoming songs of his, surprising the crowd and causing a new wave of excitement among us. As he began to step off the stage, he spoke into the mic, “You guys will see more of me, just behind a different instrument,” alluding to him performing as the keyboardist for Balu Brigada.
When the two brothers finally stepped onstage, the energy in the room shifted instantly. The crowd, full of long-time fans and curious newcomers, was ready to dance! The brothers instantly jumped into the first song of the night, “Golden Gate Girl,” the beat forcing my feet to shuffle in sync. The band’s signature blend of funky basslines, sleek guitar riffs, and smooth vocals made every song feel danceable, even the ones tinged with bittersweet emotion.
Their set included other hits from their debut album “Portal,” which was released just this past August and has accumulated over 75 million streams on Spotify, including “What Do We Ever Really Know” and “Butterfly Boy.” They sang some of their older material too, like “Moon Man,” and at one point, surprised the crowd with a cover of Grimes’s “Oblivion.”
What stood out the most, however, was their chemistry. Both, with each other and the crowd. The brothers continuously made playful jabs at each other, taking many moments during their performance to hug or joke around. They made sure to share this love with the audience too, pointing out 2 people in the crowd that they had seen while at a ramen restaurant, and then showcasing their musical intellect by immediately coming up with a catchy tune, singing, “We love ramen!”
The energy spread by the duo was caught onto by the crowd, who matched it beat for beat. They sang along to every lyric, waving their hands and phones with the flashlight on, and jumping in unison when the beat dropped. When the band played their hit song “So Cold,” the entire room erupted, a moment that captured exactly what live music is all about.
Seeing Balu Brigada live was an experience that may never be topped, and I’m grateful to have shared my evening with them.
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Photo Credits: @lissyxcam