Barbershop Sessions: Leon Bridges

Leon Bridges is retro soul. The day after his packed out show at The Metro Theatre, he stopped by QT Sydney’s Barber Shop to lay down a stripped back version of his song River from his first and only album Coming Home.

https://youtu.be/LWICOi1_jTU

Hailing from Fort Worth in Texas, the 26 year old has a style that resembles 60’s rhythm and blues and has been compared to soul brothers, Otis Redding and Sam Cooke. He’s a sharp dresser and oozes old fashioned swagger, and even though he’s had a super quick rise to fame, he’s modest. It’s a charming combination. The kid is extremely likeable.

“I’m not saying I can hold a candle to any soul musician from the ’50s and ’60s… but I want to carry the torch” – Leon Bridges

The soul wonder kid released his first single ‘Coming Home’ in mid 2015. The release was a Top 10 Most Viral Track on Spotify and was used as a backing track in an iPhone commercial (that’s when you know you’ve really made it, right?!). Spending some of summer on our sunny shores, Bridges was added to the lineup for Falls Festival and also played a host of sideshows. It was a whirlwind trip, that went down swimmingly with all attendees and there’s already murmurs of a return in 2016.

We were stoked to host such talent in our Barber Shop and I’m sure you’ll agree, this version gets you all tingly and stuff. Sit back and enjoy (and afterwards, check out Danny Clayton’s interview with the harmonious legend).

Also, take a look at the trailer for This is Home, a film by Danny Clinch, documenting Bridges’ rapid rise to stardom and his return to hometown Fort Worth. Moving stuff.

https://youtube.com/watch?v=X3I0yVeGvlI