The mood was set and anticipation was high as Kan Wakan (formerly Oren Lyons) took the stage for the third week of their month-long residency at The Echo this past Monday night. An impressive backdrop made to look like the background of their website with a perfectly matching color palette of lights piercing through from behind mesmerized, as they opened their set with the lush, intoxicating single, “Forever Found.” The crowd was already bursting with exuberant excitement at the first recognizable notes and continued their energetic support throughout the night. From those first notes right until the very end of the impressive closing jam session, the band was poised, precise, polished, and most of all stylish. All seven members manned their elaborate set-ups with effortless expertise – from violin to laptop to saxophone, they unobtrusively blended technology with minimalist acoustic instrumentation. As they traversed the musical landscapes of psych, soul, funk, pop and jazz, they managed to keep it all under the banner of that magical, unique Kan Wakan sound. These seven are clearly multi-talented and all seem to have the ability to be the mastermind of their own musical projects. Watching them all work together was like a masterful ballet, but with the sex appeal of 007. At one point I even overhead an audience member comment on the James Bond Soundtrack-like quality to the band’s set. Kristianne Bautista cast her net of possession over the crowd as her sultry alto soared over the complex arrangements. Hearing her voice in the recordings did not quite do justice to the mysterious, almost melancholy quality she brings to the live performance. Despite the intriguing musical acrobatics of the rest of the band, you really can’t take your eyes off her. The highlight of the show was the final song that turned into an improvised musical chairs jam session and transitioned seamlessly back into the original song. The violinist sat at the cajon armed with brushes that looked like tiny rakes, and Bautista went to the back to man the synth as the rest of the band chasséd and pirouetted to close out the night in a way that left us all speechless. Needless to say, seeing Kan Wakan live solidified their status as one of the best local bands for which to keep a very close eye. The band announced they have finished recording their debut full length with an expected Summer 2013 release. You can catch them for the final night of their residency this Monday, Feb. 25, which I’m sure will be your last chance to see them for free. – Jacqueline Caruso
