BADBADNOTGOOD Hypnotizes the Crowd at LA's Iconic Hollywood Palladium

Only a handful of bands can turn a packed Hollywood Palladium into a collective trance, and BADBADNOTGOOD proved once again that they’re one of them. Their latest Los Angeles performance was nothing short of mesmerizing, a night of swirling jazz fusion, airtight musicianship, spontaneous improvisation, and visual artistry that elevated the entire experience into something almost cinematic.

Touring behind their 2024 record Mid Spiral, the Toronto trio (with their ever-expanding live ensemble) brought a fresh sense of exploration to the Palladium stage. Their newer material thrives in performance, blooming into extended jams, rhythmic detours, and hypnotic grooves that had the entire room locked in. Every member played with laser precision, yet the show never felt rigid; this was jazz at its most alive, unpredictable, open, intimate, and bold.

The band’s ability to shift from delicate ambience to thunderous crescendos is its own magic trick. One moment, they were floating through ethereal textures, the next they were erupting into powerful, pulsating rhythms that rippled through the crowd like a shockwave. Their musical chemistry is always undeniable, like watching a single organism breathe, stretch, and transform in real time.

A highlight of the night came with the arrival of Baby Rose midway through the show, whose deep, textured vocals added new dimensions to several songs throughout the set. Her presence brought a soulful gravity to the room, her voice slicing through the band’s lush arrangements with a haunting intensity. The collaboration felt organic, like the show had suddenly shifted into a new chapter of emotional resonance.

But the biggest eruption from the room came when Samuel T. Herring of Future Islands took the stage to perform “Time Moves Slow.” The moment he stepped up to the mic, the crowd roared - and his voice, tender and powerful, lifted one of BBNG’s most beloved tracks into something transcendent. Watching him and the band lock in together was the kind of concert moment people talk about for years.

The visuals, too, were a show unto themselves. Created live with analog film and projected across the stage, they swirled in sync with the music, offering a constantly shifting stream of color, shadow, and texture. It wasn’t background decoration, it was another performer in the ensemble, shaping atmosphere and emotion with each frame.

By the time the last notes faded, the Palladium was still buzzing, a house full of hypnotized fans not quite ready to return to reality. BADBADNOTGOOD have always been best experienced in the flesh, where every nuance and improvisational spark can be felt physically. When they come to town, you don’t just go to a concert. You witness a band pushing the boundaries of genre, emotion, and live performance itself.