THE FANTASY HOUSE TOUR: BLK ODYSSY, ASHA IMUNO & BENJI.
In July of this year, BLK ODYSSY released his third studio album: 1-800 FANTASY, an eccentric blend of Rock, Alternative, Hip-Hop, R&B, and Funk. BLK ODYSSY continues to push the envelope sonically and conceptually with each project. A little over a month after the album’s release, he was set to hit the road for The Fantasy House Tour with stops spanning across the U.S. and Europe. Joining him on the road would be Asha Imuno, BINA, and Benji. My tour stop was September 11 in Boston, Massachusetts which we were fortunate enough to have Asha and Benji. as opening acts.
I went into this show being a fan of all 3 artists ahead of time so I knew the city of Boston was in for something special that night. This is one of those lineups that you’ll be able to look back on years from now and feel honored to have witnessed something so legendary. Each time a new performer graced the stage, it felt like a breath of fresh air. They all possess the same quality of a non conforming sound while never sounding anything like the other. Three distinct artists, with three distinct sounds. It was individuality, raw talent, musicianship and genre bending put on full display— in the best way.
Benji. was first up that night and let me say, it did not take long for the crowd to be completely enamored by what they were witnessing in front of them. With interactive performances of fan favorite records like Josephine and Jorja off of Love Gun, it only solidified the connection between artist and audience. Towards the middle of his set, he stripped things back a bit with a bass only performance of Radio off of his latest EP, Love Gun II. This approach allowed Benji.’s soulful vocals to really be the star of the show (and they are). Benji. then closed out his set with a memorable and energetic performance of his record East Side Bounce off of his debut album Smile, You’re Alive! which showcased his rapping ability, flow, and breath control. This one really got the crowd all the way hyped up. So much so, that we sent him off with a well deserved Benji. chant.
Next to the stage was Asha Imuno, who brought out his own special guest, his MPC controller. He used it to kick off his set, warming us up by playing a couple of beats which then smoothly transitioned into his first song of the night. I thought this was an especially cool touch considering Asha is a producer as well who has played a large hand in producing his own songs. From one side of the stage to another, he commanded the whole thing the entire time he was up there. He exuded such high energy while performing, it was impossible to ignore. We also witnessed softer moments on songs like PUSHING BUTTONS and BULLSEYE, both off of his latest album PINS & NEEDLES. It was a well rounded setlist that did a great job of showing his versatility as an artist; the perfect way to tend to any veteran fans while welcoming the new ones. Once again, the crowd showed up the way they needed to. I was able to talk with Asha after the show where he stated that Boston had been the best stop, for him, on tour so far and “One of the best shows that I have played ever.”
And to close out the show, we got an intense and electrifying performance from BLK ODYSSY and his band. The “and his band” is imperative to mention as they played a crucial part in the delivery of BLK ODYSSY’s performance. There was such a beautiful synergy between the 5 of them on stage. Synchronicity and fluidity are two words that immediately come to mind when thinking back on this performance. The music and their movements became one. Similar to BLK ODYSSY’s sound, it was mesmerizing. Butter-soft, tantalizing vocals poured out from the microphone as they played highlights off of 1-800 FANTASY like STANK ROSE, CREEP, XXX, and GEMINI, and undeniable favorites off of BLK VINTAGE like FUNKENTOLOGY, GHOST RIDE, and an extremely indelible performance of BENNY’S GOT A GUN. Everything about what I saw on that stage felt poetic.
There are shows and then there are experiences, and this one in particular is absolutely the latter; and that extends to everyone who touched the stage that night. On September 11, 2024, Benji., Asha Imuno, and BLK ODYSSY delivered us something unforgettable, and the city of Boston received it with open arms.
