For the Record: The best show I’ve ever seen

In light of my column last week bitching about the current state of popular music, I’ve found new comfort in knowing that a superb concert experience is not at all out of reach for fans today.

Last Tuesday, I attended the Of Montreal concert at Sonar. Hyperbolic phrases such as “absolutely insane” and “mind-blowingly awesome” were streaming from my mouth as I left the venue reflecting on the musical madness I had just witnessed.

Of Montreal is a decent group on record, and I’m a casual fan of their music. On their albums, frontman Kevin Barnes writes all the songs and plays nearly all the instruments. Needless to say, he’s a pretty talented dude. He’s also a maniac. Their music is extremely difficult to describe, but if I had to try, I would dub it a sort of synth/pop rock on acid. 

I had no idea what to expect when my buddy told me they were coming to town. What I got was perhaps the best live performance I’ve ever seen.

First, I’ll start with the music.

The amps were turned up loud and the band just pumped out wild dance tunes for an hour and a half straight. There were five people on stage, but the female keyboard player was filling out the sound tremendously, and it sounded like there were 55 people.

While primarily sticking to dance pop, there were some bouts of heavy punk thrown in along with several instances of virtuoso guitar and keyboard playing. 

The group also did an excellent job mixing in hits such as “Wraith Pinned To The Mist  and Other Games,” with the rest of the set.

The energy of Barnes, along with the visuals, was what set this show apart, however. As I said earlier, he’s a total lunatic on stage, and his intensity was relentless. He started the show decked in a bright green suit and flamboyant makeup that looked like Ziggy Stardust from Mars. He then changed costumes three times throughout the night into various dresses and robes. And the lead guitar player came out dressed like a pink angel with sunglasses!

In addition to the band rocking out on stage, actors in odd costumes came on stage, danced and interacted with band members during and between songs, including while the crowd waited for the encore. People dressed as pigs, tigers, fencers with red masks and more, along with a lizard man in a Superman suit who danced outrageously. Even bubbles were being blown on stage at one point.

Finally, three jumbo screens projected weird, Technicolor-style animations throughout the entire concert. Some of the images included castles, Santa Claus, Greek statues, and several color collages, primarily consisting of shades of green and red.

It was obvious the goal was not just to play music, but to deliver a complete psychedelic experience to the audience. It was very avant-garde, and it was nuts.

I can only imagine how intensely crazy that show would have been had I been on a copious amount of mind-altering substances (I, however, was not; I was stone-cold sober and I still never stopped dancing for a moment).

On top of this, the next night I attended an O.A.R. show in Pennsylvania. I don’t give a damn what anybody says, there’s nothing better than 20-minute renditions of “That Was a Crazy Game of Poker.” Yes, I know “Shattered” blows. But they kick it live.

Exciting performances can make a good band great. Having your socks rocked by quality live music is an amazing experience and it can be a nice change to your partying routine. The thing to keep in mind, though, is that frequently, the best shows are not put on by the biggest artists in major venues.

The most spectacular shows are often in more personal locations with local or lesser-known artists, and they’re more affordable. I just spent twenty bucks on a whim to go see Of Montreal, and I’m still coming down from that high.

One more thing: Tigerfest week has finally arrived! Ladies and gentlemen, remember to be safe and party hard. Be sure to check out Shiny Toy Guns. They’re a pretty cool pop rock/electronic band with dueling male/female vocals. At least you’ll hear something good before your ears are given hell.

Currently Listening to: K’naan- “Troubadour,” Kings of Leon- “Youth and Young Manhood”

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