When I heard I would be spending my Friday night with one of Grimy Goods’ favorite alternative artists, Sudan Archives, I couldn’t have been more excited.
For the final stop of her The BPM North American Tour, Los Angeles-based experimental violinist, vocalist, and engineer Sudan Archives transformed the Fonda Theatre into an electrifying sci-fi rave pulsing with infectious energy and genre-bending sound. The evening kicked off with an unforgettable set by Atlanta-born, K-pop-obsessed singer-songwriter Cyndee with a C, and included a special guest appearance by Kentucky-raised, Colombian-American musician Cain Culto.
Cyndee with a C set the tone for the night, captivating the crowd with a playful Korean lesson, showers of iridescent bubbles, and a wacky waving inflatable tube guy—perfectly channeling the chaotic energy of everyone’s worst ex ever. Her set was a whirlwind of hard-hitting drum and bass tracks like “Spend It” and “Tweaking Out,” unleashing a contagious energy that had the entire room moving.
After a brief intermission, Sudan Archives emerged like a futuristic queen, instantly commanding every eye and ear in the room. Her presence was like that of a scientist. She was in her lab, meticulously manipulating each instrument and gadget as if orchestrating an experiment. The audience was transfixed as she flowed seamlessly from song to song, mix to mix, violin strike to violin strike. “Not for Sale,” “Freakalizer,” and “DEAD” were instant standouts, destined for my post-show playlist.
But the night’s most unforgettable moment came when Sudan Archives invited a fan for her track, “A Bug’s Life,” onto the stage (watch it below). The fan didn’t just soak up the spotlight; she owned it, performing alongside Sudan for the entire song. Iconic barely begins to describe it.
As the show drew to a close, Archives brought out rising superstar Cain Culto for a fiery fiddle duel. The two traded electrifying riffs while performing Culto’s breakout hit “KFC Santería,” delivering a show-stopping finale that left the crowd buzzing long after the final note faded.
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