september 6 — CONCERTS & EVENTS

With the vibe of a night lounge, fans of Jungle were buzzing with anticipation for the British duo. Joining forces in 2013, Josh Lloyd-Watson and Tom McFarland founded the neo-soul/funk project, Jungle. At The Eastern in Atlanta, Jungle’s latest world tour has begun with performances from Paul Cherry.

The lights dim and Jungle’s name lights up as music starts to swarm in. A low buzz that grows louder, Jungle’s name bleeds to a warm orange and the intro for “Keep Moving” begins. The 4-minute track off of their latest album, Loving In Stereo, has Atlanta fans singing their hearts out. As the song comes to a close, another fan favorite plays out through the venue. “All Of The Time,” the third track from Loving In Stereo, is the moment of a life time. The fast-paced, upbeat jam has ignited The Eastern and fans’ hands are in the air.

With LED screens behind them, Jungle and their band are staged perfectly. Their bassist and guitarist are spaced out on either side of the table where Lloyd-Watson and McFarland are. Their drummer is just behind their guitarist — leaving the kongo drum player on the opposite side of the stage. Warm welcomes echo through The Eastern as Jungle says hello. “It’s been about four years since we’ve been here,” McFarland reckons.

“Who’s been here since the beginning?” Watson asks the crowd. The audience roars as “The Heat” plays from their self-titled debut album. From there, the band plays through famous tracks like: “Beat 54 (All Good Now),” “Bonnie Hill,” and “Julia.” The venue space is packed— people are shoulder to shoulder— and the temperature is rising. “I’m a troubled man, changed by the things I do…” Jungle’s “Happy Man” from their second studio album, For Ever, builds to its chorus and everyone is screaming along. With songs like, “Casio,” and “Cherry,” Jungle uses their lighting and stage direction to their advantage. The LED screens project palm trees, pulsating waves, and various colors to match the aesthetic of the track.

“Good Times,” one of the latest releases from Jungle this summer, has their audience sweating and jumping at every break. The feel-good 3-minute song is a cathartic release for fans in Atlanta. The concert winds to an end with “Truth,” Jungle and their band exit the stage and fans start chanting: “A few more songs! A few more songs!” No more than a few minutes later, Jungle is taking the stage. “Atlanta,” Lloyd-Watson begins, holding for applause. “Would you like us to play a few more songs?” And the crowd immediately eruptions as “Fire” plays and weaves into “What D’You Know About Me.” Jungle Atlanta performance ends with their final tracks: “Time” and “Busy Earnin’.”

With almost 20 songs performed, Jungle rocked Atlanta. Jungle’s last date of tour is September 22, 2022 at Firefly Festival in Dover, DE. If you can’t get enough of the good times, you can find Jungle on Instagram and Twitter (@jungle4eva). Jungle’s entire discography is available wherever you stream music!

Words by Kaylee Pickens

Photos by Chandler Bunzol