Of Montreal! live at the Avalon, Boston, 2007-03-11

First and most important, Of Montreal rocked. They played most of Hissing... and a good amount of Sunlandic..., plus a scattered few from earlier albums. I was really hoping for Spike the Senses, The Past is a Grotesque Animal, Wraith Pinned to the Mist (And Other Games), and a few others, but at no point could I say I was disappointed at all. I was amazed by "I Was Never Young." I don't remember exactly, but I think there were three basses and two guitars, though it could have been one less bass. wishful thinking. Anyway, the (guitar) string arrangement was/is amazing. I have read that Barnes wrote and recorded most of Hissing on his own in Norway. I can just imagine sitting around with a 16 track and trying out different lines, weaving them in and out of each other - Barnes' composition is exactly what I've always dreamed of doing. I wouldn't hesitate to say he's a genius, and I'm excited every time I listen to an Of Montreal song to try and pick out all of the intricacies and themes in his writing. That said, he's a total freak, which makes the show even more fun. Firstly, he's totally David Bowie reincarnated... except Bowie's still alive... but you know what I mean. He wore Ziggy makeup for the show, and they even did an amazing cover of Moonage Daydream. The instrumental interludes gave him time to change dresses, and he even climbed into a 10 foot tall stilted costume in classic Bowie style. Definitely unique though, with more sass and ... something else new.
The interpretive dancer was great, as were the two headed dragon, Darth Vader, etc.
I'm tired of writing, but I could go on forever.
See this band if you have a chance. They're coming to Atlanta and Nashville soon... and they'll surely be in Athens plenty.

Grand Buffet is hilarious. The lead is a typical ultimate frisbee stoner type from Philly. They're both very white and very funny, and the music is actually pretty good. The lyrics are hilarious/disturbing, and they put on a great show.

I didn't hear much of Lonely Dears, but what I heard was at least interesting. I'll have to hear more.

Other Rel Links:
Pitchfork article about Of Montreal porn-themed show in Vegas... (male nudity.) Kevin Barnes in typical attire - minus the dress, stilts, and other eccentric transvestite accessories. Actually, only in tights and a sash. I guess he's willing to do what it takes to be... whatever he is. Anyway, we now have allthe necessary and sufficient evidence to say he's got balls literally and figuratively. What happens in Vegas...
In related news, Girl Talk will be in Playgirl, and apparently has been used as an example in Congress in the context of intellectual copyright. It's actually a nice article. If Pitchfork has lost its insightfulness to money and popularity, it's made up for it in professional and readable articles. This can't be said for most "indie" reviewers and press. This digression in a nutshell: Pitchfork generally sucks for reviews but its articles are some of the best.