song performed: “O Katrina” from the album Good Bad Not Evil
conan’s reaction: “yeah! *bows at Cole quickly* black lips everybody, give ‘em a hand that was great! *shakes jared hand* guys, thanks so much *bows at jared* *bow shakes at ian* we’ll take a break, we’ll be right back, stick around *shakes joe hand*
another brilliant band from the ATL, this time branding their sound as “flower punk”. I was walking home the other day and this song “Cold Hands” popped up out of nowhere and transported me to a wonderful ghost-of-ray-davies place. These guys gained notoriety in the geek world I believe this last year at SXSW, where they played their hearts out - 12 shows in a quick three days. I say notoriety because a quick glance at their myspace page yields 50-70 comments about this performance within a day - geeks.
These guys already read like an epic band novel, with front guitarman being killed in an auto accident days before their first big tour.
Things start with a simple, just barely out of tune bass line (this is going to either get good or pretty much stink fart). But before the band jumps in, a sound machine and psychedic guitar lines kick in, which sets them up quite well. Then the song kicks in double time and the rest is probably one of the best sets on Conan ever.
Frontman and bassist jared looks youthfully slim and clean-as-day with a red smock polo shirt, walk-to-class jeans and white kicks, but there is this perverted george parros-esque 70’s porno mustache on his face with matching groucho marx sunglasses. guitarman ian is in similar dress, no shades or stache, but the two of them combined with their body language make me believe these guys are nudists forced to where issued clothing for national tv. drummer joe echoes the shades swinging side to side like some schoolhouse rocks cartoon. rounding out the crew is guitarist cole in his three sizes-too big houston astros jersey, flat bit red baseball cap, and red feather tucked poetically into his tuning strings.
It is a bit of chaos on stage. cole takes the lead in doing reverse somersaults, playing with busted strings, and even guitar soloing with his teeth. The band unwinds quickly, singing turnings to winded chanting, then straight screaming. sunglasses fly off as do caps - this is brilliant dancing music.
At the end of the song the band throws on a pomp and circumstance announcement recording which they in turn bow to the left, right, and center stage.
If these guys were trying to be the Marx brothers on stage, then this is smashingly brilliant. With Jared looking like Groucho, the leader, quiet Ian as Harpo, crazyman Cole as Chico, and drummer Joe like Zeppo - this is punk and comedy. Ian as Harpo - Love that he flips his guitar up at the end with “Thank You” written in big marker all over - he even curtsies on the last bow - beauty!
In the end, I’m left thinking, who else can sing a love song about a girl with the most unpopular name in the world - Katrina - oh yeah, the black lips can - and they do it damn well.
playing:
- they just played here. damn.
