Of Montreal with The Ruby Suns
Wednesday, February 25, 2009
The Kings Arms, Auckland
I don’t think I’ve ever had so much fun at a gig. Of Montreal were the craziest, most outlandish band I’ve ever seen. If you were put off by the price tag of this gig then I think you sorely missed out; it was well justified. I lost count of how many different costumes came out of that little dressing room, it seemed every song had a different creature or mythical character. A lion in a suit, tiger, pair of pigs, an elusive creeping ninja, a Star Wars-like creature, a priest who went around blessing everyone, a psychotic man in a pink leotard, a man smearing red paint on his naked upper body as if cutting himself, an all-out cockatoo vs. tiger battle, a tiger and eel-head-man(?) band (OMG highlight!), not to mention the band’s own fruity attire! Kevin looked super cute and girly in his Indian-style pink and blue get-up with matching hot pink nail polish, glittery blue panda eye makeup and strappy gold girl’s sandals. Each band member seemed to have a different persona onstage; Kevin was the Indian queen, the drummer/keyboardist was a cowboy, the guitarist was some weird ’70s rock star, the keyboard playing girl a prom queen and the bass player a contender for ultimate ’70s homecoming King, or swish jazz band member from the ’50s.
It was truly a theatrical show from start to finish, although the band experienced minor hiccups they kept on as if nothing had happened and of course, nothing mattered. It was one thing you’d never notice if you weren’t right at the front as we were. Another of these incidents was the random punch up in the front towards the start. It was honestly the most peculiar gig to have a big brawl, but it happened, and I don’t know why. But a huge group barreled out the door and some didn’t come back, allowing for a lot more room and a more pleasant atmosphere in the crowd. Of Montreal played for about an hour and a half, a considerable amount of material from last year’s hit Hissing Fauna Are You The Detroyer, and seemed to play little from the new album Skeletal Lamping, which some say may even indicate the band’s dislike for it. While they didn’t play my all-time favourite, the little-known old song Fun Loving Nun, they did play some awesome old classics, including The Party’s Crashing Us.
The overall highlight had to be the amazing engagement of theatrical performers with the band. Often with theatrical gigs it’s either the band in costume or people in costume performing away from the artists. Tonight there was a priest blessing each member of the band and expelling the evils of the front row; Kevin climbing aboard a ninja’s shoulders to sing to the people in the back; mutants and animals creeping up on and creeping out the band members; a strange blond-haired man vigorously and passionately eating a grapefruit and trying to provoke the attention of Kevin; and of course the various strange costumes Kevin came out on stage in a few times. Apparently he was quite sick but he definitely didn’t show it, his voice was strong and powerful and sounded even more unique live. The bass player was one of the most talented, quick-fingered and creative players I have ever seen and truly reignited my own desire to play. Of Montreal’s unique experimental disco wacko-pop has always been a firm favourite, but that night their status went from cult to legendary.
More Of Montreal live photos
Posted by Sarah Gooding under Montreal, New Zealand
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