Hiatus Kaiyote returns to San Diego

Allison Mcinnis | Asst. Opinion Editor | The USD Vista      

Hiatus Kaiyote took over the House of Blues in downtown San Diego on Friday, Oct. 2. The four person Australian band is widely known for their neo-soul music, and was nominated for a Grammy in 2011 for Best R&B Performance.

The small venue slowly filled up, eventually reaching close to a full house. The crowd chanted until the band came out. When the lead singer, Nai Palm, finally emerged, she was wearing cat ears and a sparkly jacket from her famously eclectic wardrobe. The crowd went wild and she responded with equal enthusiasm.

She began by saying that they were so lucky to be on one of the main stages at the venue.  “At this time last year, we were in the small a… room next door, and now we’re here!” Palm said.

The crowd responded with a roar, while many started jumping and pumping their fists in the air. The show began with a technical issue, but Palm started the set with an impromptu acoustic version of “Mobius Streak.”

She hit every soul-filled note with grace and her voice rang through the room. Although the set was riddled with technical problems, the band continued on.

When the synthesizer would not cooperate, Simon Mavin who  plays the synthesizer, began playing a normal piano without a hitch. The jazzy tunes were more impressive when the synthesizer was off than when it was on.

University of San Diego sophomore Johnathan Siezar, raved about the band after leaving the performance.

“They dealt with a frustrating situation very well, but I loved her voice!” Siezar said.

“The music was really captivating and I liked how they dealt with the technical issues.”

The crowd’s interest grew as the night went on, especially when the band played their top two hits, “Nakamarra” and “Breathing Underwater.” Everyone in the audience swayed and bobbed their heads as the music played.

Hiatus Kaiyote brought intense energy, enthusiasm, and entertainment to the crowd with their talented musicians.

The crowd was equally vibrant which was evident through their continuous spirit and devotion to the band. Most seemed to have been following them for quite some time, and the band attributed their successes to the audience.

The band was filled with so much enthusiasm that I think all USD students could benefit from listening to them. They up-and-coming band is a great addition to the Spotify playlist.