Watch: Leon Bridges Played Conan Last Night, His Third Late-Night Performance Since March.
Here's a solid example of just how hot the soul-singing Fort Worth crooner Leon Bridges is these days: Just this past Friday night in Bridges' hometown, the New York-based former Texas Is The Reason frontman Garrett Klahn covered Bridges' “Coming Home” while performing at Lola's Saloon.
Bridges wasn't there, and it's tough to say if Klahn included the song in his set as an intentional nod to Fort Worth. Seeing as how “Coming Home” has been pretty unavoidable all summer long, though, it's entirely possible that Klahn didn't put the two-and-two together that his crowd did, that he was simply paying homage to a song he's been digging of late.
Seems Bridges — or, perhaps more accurately, the higher-ups at his Columbia Records label — is digging on “Coming Home” plenty these days, too. After making his late-night television debut by performing his song “Better Man” for The Late Late Show with James Corden back in March, Bridges pivoted to his debut LP's leadoff and title track, “Coming Home,” when he played The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon in June.
He played that song, too, just last night as he and his backing band — Austin Jenkins, Joshua Block, Kenny Wayne, Andrew Skates, Jeff Dazey and Brittni Jessie — as his band performed on Conan. For those counting at home, this performance marks Bridges' third late-night performance in six months.
It's a strong showing, too, even if Bridges' vocals seem a little more gravelly these days, perhaps a little worn from the road.
Whatever, say we. We think it adds character.
Check out the performance below.