Back in April, Culture Flux chatted with Mobley about his new album We Do Not Fear Ruins and the daunting task of bringing his vastly layered songs into the live space.

The Austin-based multi-instrumentalist, songwriter, and producer proved just how relentlessly creative and adaptable he could be during his stop in Fort Worth at Tulips last week.

Easily switching from drums to keyboards to guitar, and often within the same song, Mobley’s one-man-band was an impressive showcase for an underrated artist in the alternative/indie scene.

Surprisingly, both openers were Fort Worth-based bands. Though Sheprador’s frontman Garrett North has been a musician for over 20 years, he didn’t record and put music until last year.

The band eased the audience into the night with a chill demeanor and R.E.M.-esque indie rock.

The Plum Boys had the pep in their step to get everyone pumped for Mobley. During their expressive set, the crowd danced away and were thoroughly engaged the whole time.

It’s hard to not have a smile on your face when the group on stage is clearly just having a blast.

Sheprador has only been going since last year, and The Plum Boys started in 2021, so Mobley deserves a tip of the hat for choosing bands fresh on the local scene.

His mastery from playing hundreds of shows was on full display. Silhouette-laden lighting, emotional impacts, and connecting with the audience were all the more impactful in an intimate venue like Tulips.

Near the beginning of his performance, he brought several concertgoers right in front of him to truly connect in an innovative way with his self-made “human drum machine.” As several people held out their hands while holding copper tubing, Mobley tapped them and made his own concoction of sounds with his peculiar device.

Mobley’s talent for combining left-field ideas with melodies and jaunts of humor in between songs makes his shows a dynamic mix between the complex and the entertaining.

There’s always an air of sincerity to whatever he does. As he closed his set, he thanked the crowd for being there and relayed the importance of live music: “I appreciate you being here and keeping an essential part of being a human being alive.”