The Orpheum Theatre was only a quarter full when I stepped through the far left stairwell Wednesday night. At 7:35, a mere five minutes after the concert’s scheduled start time, the lights were already dimmed, and Gang Gang Dance’s deep, electronic rhythms were filling the capacious confines within. Limited to a small piece of real estate, Gang Gang Dance’s subdued stage demeanor was in stark contrast to of Montreal’s flamboyant antics later that evening. Nonetheless, a current of energy ran through Gang Gang Dance’s set, keeping the crowd nodding in their seats (and away from the $10 beers in the lobby). Their music provided an alluring spattering of tribal beats, grime and dubstep, occasionally accentuated by Liz Bougatsos’ haunting vocals. Bougatsos, a diminutive figure, took center stage, switching between tambourine, maracas and assorted percussion instruments, while the other three band members shied in the background. The effect was compelling, and I was left with the impression of a band that was truly coming into their own.
After Gang Gang Dance had cleared off their small piece of stage, the Orpheum started to fill up, and I got my first good look at the of Montreal audience. Animal costumes, neon spandex and sequins cascaded across the seats. Impressive though they were, they paled in comparison to what we would soon see on stage.
As for what we would hear, of Montreal’s latest, Skeletal Lamping, hadn’t seized me in the same way as some of their previous works (Satanic Panic in the Attic, Hissing Fauna, Are You the Destroyer?). We would hear a lot of Skeletal Lamping (13 of its 15 tracks); but the setlist was almost irrelevant. The music did not take center stage. Instead it played a supporting role - a backdrop for whatever scene was playing out on the Orpheum stage. Kevin Barnes, always in the spotlight (except when guitarist Bryan Poole was surprised with a birthday cake and serenade), was flanked by two drummers, guitarist, bassist, keyboardist, and an entire troop of dancers/performance artists. He made the most of them. Throughout the night, Barnes’ supporting cast carried him on a procession of golden Buddhas, covered him with red body paint, fit a noose around his neck and hanged him, and encased him within a shaving cream coffin. And that’s when they weren’t skating around the stage in leotards, crawling over each other in black bodysuits and glimmering golden masks, lifting dumbbells, and forming giant papier mache limbs into a writhing awkward body. It was part rock show, part art show and part Broadway show - certainly a production that eclipsed any I’d seen to date.
Despite the incredible experience, I stepped out of the Orpheum into the cold, (relatively) quiet night, with a feeling of mild relief. I needed a reprieve from the sensory overload of the show. I ran into Gang Gang Dance as they packed up their van. Their quiet gracious acceptance of my compliments on their set helped put things back in place as I walked back home.
Ugh. Paste’s profile of Free Energy made me kind of hate them. So does your review. It’s this unctuous defense of good-time rock-and-roll ("we’re just here to party, and we’re awesome!") that seems more self-serving than fun-loving.
by beth on Wed Mar 17, 2010 at 09.41 pm from the entry: Foreign Born + Free Energy - The Knitting Factory (Brooklyn, NY; Mar. 12, 2010)
that inescapable feeling you are referring to, is that like when you hear something and you could have sworn you heard it before because of the nostalgic catchy quality? or is is like when you’ve heard a band exactly like said band?
great post by the way!
by paul on Wed Mar 17, 2010 at 03.15 pm from the entry: The Novel Ideas - "The Sky Is A Field" - Borrow It
Whoa! I had no idea she was enegaged. You would never know with the way she behaves! Wow!
by art on Wed Mar 17, 2010 at 09.48 am from the entry: Nikki Darlin and John McCauley: 1+1=1
This comment stream is so meta. Great review Kelly.
by chris on Tue Mar 16, 2010 at 07.50 pm from the entry: Flying Lotus - "Cosmogramma" - Buy It
no prob. The whole album is excellent, combining some of the harder sonics of Los Angeles with the meat of his debut and obviously difficult to summarize in only 50 words… 
I’d say it’s on par with the debut, but better than Los Angeles.
by kelly on Tue Mar 16, 2010 at 06.23 pm from the entry: Flying Lotus - "Cosmogramma" - Buy It
By the way, I really liked the mp3 posted. Thanks.
by Joshua H on Tue Mar 16, 2010 at 06.17 pm from the entry: Flying Lotus - "Cosmogramma" - Buy It
WHO WROTE THIS...PUKE ! “WHO WROTE THIS...PUKE ! “Picture yourself coasting your bike past space funk palm trees, homeless harpists, vintage video arcades, electronic drum circles, and 60s psychedelic singers who’re waiting for the bus. Cosmogramma is kinda like that if someone suddenly tripped you just as you’re starting to enjoy the ride. But in a good way.””
by Joshua H on Tue Mar 16, 2010 at 06.17 pm from the entry: Flying Lotus - "Cosmogramma" - Buy It
wow, I had no idea there were such performers! thanks for the review!
Nicole
these are some of the best photos to date, especially the one with Kevin lounging on the golden Buddhas.
Thanks y’all! I had previously seen of Montreal perform an acoustic (and non-costumed) set as part of a benefit show. The contrast was dramatic.