With Los Angeles-born indie artist Grace Inspace opening, the sweet duo of Lingbo Anne Tong and Bryce Barsten presented a lighthearted and playful set to a full house at the Echoplex on July 16.
The performance took clear inspiration from Chinese culture. The set featured songs from their most recent album, “Dim Sum & Then Some,” released May 8. Under dim blue and red floodlights, Tong delivered delightful rhythms and taught the audience Chinese phrases such as “zuo zuo ye” (do homework) and “tan gang qin” (play the piano) as she introduced the lyrics of “Feelin’ Fuzzy,” a song about recurring childhood and family memories.
Tong and Barsten brought a lively show, inviting the audience to clap, dance and make hand hearts to show affection as Tong raised a stuffed bear during their signature single, “Chinese American Bear Anthem.”
The audience enjoyed the intimate performance and joined a mosh pit near the end of the show. By 10 p.m., the band sent the crowd off with a heartfelt farewell and an encore, “Goodbye.” The duo will continue their tour in Idaho, Oregon, British Columbia and Washington for the rest of July.