Words by Andrea Regina Esperon
There is always a lingering anxiety when you transition from listening to an artist through headphones to seeing them live. Will the production and emotions translate? Will the vocals hold up? For Khamari, any lingering doubts vanished the moment the first instrumental chords filled the air. What followed was a serene, masterfully paced set that proved the live experience doesn’t just match his recorded music, but completely elevated the listening experience.
The set opened with a wave of instrumentals and delicate guitar strumming, setting a grounded, intimate tone amidst the large-scale festival. Khamari initially seemed a bit nervous, but that raw vulnerability actually worked to his advantage. His stage presence, which was characterized by an intentional pacing back and forth across the stage, felt deeply personal. As he looked out, making direct eye contact with the crowd, the music felt perfectly tailored for a sunset in New York City. The synergy between the live instruments, which was anchored by a strong bassline, was absolutely crazy in the best way possible. Each song transitioned seamlessly through different patterns but provided a level of fulfillment. During “Euphoria,” Khamari’s vocals were pristine, sounding exactly like the studio track as he echoed the sentiment, “New York, you make me feel good.”
As he went into “Head in a Jar,” Khamari didn’t miss a single lyric, as his voice sounded incredibly full, hitting every run and vocal riff with precision.
The energy peaked when the crowd caught on to the familiar rhythms. There was a beautiful moment of collective movement near the trees as people danced to the music, but the loudest applause of the entire night was reserved for a single action. Khamari brought out his guitar to play the iconic “Sycamore Tree” riff live.
“Is anyone out there single?”
When Khamari threw that question to the crowd, it felt like the entirety of NYC roared in response. He used that massive burst of crowd energy to transition perfectly into “Lonely in the Jungle.” No lies, that was the first song I ever heard of Khamari that turned me into a fan. His lyrics describe a level of yearning that is untapped.
The crowd was packed with dedicated fans, with the Filipino community showing massive, undeniable love for Khamari throughout the night, including myself.
As the set winded down through beautiful renditions of “I Love Lucy” and “4 Walls,” the emotional weight of the night culminated in a simple, parting message. Khamari looked out at the sea of faces and reminded everyone to look out for one another: “Spread some love. It’s a mad, mad world out there.”
Left against the backdrop of a fading New York skyline, the crowd was left with a reminder that even in a mad world, music like Khamari’s can make it feel entirely loved.
Photo by shamaal
Loudspeaker Collective 