Thundercat Turns The Plaza Live Into His Funk-Fueled Playground

Gustavo Vicentin

18 hours ago

3 min read

Thundercat at The Plaza Live in Orlando, Florida | Sonder Media — © 2026 Gustavo Vicentin via Sonder Media

Gustavo Vicentin

Senior Live Music Correspondent

October 5, 2026

Thundercat came to Orlando as the second stop of his Distracted AF tour and delivered a night that went far beyond simply playing a setlist. Between impressive bass lines, extended jams with his drummer and keyboardist, and random interactions with fans, Stephen Bruner created an unpredictable, fun, and energetic experience for everyone in the venue.

KITTY CA$H at The Plaza Live in Orlando, Florida | Sonder Media — © 2026 Gustavo Vicentin via Sonder Media

Before Thundercat took the stage, DJ Kitty Ca$h was ready to warm up the crowd for a night of surprises. With a high-energy set featuring hits like Kendrick Lamar’s “Not Like Us” and Tyler, the Creator’s “Sugar on My Tongue,” among many others, she had the crowd moving. By the time her set came to an end, the room was energized and ready for Thundercat to take over.

From the beginning, it was clear that the live versions of the songs wouldn't sound exactly like their studio recordings. Starting his set with “Children of the Baked Potato,” Thundercat and his band extended the song with jams, solos, and rhythm changes, a trait that became a constant throughout the performance.

During “Overseas,” he made sure to represent Orlando. The lyrics that normally go, “I wanna meet you in Brazil,” were changed to “I wanna meet you in Orlando,” causing a packed The Plaza Live to erupt into cheers. It made the night feel more personal to the city than it could have been otherwise.

The night could indeed feel personal for everyone in the crowd. In between songs, Thundercat made sure to interact with his energetic fans. At one point, a fan extended his phone toward him and asked him to catch a Pokémon in the mobile game Pokémon Go. After failing, Thundercat joked that he fails at a lot of the things he tries, quickly followed by the famous “FAAHHH” sound effect from his keyboardist.

This was followed by Thundercat asking if the night was a waste of time. He was met with hundreds of boos from the crowd, which he used to jump straight into “Wish I Didn't Waste Your Time,” sending the venue into another eruption.

However, the concert wasn't only about music and funny interactions with his fans. At one point, Thundercat started talking about one of his biggest passions: Star Wars. He spoke especially fondly about his role in The Book of Boba Fett, calling it one of the most fulfilling things he has ever done. He even joked that he would have it engraved on his gravestone: “Stephen Bruner: Was in The Book of Boba Fett.”

But we cannot forget about the main attraction of the night: Thundercat's bass virtuosity.

He and his band frequently extended songs with improvised jams and wild solos, with some songs even shifting between genres, moving from jazz to funk to R&B. Yet everything remained connected through Thundercat's bass, the main attraction of the night.

He also talked about his future collaboration with funk and acid-jazz group Jamiroquai, saying their work together will be “funky as sh*t.”

During the final stretch of the show, when he started playing “Funny Thing,” he did the unexpected. He invited fans onto the stage with him, creating a chaotic conglomeration of people united by one thing: his music. It was a wholesome moment that made the night unforgettable for everyone there.

During the final song, “Them Changes,” it was possible to feel the connection Thundercat had established with his fans, a type of connection unique to an artist like him.

In the end, the performance showed exactly what makes Thundercat such a fun artist to watch live. There is a certain level of technical skill expected from him as a musician, but at times, it feels like you're watching a comedy show. Between Pokémon, Star Wars, modified lyrics, improvised jams, and fans joining him onstage, Orlando received a unique performance that managed to be impressive, funny, and completely unpredictable.