Of Montreal @ 9:30 Club - 9/7/16
There are a few things in life that are certain: death, taxes, and the frenetic energy of an of Montreal live show. They have made a name for themselves in the indie rock world for their colorful album/song titles and equally colorful stage antics. Recently, frontman Kevin Barnes brought his crazy concoction of music and theatre to 9:30 Club in support of the band’s 14th album, Innocence Reaches.
In classic of Montreal fashion, things got weird as soon as the lights dimmed. The band took the stage in satanic robes, cutting their way across a smoke filled stage. On cue, the band disrobed to reveal their all-white outfits, but remained shrouded in silhouettes for the majority of the set. It was clear that all eyes were to be on Kevin Barnes and his costumed dancers. But the band kept the beat going throughout the show, bringing the disco vibes to 9:30 Club.
Fans familiar with the live show will note their penchant for partial and ‘costumed’ nudity. At one point, Barnes performed in only underwear, pantyhose, and a platinum blonde wig. In another nudity-related instance, a penis costume wearing a Donald Trump mask and a long beard began to jump and dance across the stage. Penis Trump was shooed off stage by two costumed policemen dancers who then disrobed to swing their uniforms in the air and expose fake breasts hiding underneath. Strange occurrences like this are the norm for an of Montreal concert. During the encore, all of the costumed dancers converged onto the stage for one last dance while fans were treated to exquisite covers of David Bowie’s “The Man Who Sold the World” and Prince’s “1999”.
Kevin Barnes being Kevin Barnes at the 9:30 Club in Washington, DC - 9/7/16 (photo by Mauricio Castro/@TheMauricio)
of Montreal’s live show may not be for everyone, but many can agree on one thing: the music is still as danceable as anything that artists are releasing right now. The bouncing bass lines and four-on-the-floor drums drive the band’s disco- and EDM-influenced music. And while some may dismiss the band as ‘weird’, there are few bands that can put on a show as theatrical and fun. And when fan favorites like “Heimdalsgate Like a Promethean Curse” or “Gronlandic Edit” or even new songs like “Let’s Relate” start playing, fans forget about the costumes, dancers, and crazy projections and start dancing along to what first brought them to the band - the music. If there is anything that is worth experiencing at least once, it's the multi-sensory experience that is an of Montreal show.
Ruby the RabbitFoot opened the show with a poppier sound and a lot less costumes, although singer Ruby Kendrick still impressed crowds with her vocals (and colorful jacket). Joining them on stage was Nick Dobbratz of both of Montreal and Yip Deceiver. It’s clear that she has a knack for writing hooks and creating addictive melodies. Her slow-burning love songs were punctuated with a bit of onstage banter and stories from the road - if anything, their appreciative and endearing attitude gained them a few new fans in the crowd. Her latest album, Divorce Party, is currently available through Normaltown Records.
