Madcap magician, tinkerer, and creator of some of the most unique and bizarre noises ever to grace your eardrums, That 1 Guy puts on one hell of a show. When the mysterious and good spirited madman comes to town, his performance is never one to pass up. That 1 Guy has made almost yearly appearances in Buffalo for the past few years now, occasionally alongside the masked guitar virtuoso known as Buckethead. He has also played in the Ninth Ward courtesy of local music heroine Ani DiFranco.

That 1 Guy boasts some of the most weirdly conceived instruments known to man, and is literally a one man act. His grab bag of tricks includes a sonically modified boot, a saw, and the ever impressive Magic Pipe from which he draws most of his pops, smacks, and whistles. It's a sight to behold in all it's quirky, futuristic glory. In a world full of self proclaimed 'genre-defying' acts, That 1 Guy truly eludes most classification. He also has a habit of spewing a deck of cards out of his mouth, or from his sleeveless arms whilst performing, so there's always that. He just released a new album aptly titled Poseidon's Deep Water Adventure Friends. Head down to the Forvm tonight to catch an experience that is truly mind-boggling. 7PM, $17.


 

Last nights Frankenstein Brothers show, featuring the zany duo of Buckethead and That 1 Guy, proved to be an all out spectacle; a freak show of the highest order...and I mean that as a sincere compliment. A huge part of the fun in going to see either of these acts is that you're not just watching a show. You're watching an event, complete with magic tricks, toys, dancing and the kind of wackiness that's usually discouraged after you graduate from middle school.

Opening the show was Wolff, an act I knew nothing about. I was thoroughly impressed however with his unique presentation. Wolff played a modulated Tuba with all sorts of effects processing. Ultimately the sound was part gladiator go-to-war music and part somber industrial tones. I'm fully aware that's a terrible description. The highlight was when Wolff covered Twisted Sisters "We're Not Gonna Take It". You should check out his website to get a fuller understanding of just what it is that can be done with a tuba.

That 1 Guy impressed listeners with his percussive interpretations. His set was funky, heavy, wacky, and fun. Being so close to the stage I was astounded how much the crowd was getting off on his act. I had erroneously thought the audience would be filled with metalheads salivating over Buckethead and booing That 1 Guy. That wasn't the case though as lots of people were dancing, yelling and screaming. It was a great set, but the real reason we were there was coming up next.

Buckethead emerged to roaring cheers. You can tell the guy is universally adored by his fans. The chicken man wasted no time in diving in to ripping riffs and otherworldly solo's. With a Buckethead show you always know what to expect, but are still always amazed. How does he do that with his hands???? In between numbers he would break into the "robot" dance and occassionally stopped to demonstrate his nunchuck skills and pass toy's out amongst the audience. Buckethead has done an excellent job building his character. He never strays from it, and this is an endearing quality.

After a short break, the Frankenstein Bros. emerged and delivered a funktastic set, trading solos, and bouncing off one another's thematic ideas. At one point I was convinced they were improvising, although I have no proof. The crowd continued to eat it up, dancing, while simultaneously giving each other looks that said "holy shit. These guys are on another level!" The sound was absolutely fantastic and Asbury Hall was the perfect venue for such a performance. Altogether a fun and spicy evening.

Buckethead isn't exactly your ordinary guitar ripper. Aside from the obvious characteristics (mask concealing face, KFC bucket, yellow raincoat, etc.), he has an incredibly deep understanding of melody and doesn't shred just for the sake of shredding. He plays to the song. But man, when he DOES shred...watch out.

Many know him as the former guitarist for Guns'n'Roses, and collaborator extraordinaire, however Bucket's real gems lie in his solo releases. From Bucketheadland to Captain Eo's Voyage, the man has constantly pushed the boundaries of sanity and experimentation. If he was born ten years earlier, there's no doubt he would have played in Zappa's band.

Tonight, Buffalo welcomes the chicken worshipping rock God to Babeville's Asbury Hall, along with another musical oddity/genius, That 1 Guy, as they perform under the name of the Frankenstein Brothers. I can't describe That 1 Guy so I won't. The only thing I will say is that his preferred musical instrument is pipes...like, sewer pipes. Yeah.

If you have a taste for extreme musicianship, live visual oddities or insanity, this is your 2012 contender. Tickets are $25. Doors at 7pm.

Instrumental virtuoso, former Guns'n'Roses guitarist(?) and all around weirdo, Buckethead will be making his way back to Buffalo this April, as one part of the Frankenstein Brothers, a duo which also comprises That One Guy. For those who have seen neither, all you need to know is this:  one dude wears a Michael Myers mask and a bucket on his head, while the other play's pipes as a musical instrument...like sewer pipes-pipes. As strange as this sounds, the music is actually pretty compelling and a sight to see live. The tag team will be making their way to Asbury Hall April 5, and tickets are $23 advance/$25 at doors. This is a potential sell-out so get your tickets at tickets.com to ensure you get in.