Tuesday, 28 Oct 2008
I woke up this morning, unsure if last night’s psychedelic sequence of ninjas, buddhas, tigers, soldiers and loud pop music was indeed a real occurrence, or just a really tripped out dream. I think it was a little bit of Column A and a little bit of Column B. Not sure if I was actually at a concert last night at the Riv or if it was some staged theatrical production of mysticism and eccentricities—but I’m pretty certain Of Montreal was somehow involved. That’s what my blurred out Kodak digi-pics explain, anyway.
I had a bit of an idea what was in store for me after reading various reviews of the recently kicked off tour—with the theatrics ranging from Kevin riding in on a white horse in NY to leaping out of a foam filled coffin. However, what I didn’t realize was how solid the group could hold their live sound together in the midst of all their shenanigans.
Barnes and crew took to the multi-leveled stage at around 8:00, playing out track after track without a pause for nearly two hours. OM showcased mostly Skeletal Lamping, with some oldies mixed in as well. Particularly amazing non-Skeletal tracks included “So Begins our Alabee,” “Disconnect the Dots,” “She’s a Rejector” and the closing encore number “Smells Like Teen Spirit.” Loud, unapologetically disruptive and insane, the crowd rocked their dancing shoes to the max during the latter of the tracks.
Kevin Barnes is officially my newest hero. Not only does he have incredibly sexy dance moves with his hops and skips, but the dude’s got a set of lungs on him that can out-howl the wildest beast. He looks damn good in hot-pants and has got some pretty extravagantly freaky visions. Who the hell else can get away with leaping out of a coffin full of shaving cream, being escorted on stage in a golden prison carried by a pack of buddahs, singing in the midst of a self-executed hanging, and meanwhile never losing a beat skipping amongst children, ninjas, soldiers and creepy animal people?
Good times were had by all—that is, except for the two underage teen girls with Miller Lites who were escorted out by security after “forgetting their cards” in their car. Oh, the joys of all-ages shows.
Discuss: Have you seen Of Montreal on this tour? What was the most bizarre part of the whole show? What do you think of their take on “Smells Like Teen Spirit?” What do you think of Skeletal Lamping?
Myspace: Of Montreal
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October 29th, 2008 at 7:28 am
1) yes, in Milwaukee on Sunday
2) most bizarre? probably Kevin in a centaur costume accompanied by the flute-playing, frolicking other-mythological-being-guy
3) I got chills, as I was never able to see Nirvana live, which turned into regret that they didn’t pick a deeper cut to cover. It was definitely a faithful rendition, though.
4) I love Skeletal Lamping. I’ve literally listened to it 20+ times from beginning to end so far, so it’s probably going to sit around for a month or two before I’m able to pick it back up at this point.
October 29th, 2008 at 9:26 am
Saw them in Milw. on Sunday as well. I wish I had seen them last year because I really love that album (Hissing…). Those were the songs I enjoyed the most. The last half of the show kind of dragged (I think it was after the hanging that they lost me).
My take on “Smells Like Teen Spirit”: I’m 30 and felt like I was on the older end of the spectrum. I was 16 when Cobaind died. So its safe to say that at least 90% of the crowd experienced this song in that context for the first time of there lives. Sure it wasn’t Nirvana, but it was loud, live and really cool to exeperience. Any band could do that song, but it was the experience of pretending it was 1992 and Nirvana was playing it.
October 29th, 2008 at 2:15 pm
So, I have seen Of Montreal on three different occasions, and I would have to say, each and every show thus far has blown me away…they are one of the tightest (vocally and musically) bands I have ever seen live, and the harmonies that they do are magical in my opinion…
weirdest thing I have seen Kevin Barnes do?
Come out on stilts in a gigantic dress, phenomenal…it was like you took the Marilyn Manson costume from his past tours and mixed in some LSD…good times had by all…
Favorite album by Of Montreal: hrm…that is a hard one…I think that The Sunlandic Twins is one of my favs but The Gay Parade is a good one as well
Going to an Of Montreal show was also a bit weird, considering I am 26 and felt like the O L D E S T person in the house other than the bearded sound guy
October 29th, 2008 at 9:00 pm
I saw this Chicago show and it was my first time seeing Of Montreal live, and I have to say that it surpassed all of my expectations. When Kevin was carried out by Buddhas I knew I was about to witness something amazing. I was also unbelievably lucky because I was in the front row right where Kevin stood for most of the time (even though it took all of my strength to keep my spot).
Since I only have that show to compare with, I guess the most bizarre thing Kevin did was hang himself which I guess didn’t affect me in the way it did for others (it made sense to me, considering the tone of the new album).
I enjoyed the cover of “smells like teen spirit”. I felt that it flowed well with the songs from Skeletal Lamping, though it put me off at first, I was thinking “Holy crap, is this what I think it is?”. The crowd’s reaction was pure insanity, too. I was uncontrollably shaken up and down by people every time the chorus started. Also may I say how moved I was by seeing Kevin’s daughter up there dancing with chicken and tiger people? What a cutie she is!
I know that Skeletal Lamping is very different, but I love it so much. I can’t stop listening to it, it haunts my mind. I’m glad it doesn’t sound like other albums because that keeps Of Montreal interesting, making me want to hear more.
The show in Chicago was so amazing, it was like a drug, I’m addicted to seeing them live. I keep searching online looking for some pictures or video footage, so I won’t forget what I saw.
October 30th, 2008 at 2:15 pm
WOW what an awesome show. No Alisha at 26 you were definitely not the oldest person there. I think it was me @ 36! LOL I was up front and glad I had the strength to stay there from the crushing crowd. I’m just thankful the drunk girl that was using me to hold her up didn’t puke on me!
Loved the overload of images and dramatics. Was it me or did the heads worn by the dancers at one point look like John McCain? Yikes – They reminded me of the trio of dancing heads from the Miyazaki movie Spirited Away.
So OK wow I didn’t realize that it was Kevin’s daughter up on stage for the encore. I am in the habit of making art for the bands I go see and thought it somewhat appropriate to throw a wire phallus up on stage that Kevin either didn’t see or decided not to deal with. Well when his daughter came out she saw it immediately and began pointing to it. I thought oh shit she is going to come over and pick it up. The dancer that had her in hand picked her up and said something to her that made her ignore it. I was thinking oh god I just scared this little girl for life but finding out that she is Kevin’s daughter made me feel a little better because surely she has seen worse by now.
who knows..
I’ll definitely be seeing them the next time they roll through town. I was tickled pink that they played Gronlandic Edit and a Sentence of Sorts in Kongsvinger – two of my favs from Hissing Fauna.
Anybody out there see a set list for the night posted anywhere?