LOS ANGELES, CA- Isn’t it funny how some memories fade while others fossilize? For me, it’s usually the small moments that crystallize and anchor themselves into my memory—like the red bracelet my best friend wore at our high school graduation, peeking out from under her gown sleeve as we waited in line. At Leon Bridges’ Hollywood Bowl show, I could already feel one of those moments settling in: a woman just in front of me stealing her partner’s cowboy hat, resting it carefully on her brunette hair while they both laughed.
That tiny scene captured the whole mood of the night. Despite being surrounded by fifteen thousand strangers, everyone was wrapped in their own little world, swaying together, connected by the music and the warmth of a Los Angeles evening under the open sky.
Leon Bridges arrived in L.A. on the heels of Leon, maybe his most grounded record yet. The album is a personal reflection on his Texas roots, painting wide landscapes of Texas nights and threading through them like the Rio Grande itself. It floats between folk, country, soul, ’70s rock, and pop. His smooth vocals are as rich as ever, but the instrumentation is expansive—acoustic guitars, pianos, and subtle layers that reflect growth and a deepening sense of place. Hearing Leon performed live at the Bowl made sense. The venue’s open air allowed the music to breathe exactly as it should, while the amphitheater’s natural acoustics gave every note a chance to hang in the warm night air.\
Before Leon took the stage, we were treated to Charley Crockett. Dressed sharp in his cowboy hat and boots, Crockett carried the air of a man who belongs to both the honky-tonks of East Texas and the blues clubs of the French Quarter. His newest album, Lonesome Drifter, digs into those roots, pushing back against the slickness of pop-country in favor of classic country music.
Throughout his set, he moved effortlessly between blues, soul, and classic country. His deep voice filled the amphitheater, each note landing with weight. At one point, he shared a story about Willie Nelson’s advice to him, nodding to the fact that both he and Leon had played the Bowl together a few years earlier for Willie’s birthday. He also made a point to call out how Waylon Jennings still hasn’t been inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, earning cheers from the crowd (wtf, Hall of Fame). Highlights from his set included “$10 Dollar Cowboy,” “Easy Money,” and a lively cover of “Juke Box Mama” that had him skating across the stage, flashing that ten-million-dollar smile. I believe that when future generations talk about country legends, his name will be somewhere on that list.
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After a short intermission, the stage transformed. Transparent curtains draped around a semicircle of risers. As the lights dimmed, the crowd buzzed in anticipation. Then, bathed in deep blue light, Leon appeared, wearing a sharp blue suede suit and dark sunglasses, moving with unhurried confidence to the microphone. He opened with “When A Man Cries,” standing perfectly still as his voice carried across the Bowl, backed by his exceptional band. It was a quiet, intimate start.
Throughout the set, Leon blended grace and energy with ease. Between songs, the lighting shifted into rich, oceanic blues, like dusk settling over the desert. His slow two-step glided across the stage as cheers rippled through the crowd like waves, bouncing from one side of the amphitheater to the other.
He moved fluidly through his new material, playing “Panther City” and “Ain’t Got Nothing On You,” while weaving in fan favorites from earlier albums. “Better Man” and “Flowers,” both from Coming Home, had people jumping to their feet, singing along without hesitation. The highlight came when he eased into “Texas Sun.” Lit by a single spotlight, Leon stood at center stage with one bandmate on slide guitar. The two built the song slowly, letting the tension hang before the full band kicked in. The instant the beat dropped, the entire Bowl rose to dance. The night peaked at that moment.
The Hollywood Bowl was made for this type of performance—warm air, a packed house, and intimate music. As I left, I kept thinking of that young couple with the cowboy hat. A small snapshot from the night, but one that will stay with me. That kind of moment reminds me why live music matters. It’s a chance for people to be vulnerable and authentic.
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LIVE CLIPS
Leon Bridges & Charley Crockett Deliver Soulful Storytelling Under the Stars at the Hollywood Bowl
