LOS ANGELES, CA -You may have heard Jungle’s feel-good dance song “Back on 74” throughout the past year when their viral one-shot dance video went viral last summer, celebrated for its stellar choreography, videography, and engaging musicality. The band, formed by founding members and childhood friends Josh Lloyd-Watson and Tom McFarland in 2013, has come a long way and is now achieving the international acclaim their music so richly deserves.
When an artist plays The Hollywood Bowl, it’s clear they’ve reached a significant milestone in their career. For over 100 years, the venue has hosted some of the biggest names, showcasing artistic greatness and cultural relevance, with a seating capacity of up to 18,000 guests. This past Friday night, Jungle played to a sold-out crowd, delivering their infectious house soul sound paired with a stunning visual production.
Opening with their iconic 2014 single “Busy Earnin’”—a track filled with loud synths, thunderous backbeats, and roaring trumpets and organs—Jungle set the tone with lighting and visuals perfectly complementing their sound. Sleek and modern, with a retro 1970s-style funk flair, Jungle’s collective energy and soul radiated throughout the entire Bowl.
From white rays of light bursting from the stage to twinkling stardust in sunset-red hues, the attention to visual production and aesthetics has become a signature element of the Jungle brand. With Josh and Tom front and center, armed with keys, guitars, and vocals, the band went on to perform “Candle Flame,” featuring rapper Erick the Architect, and “Dominoes,” led by vocalist Lydia Kitto. When they performed the atmospheric “The Heat,” sunset-red tones emanated from the stage, creating a vibe that echoed the jungle safari-inspired aesthetics of “Problemz.” Lydia, with her cool vocals and shades, commanded center stage, vibing and dancing in contagious syncopation.
It’s safe to say their opening songs sent the auditorium into pure feel-good bliss.
Beyond their signature electronic sound—layered with heavily percussive loops, synthesized effects, rapid breakbeats, and funky basslines rooted in hip hop, funk, and dancehall music—it’s Jungle’s soulful melodies and knack for creating a collective energy and spirit that set them apart. The band has expanded into a seven-piece ensemble, collaborating with various artists over the past decade to achieve a full and organic live sound experience. Notably, core member Lydia Kitto (vocals, keyboards, flute, guitar, bass), who wrote some of their greatest hits from their 2023 album *Volcano* (“Back on 74,” “Dominoes,” “Candle Flame,” among others), joined as a permanent member last year, enhancing their live music experience.
Earlier this year, Jungle won Group of the Year at the 2024 BRIT Awards, the UK’s most prestigious music awards ceremony. This achievement comes a decade after their song “Busy Earnin’” gained worldwide acclaim, landing at #13 on the Top 50 Tracks of 2014 by British publication NME, which helped put them on the map.
As Jungle progressed through their set, the music never stopped. Seamlessly transitioning from one song to another, they maintained the energy and momentum, thanks in part to their trademark of creating memorable soundscapes and alluring visuals.
One of their biggest collaborations was “I’ve Been In Love,” featuring Channel Tres, which blends lush layers of disco, house, and funk with Channel Tres’ West Coast-style gangsta-rap. The performance showcased a visual of Channel Tres rapping his melodic verse over the band’s soulful hook, creating an ultimately glowing, soulful, and captivating track.
The most special moment came when the band began their viral hit “Back on 74,” accompanied by a live video of dancer Will West moving outside the auditorium, reminiscent of their renowned dance videos. The feel-good hit transitioned into their latest single, “Let’s Go Back,” with West dancing his way through the crowd and box seats to the stage by the song’s end. The performance brought the online experience to life, with West’s engagement with the audience creating a visually stunning live video segment.
The band then played “Casio,” a laid-back funk ballad referring to the end of a relationship, featuring the memorable line, “playing on my heart like a Casio [keyboard].” The track, from 2018’s *For Ever*, became an instant hit for its mid-tempo disco feel and laid-back vocals, merging analog (Casio) and digital (electronic) elements in their music.
As the energy continued to build, the second half of Jungle’s set felt like a live DJ experience, as dance beats and visuals reverberated through the venue. Long-time friend, rapper, and show opener Bas joined them for “Romeo.” Cool tones of white and silver mimicked a disco ball as shattering lights played to the song, and the band broke into dancing to “Us Against the World,” with Lydia showcasing her flute skills. Later in the set, the band leaned into pure electronic house DJ vibes as inflatable beach balls floated in the audience to the warped and muted house sounds of “Don’t Play.” At times, it felt as if the Bowl had transformed into a rave or music festival, with sounds and flashing lights turning it into an outright party.
For their encore, the band fittingly played “Keep Moving,” a song filled with optimism, love, and hope for a better future, with the uplifting message: “I could live with it.”
Jungle evokes a cool, clean, and slick vibe in their house tracks. A universal sense of love, community, and collective nostalgia is embedded in their music, as their large ensemble of singers, dancers, and musicians makes the audience feel like they are right on stage with them. The band emphasizes a collective energy over individual spotlight, creating memorable live house music with a striking production. With their approach of pairing music with dance, they’ve hit a universal chord, amassing over 13 million monthly listeners since the release of *Volcano* (up from 5 million in 2021 to 8 million in 2023). It’s clear they’re doing something that resonates, and it’s no surprise they’re selling out venues around the world.
Check out Jungle’s setlist HERE.
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