Puscifer’s “V is for Viagra” tour came to the historic Moore Theater in Seattle on November 11, 2009, an intimate setting with a little over 1,400 seats.
SweetHead opened the evening with eight songs, most of them sounding identical. The lead singer has a great gravelly voice a la Kim Carnes, but she shouts through her songs and needs work on her stagecraft.
Maynard James Keenan appeared on a large video screen inside a tent, appearing to be confused that he was still in Seattle. Like a good egg, he agreed to do one more show for us and the rest of the band got up out of their sleeping bags, lit the BBQ, and made their way to their instruments.
Yes, I said tents and sleeping bags. Camp chairs. Bottles of Chupacabra wine. And a BBQ. OK it had a Disney-esque flame, but it’s the thought that counts.
And the thoughts in the Tool front-man’s head is what we were treated to for about a two-hour show, complete with video billboards, visitors drifting on and off the stage, and Talking–Heads style monitors scattered at all angles. If you like Tool or APC, you will love Puscifer, and if you haven’t gotten around to listening to either of the former, Puscifer is a grand introduction to Keenan’s genius. This show had material from the two already-released albums and selections from their upcoming offering.
Throughout this tour, the props and band members change, but tonight Ted Alexander, Matt Mitchell, Johnny Polonski, and Jeffrey Brooks did the honors. Every few songs or so, a video interlude played that asked the burning question: “What Is A Puscifer?”
Keenan’s voice is a classic, able to project thought and emotion while leading listeners deeper into the tracks. Powerful anthem songs “DoZo” and “The Undertaker” took full advantage of the acoustics at the Moore, especially when Alexander let loose on the kettle set.
I didn’t catch the name of the female vocalist onstage tonight, but she and Keenan stood behind monitors that projected them at the mics so the effect was that of a giant video head and a normal sized body standing below. Although that was disconcerting, it lent a techno air to the retro stage props and actually worked out all right.
I’m the type of music fan who can listen to a good musical score, but if the lyrics don’t make sense or are just stupid, I won’t download it. There were no negatives to the music from Puscifer: lots of bass and drums and an orchestral feeling to the keyboard work made songs like “The Mission” and “Queen B” a pure listening pleasure, but the lyrics are satirical enough to satisfy the alternative/industrial poet in anyone, and both of those songs are definitely in my playlists now.
“The Humbling River” closed the show, and is a compelling plea for peace laced between hypnotic drums and guitar with dynamic harmonies. Afterwards, the audience was treated to copies of V Is For Vagina CDs and if there was anyone who wasn’t convinced that they had already scored with this small-venue extravaganza, this should have done it.
I’ve seen Tool in concert and loved them, but this show made Keenan seem somehow more personal and responsive to the audience. If this is the kind of project that he does between Tool albums, me and those other 1400+ fans will be just fine with that.
And yes, Tim Alexander in a Little Red Riding outfit is funny.
DOWNLOAD: Puscifer - Queen B (MP3) or Follow us for more Puscifer MP3s (Twitter)
Justin Townes Earle + Joe Pug - 2/14
Doug Fir Lounge
The Magnetic Fields - 2/21
Aladdin Theatre
The Magnetic Fields - 2/22
Aladdin Theatre
The Magnetic Fields - 2/23
Aladdin Theatre
The Magnetic Fields - 2/24
Aladdin Theatre
El Perro Del Mar - 2/28
Doug Fir Lounge
Basia Bulat - 3/8
Mississippi Studios
Avey Tare was in attendance, along with Angel from Dirty Projectors.
by David on Mon Feb 8, 2010 at 08.35 pm from the entry: Atlas Sound + Neon Indian - E&L Auditorium (New York, NY; Feb. 4, 2010)
Good catch, oh masked marvel.
by Ari Sommer on Mon Feb 8, 2010 at 02.42 pm from the entry: St Vincent + Wildbirds and Peacedrums - Doug Fir Lounge (Portland, OR; Feb. 6, 2010)
St. Sincent...ha.
by anonymous on Mon Feb 8, 2010 at 02.04 pm from the entry: St Vincent + Wildbirds and Peacedrums - Doug Fir Lounge (Portland, OR; Feb. 6, 2010)
Aan was amazing.
by jarrod on Mon Feb 8, 2010 at 01.02 pm from the entry: Blue Horns + Morning Teleportation + Aan - Doug Fir Lounge (Portland, OR Jan. 30, 2010)
I’d like to clarify that for this show they cut off the back half of Neumo’s floor with a curtain and had the upstairs bar closed. It made Neumo’s obviously seem much smaller than it is. Unfortunately, now having seen Neumo’s fully open at another show I can say that this show was very empty. Still White Denim and Brazos rocked.
by Chris on Mon Feb 8, 2010 at 01.57 am from the entry: White Denim + Brazos - Neumos (Seattle, WA; Jan. 24, 2010)
I agree, it’s very good. Way to deflate their balloon.
by colin on Mon Feb 8, 2010 at 01.03 am from the entry: Third Annual Portland Music Awards - Crystal Ballroom (Portland, OR; Jan. 28, 2010)
Love the photos. And that “Walkabout” song is the drugs.
by Beth Doreian on Sun Feb 7, 2010 at 01.14 pm from the entry: Atlas Sound + Neon Indian - E&L Auditorium (New York, NY; Feb. 4, 2010)
sounds like a really interesting show. I didn’t know you were allowed to bbq indoors…
nice job!