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.
