An unsung master of tasty hooks

Kevin Barnes is the new master of tasty hooks.

Who the hell is Kevin Barnes, you ask? Have you ever seen a commercial for Outback Steakhouse with the chorus "let's go outback tonight", or the latest commercial from Comcast where some catchy electronic music plays over the Comcast logo?

Both are hooks courtesy of Kevin Barnes, the mastermind behind Athens, GA band Of Montreal. (click the link, you know you want to!)

Their latest contribution to psychedelic, electronic poptasticness is something called Skeletal Lamping.

Would I do the band justice by writing yet another bio? Nah, their site is pretty spiffy.

What would I say in a sales pitch for the band?

Can you boogie? Do you disco? Is there funk in your pajamas?

Have you ever heard the music of David Bowie and enjoyed it?

Do you believe there should be humor in music?

Does psychedelic music excite you, intrigue you?

Are you frightened by harmony or does it make you feel warm and delicious inside.

Do you smile at the sight of a scrawny, nerdly looking fellow in embarassing costuming playing guitar and wearing a bit of makeup

Can you appreciate the humor (and irony) in a song about coping with clinical depression and the annoying side-effects of antidepressants - with a happy, infectious chorus?

Of Montreal is worth a listen.
1 part 80's synthpop, a big scoop of Bowie, a dash of Ray Davies, a few spoonfulls of disco, a dash of 70's pop music, throw it all in the blender and serve extra groovy, with a slice of deliciousness.

Chemicals don't flatten my mind!!



The song that became an earworm television commercial. Incidently, the restaurant chain kind of screwed over the band with the usage rights of the song. It pissed (Kevin) Barnes off so much that the band refused to play this song live for a few years.

Blue Man Group

I had the pleasure of taking in the Boston production of Blue Man Group yesterday and I just wanted to post a few comments on my experience.

1. It is nothing like what I was expecting, yet it was very much what I was expecting from a showmanship standpoint.
   




2. The soundtrack and/or the musicians that are part of this production are our hope for the future of Progressive Rock.
   Drums, guitar (and guitar synths), and Chapman Stick. How can you go wrong?
   I mean seriously.
   I really felt I was listening an opening act for Rush, King Crimson, Porcupine Tree, or maybe even Primus. Energy, intensity, and talent.
   




3. The writers have done an outstanding job at bringing together pop culture references, humor, and also a few dark messages about the increasing isolation of humankind because of technology.
   




4. Did I mention the pop culture references?




5. Mime(!).
   Drumming.
   FUN stage makeup.
   Paint.
   ...and burying your audience in a mound of (recycled) paper toweling.
   




6. It's Performance Art for people who are afraid of Performance Artists.
   




7. It's what the Burners (Burning Man) do during the off-season.
   




8. It's a show that Bob and Cyndie Mundane can bring their kids to and have a good time - and the kids might walk away thinking "I want to do THAT when I grow up!"
   




9. I was there with my sweetie, and 2 other couples. One of the other couples are big progrock fans like me and the other couple have only heard the "hits" from bands like Rush or Genesis. They all enjoyed the show on different levels (and they thought it was funny that I was buried in the aforementioned paper toweling but seemed to be having a good time).
   




10. My only meh moment was spent thinking how hopelessly unhip I am by today's standards, and that I found myself wishing I was 15 years younger, with no financial obligations, that I could spend my time working on musical and/or theatrical productions like this.