December 12, 2020

Concert Review: Imugi 이무기, The Tuning Fork, 10 December 2020

Imugi 이무기’s Yery Cho is visibly gobsmacked as she gazes down at a packed-out Tuning Fork, as the locally based R&B/electro-pop outfit herald their triumphant sophomore EP Dragonfruit. Behind her, partner in rhyme Carl Ruwhiu is just as dazed, but only for a moment. They’ve got a show to put on.

The duo have brought some friends along to kick things off. The room is already bustling for Leaping Tiger (aka 20-something Jacob Park) who does well to overcome tech issues and relax into a smooth run of glitchy house tracks peaking with the slinky bass jam Screw Face, a collab with hip-hop duo Church & AP. Next rapper PollyHill fires out brilliantly mouthy bars with laser guided precision as she bounds around the stage blatantly having a ton of fun with MC HalfQueen. With neat hair and a smart-turned-casual blazer/shorts combo, she could easily be Benee’s slightly evil big sister. “Floss your teeth, wear sunscreen, and don’t fall in love with a fantasy”, she laughs at one point.

Imugi 이무기 soar on Dragonfruit thanks to their masterful pairing of future-leaning pop sensibilities and a crackling analogue aesthetic, so it’s a treat to see the pair joined for their set by Dan Waterson on live drums. Along with the odd bit of bass guitar or percussion from Carl, that additional third dimension bolsters their sound and contrasts beautifully with Yery’s silky, languid vocal which acts as an enticing outstretched hand, welcoming us into the band’s hazy universe. Portals is an apt starting point.

The threesome have a cool, comfortable presence; Yery makes the front of the stage her own, Carl emerging from behind his equipment table a few times to share mic duties. Their chemistry is like that of two kids at the back of a classroom lost in shared fantasies, uninterested in the real world drifting by.

Even during a pause to fix some equipment, Yery keeps the vibes rolling via hilarious ad-libs – inclusive, celebratory shout-outs to “the girls and the gays” and tongue-in-cheek digs at the shady men of the industry machine. Their gratitude at the 300-odd strong crowd is returned by endless dancing. There’s a lot of love in the room tonight. And frankly, the music speaks for itself. Be Here Soon is an intoxicating slice of crunchy R&B in the vein of Clairo or Yaeji while the slow and oozing empowerment anthem Somebody Else is a highlight. Like its namesake, Dragonfruit is vibrant, exotic, and delicious, and so are its creators.

Alex Cabré

Click any thumbnail to view a full-size gallery of eachartist: Imugi 이무기and openers, Leaping Tiger, Pollyhill and Soraya La Pread. All photos by Tara Ranchhod.