Meow Meow Meow: a Thundercat Review
You couldn’t miss the night of October 2nd, 2026. Anticipation buzzed through the house as my roommate Vee and I waited for our ride to the Miami Beach Bandshell. Thundercat was what we set our hearts (and our ears) on!
After arriving, we explored for a bit as DJ Kitty Ca$h opened. Unapologetically eclectic house music boomed as the venue filled up. The venue was outdoors (with partial covering), spacious, well-stocked with amenities, and had a row of chairs in the back. There was also premium seating on a platform behind the chairs.
Vee and I arrived pretty early, but there was already an extensive line behind the merch table. They were selling shirts, hoodies, CDs, you name it! Here’s a picture of the table in all of its glory:
After weaving around the masses, we snagged seats to rest. The audience had a wide age range,with teenagers, young adults, and middle-aged people all spilling inside as DJ Kitty Ca$h wound her set down. Vee even pointed out some parents that brought their kids.
The set change started. Time was ticking. Some of our friends asked us to come meet them in the pit, and by the time I found them, we found ourselves melding into the sea of fans.
Lights, camera, action! With an easygoing swagger, Thundercat gave a warm hello to Miami. For those who were early birds, frontman Stephen Lee Bruner pointed out their “cool shirts,” before casually signing one of said shirts. With that, the music began.
The instrumentation was expected of Thundercat's music, with its electrifying jazz fusion groove and playful vocals. Bruner was on lead vocals and bass, and he was accompanied by a drummer, keyboardist, and two back up singers. The back up singers were a new addition for this tour, as my friend who saw him previously shared with us. Everything flowed so naturally, and the band worked together as one unit.
He started off with a mix of older and newer songs, which is nice for all fans. I especially liked ‘Candlelight,’ which had a solo section in which Thundercat and his drummer played off each other extremely well in a duet. Every lick and fill built up to a musical explosion of fun!
After this mixed introduction, Thundercat began to perform songs from his newest album, Distracted. When asked about the meaning of his songs, he put it very simply.
“What's this song about? This song is about having ADD.”
“What's that song about? It’s about failure.”
He was able to be heartfelt without being too cheesy; he was able to play some of the most complex bass riffs I have ever heard while wearing the brightest smile on his face; and all of us fans ate that up.
For the sake of getting to know us better, he performed a song while lying on the stage floor. Unfortunately, I was not close enough to get a picture, but it was certainly a spectacle. Other honorable shenanigans include spamming the “bruh” and “FAHHHH” sound effects on his soundboard, opening a Pokémon booster pack from a fan, and celebrating Sonic the Hedgehog’s 35th Anniversary Project.
The end of the show was the most memorable for me. By this time, everyone was jamming out. Thundercat's energy was just infectious. I couldn't allow myself to stay still or let my eyes stray one bit from the stage. After asking us if it really was that hot out there, he disappeared behind the curtain. None of us wanted it to end.
It was our turn to drag him back on stage. Waves of “ONE MORE SONG!!!” echoed in the pit.
The start of the end was marked by the keyboardist and drummer walking back on stage and absolutely shredding. Then came the backup singers, and finally the icon himself.
Of course he’d play Friend Zone as an encore, what else would he choose? If a fan wasn't recording, they were singing along, word for word. If being in a hive mind was like this, maybe I would enjoy it. Jokes aside, it was truly incredible to experience that specific performance live.
As the crowds died down my friends, and I decided to get some merch. They got shirts, while I decided to get a CD to play at home.
I'd like to thank WVUM for giving me the opportunity to attend this concert and being such a wonderful community of music lovers to be in! I certainly wouldn't have had as much fun as I did if I went alone, so I'm grateful for everyone who was there! ♡
From left: Ebel, Alec, Claire
As a bonus, Vee and I were featured on the official band shell Instagram! Here we are :D
From left: Vee, Claire
Special thanks to: Vee Ngunda, Alec Windmiller, Ebel Gonzalez, the WVUM Eboard, the Bandshell, and Thundercat for such an awesome experience!