Photos and Writing by Becca Haydu
From Colombia to Philly, Bomba Esteréo played to a full house at Brooklyn Bowl this Tuesday in support of their Grammy-nominated album, “Deja.”
Their psychedelic blend of tropical sounds ranging from cumbia, house, reggaetón, indie rock, and beyond has entranced fans throughout Latin America and the world since 2005. Bomba’s recent collaboration with Bad Bunny, “Ojitos Lindos,” has only further cemented their status as alt-latino legends with the song reaching number 4 on the Billboard Top Global Charts.
The show was hosted by AFROTAINO, a local initiative that promotes Afro-Indigenous-Latinx arts and culture throughout Philadelphia and marked the band’s first time here in five years. Adding to their lush sound, Bomba Estéreo’s live show features florals and greenery, lazers, and multiple colorful outfit changes from lead singer Li Saumet.
While “Ojitos Lindos” was notably excluded from the set list, they did play many fan favorites from previous albums such as “To My Love,” “Fiesta,” and “Fuego” along with tracks from their latest “Deja,” and a new single with Manu Chau titled “Me Duele.” Instead of packing in as many songs as possible into their set, the band spent time on each one, mixing and remixing both familiar and new sounds to create a unique live experience. While Bomba Estéreo can fill much bigger stages in Latin America, the chance to see them in an intimate venue here in the U.S. is something special.
Warming up the crowd was DJ Madame Vacile, whose sound focuses on the African roots of communities in Latin America, such as Colombia’s Caribbean coast, combining both traditional and modern global music genres. By the end of her set, the crowd was ready to dance all night.
Check out the rest of Bomba Estéreo’s Deja World Tour:
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