Bombargo
November 5, 2026 | AM/FM — Dallas, Texas
There are energetic frontmen, and then there's Bombargo's Nathan Thoen. Watching him perform, you have to wonder what he's running on and where the rest of us can get some. The guy barely stopped moving throughout the band's November 5 performance at AM/FM in Dallas. One minute he was leaping off the bass drum with a high kick, the next he was climbing the stage rigging, dancing alongside his bandmates, or making his way into the crowd to sing with fans. By the end of the night, he was standing on a surfboard being held above the audience. Somehow, it all seemed perfectly normal for Bombargo.
Bombargo
The Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, band has built its reputation around a mix of funk, soul, rock, and pop, delivered with enough enthusiasm to make even the most reluctant concertgoer consider getting up and dancing. There's a bit of a California beach-party feel to their music, but there's also plenty of substance underneath those feel-good grooves.
Currently touring in support of their third full-length album, Love, In Spite of Everything, released August 28, Bombargo is bringing its music to audiences across the United States while continuing to grow an international following. The album was recorded in their hometown and explores different aspects of love, something that fits naturally with a band whose entire approach revolves around making people feel good.
Bombargo
Before the show, I sat down with Nathan and guitarist Spencer Chilliak to talk about life on the road, the challenges facing independent musicians, and how they convince people to leave the comfort of their living rooms to experience live music.
Nathan was pretty straightforward about it.
“We try our best to just make sure that we’re offering the best live show that we can,” he explained. “You’re competing with every Netflix show and every other thing that they could be spending their time on. We just try to put on a really great live show.”
Bombargo
Having watched what happened later that evening, I'd say he's taking that competition pretty seriously.
Nathan's stage presence borders on the extravagant, in the best possible way. He bounced around the stage, jumped from the bass drum, threw high kicks, and joined the other members of Bombargo in some dance moves. The choreography was fun without feeling forced, and the band managed to keep everything musically tight while participating in the antics.
At one point, Nathan climbed the stage rigging, apparently deciding that the stage itself wasn't providing enough room to move around. Earlier in our conversation, he'd joked about climbing the Ferris wheel at AM/FM, which wasn't operating that evening.
Bombargo
“I haven’t been told that I can’t climb the Ferris wheel,” he said.
Fortunately, or perhaps unfortunately, he settled for the stage rigging.
He also spent a considerable amount of time among the audience, singing directly to people, encouraging them to sing along, and turning what could have been a straightforward concert into something much more interactive.
During one of those trips into the crowd, Nathan gathered everyone for a collective grounding moment, encouraging fans to live their lives to the fullest and pursue their dreams. Coming from a band that has spent years building an independent career through relentless touring, the message felt genuine. After all, Bombargo exists because a group of friends decided to follow their own dreams.
Bombargo
Spencer told me that the band likes to think of itself as a festival act, regardless of the size of the venue.
“We like to think of ourselves as a festival band. Because we bring a lot of positive energy.”
He explained that the band's beginnings were inspired by attending a music festival and experiencing the feeling of thousands of people singing and moving together. Nathan recalled the sight of 40,000 people sharing the same song and beat, an experience that helped shape what they wanted Bombargo to become.
Bombargo
They've been chasing that feeling ever since.
Spencer hopes people leave their concerts happier or inspired, carrying a little of that positive energy with them. Judging by the crowd at AM/FM, they're doing a pretty good job of it.
Before the performance, I spent some time talking with fans about how they discovered Bombargo and what brought them out on a Thursday evening.
Rachael Crews found the band through Spotify, which is particularly interesting considering she'd stepped away from social media for the past year. Spending more time exploring music, she came across their song “How Will I Ever Fall in Love Again” through Spotify's recommendations.
Bombargo
“They just have such a fun sound, and they just seem super fun,” she told me.
She kept listening, explored more of their catalog, and eventually checked to see whether they were coming to Dallas. When she discovered the upcoming performance, she recruited her friend Tegan Specht to join her.
Tegan had spent the day getting familiar with Bombargo's music and immediately connected with its beachy, California-like feel. Having spent time on the West Coast, she recognized something familiar in the band's sunny sound.
Jen McDowell had discovered Bombargo through social media and was also interested in seeing a show at AM/FM.
Bombargo
“I love to see bands in small venues, especially bands that have an up and coming following,” she explained.
Jen appreciated the combination of instruments, vocals, and musical styles, and was looking forward to seeing how it all translated to the stage.
Then there was Cookie, who didn't need many words to explain why Bombargo caught his attention.
“They’re the party starters. It’s the energy. That’s what you’ve got to provide.”
He pretty much nailed it.
Bombargo
What I also enjoyed seeing was how many different generations were represented in the audience. Some fans had traveled from as far away as Oklahoma, bringing their young children along for the experience.
I've noticed this at several performances recently, and it's something I hope continues. Parents are bringing their kids to concerts, introducing them to artists they love, and giving them the chance to experience live music firsthand. Watching a band like Bombargo is a pretty memorable introduction. You have musicians singing, dancing, jumping off drums, climbing things they probably shouldn't be climbing, and eventually riding a surfboard over the audience. That's a lot more entertaining than watching a concert on YouTube.
Bombargo
It also says something about Bombargo's appeal. Their music and performances aren't confined to a particular age group. The kids can enjoy the spectacle, the adults can appreciate the musicianship, and everyone can get caught up in the fun.
That sense of community came up during my conversation with Nathan and Spencer, particularly when we discussed the challenges facing small and midsized music venues.
Both expressed concern about what's happening to independent music scenes, especially in Canada. Spencer explained that venues holding 200-500 people have been hit particularly hard, with many struggling to recover from the pandemic.
Bombargo
Nathan talked about how much work goes into keeping a small venue operating. Owners have to staff the room, provide sound, book talent, and hope enough people show up to make the night financially worthwhile. There aren't many guarantees in that business, and the people running these places are often doing it because they genuinely love live music.
The issue hits close to home in Dallas, where we've seen some familiar music venues disappear or face uncertain futures.
Bombargo had previously played Sundown at Granada twice, making AM/FM a new stop for the band. When I mentioned the proposed conversion of the Granada property into a sauna operation, Spencer had a difficult time deciding how he felt about it.
He loves music. He also loves saunas.
Bombargo
Of all the things a music venue could become, apparently a sauna presented something of a moral dilemma.
Nathan and Spencer told me that saunas and cold plunges have become part of their routine for staying healthy while touring. Given how physically demanding their performances are, that probably isn't a bad idea.
The discussion eventually turned to how the band has managed to build an audience without the backing of a record label.
“We’re completely independent. We don’t have a record label,” Nathan explained.
Bombargo
He credits much of their success to releasing music consistently, getting on the road, opening for larger artists, and taking advantage of streaming platforms that allow listeners around the world to discover their songs.
Bombargo has also been expanding into Europe, where Nathan said their first tour sold out and several dates on an upcoming return visit have already sold out.
For all the complaints musicians understandably have about streaming economics, Nathan also sees the opportunities these platforms have created. A band from Saskatchewan can release a song and find an audience in Australia or Europe without having to manufacture and ship thousands of physical records.
His advice to young musicians was simple: release your music and play as many shows as you can. Waiting around for the perfect moment isn't going to accomplish much.
Bombargo
Of course, getting people to discover your music is one thing. Convincing them to spend money on a ticket and come back the next time you're in town is something else entirely.
That's where Bombargo seems to have figured things out.
Their show at AM/FM had enough movement and audience interaction to keep people engaged from beginning to end. The band clearly enjoys performing together, and that enthusiasm carries over to the crowd. Even their choreography had a loose, playful quality that made it feel like a group of friends having a great time rather than musicians simply going through a rehearsed routine.
As the night wound down, Nathan decided to take things one step further.
A surfboard appeared above the audience, supported by the fans themselves, and Nathan climbed aboard. Standing over the crowd as they held him up, he finished the performance in a fashion that was both absurd and perfectly suited to the evening.
It was one of those moments when you couldn't help but smile. Nobody was standing around looking at their phones. People were actively involved in making the whole thing happen, literally holding the singer above their heads.
Bombargo
For a band that talks so much about building community through music, it seemed like an appropriate way to finish the night.
Bombargo calls its approach the “Goodtime Guarantee,” which might sound like a clever marketing slogan until you actually see them perform. Then it makes a lot more sense.
The band's enthusiasm is genuine, the musicianship is solid, and Nathan is one of those frontmen who seems determined to make sure nobody leaves feeling like they didn't get their money's worth.
What stayed with me afterward wasn't just the jumping, dancing, climbing, or even the surfboard. It was seeing people of different ages enjoying the same music, singing together, and becoming part of the performance. The parents who brought their children, the fans who drove down from Oklahoma, and the people who discovered Bombargo through a random Spotify recommendation all ended up sharing the same experience.
Bombargo
And somewhere in that crowd might have been a kid watching Nathan launch himself off a drum, thinking that being in a band looks like a pretty great way to spend your life.
If that's the case, Bombargo accomplished something even better than putting on a great concert.
They might have inspired the next generation of musicians.
For more about Bombargo, visit bombargo.com.