Bonobo delivered a stunning set at U Street Music Hall August 16th. The DJ took the stage at 11:30 PM to an already-enthusiastic audience and only raised the energy level over his hour-long performance. I’m relatively (read: totally) unversed in the world of DJ-ing/mash ups but you can tell this guy is an expert at making sounds come together. He experiments with a wide range of genres, notably weaving Caribbean and salsa sounds into house music; he drops in occasional lyrics; and keeps the beat steady and hypnotic with a strong bass. It’s hard not to dance to his music, and the people-watching at his show was incredible, as hipsters tried out their Shakira-hips and salsa moves amidst the routine head-bobbing and fist-pumping you see at most indie shows. If you like Girl Talk and Gold Panda you should definitely check Bonobo out. But even if you’re not the DJ type, I’d still say he’s worth a try – especially if you have a chance to see him live. For what it’s worth, his show was the first time I found myself out past 1 AM on a weekday, covered in other people’s sweats, being hit by glo-sticks, and still smiling. And that’s probably the highest endorsement I can give.