by Heather MacIntyre
My week started off with the hopes of going to a show at a venue that I had yet to write about. Upon checking schedules and talking to friends, I recognized a slightly familiar band name from the past: King Khan & the Shrines (myspace.com/kingkhantheshines). So I researched and found the album that had once sent myself in a rock-and roll dance-off with friends, full-on air guitars and all, The Supreme Genius. I had no choice but to attend this show in the flesh.
It was listed for a Monday night at the Local 506 (local506.com). A show that was posted to start at 9 p.m. was now creeping up to 11 p.m. and there were yet to be complaints. Carrboro-natives and even friends I recognized from the Triad had come out on this Monday night, with PBRs in each hand, ready to start the week off with some funk. Alongside of the building I saw King Khan himself talking to one of the members of the opening band, Spider Bags (myspace.com/spiderbags), bassist Jose Boyer.
He seemed to be leaping around and goofing off, but it wasn’t until later that I heard what was going on: Upon discovering the name of the opening band, King Khan made it a mission to go around with his guitar, singing the opening song and dancing to the “Spider-Man” theme song. Whether he was making fun of them or not, members of Spider Bags just stood and laughed in amazement at his quick, spider-like moves and creepy soundtrack strumming. “It’s like he never stops,” Boyer laughed, “I can’t even imagine what an entire tour would be like with him. I don’t know how the rest of his band can take him day in and day out.” The show began (finally) and Birdman Records band and Chazpel Hill natives Spider Bags began to strum out their garage-esque, alt-country sound. This was their homecoming show as they recently returned from a Northeast tour. The venue’s sound for their set was pretty rough, setting the vocals too low and the guitars too high. I usually enjoy their lighter, simpler tunes that remind me of (what else) Silver Jews — who, by the way, will be playing with Monotonix at Cat’s Cradle on Sept. 11. They gave off a static Midwest performance, bobbing their heads with the common 4/4 rhythm of each piece and demanding free whiskey shots — which were delivered to them midway through their performance. You could tell they weren’t too interested in being impressive, with minimal movement and more focus on the music they were playing than on entertaining a crowd — more than likely because they knew no matter what they did, King Khan was coming up next. She had on a dark blue one-piece with cowboy threads hanging from the arms, and lipstick red pom-poms shaking in her hands. She was announced as Bamboorella, the go go queen of the underworld, AKA the band cheerleader.
Literally, she wears funky outfits every night of tour and stands by King Khan and shakes her bum and dances with an insane amount of energy through every song — I was exhausted just watching her. The rest of the group, whom barely fit on the stage, was composed of a few sax players, bass, skins, trumpets, guitars, percussions, all sorts of blues meets ’70s psychedelic rock. Picture Little Richard singing faster, more modern and perverse versions of Chuck Berry songs. And everyone was right when they said, “He just could not stop.” I don’t know what Vice records was thinking when they signed this guy, except only to hope that the ridiculous performance and perverted lull-stories in between songs would only capture the hearts of crazed drunken college kids across the nation.
The crowd spoke for themselves, dancing like crazy in a go-go like style. The set was only interrupted once, while a small Asian girl screamed at and punched some punk kid for throwing her friend and losing expensive glasses. King Khan made everyone “freeze” and look on the ground for the glasses that were finally found… unfortunately, not in the best condition.
The encore was set off as they came in through the front door of the venue in Darth Vader outfits and capes, and continued to play until 1:45 a.m. As the show came to an end, instead of buying T-shirts, kids had the choice between assorted pillowcases in the selection on the merchandise booth that Bamboorella sat behind. They were all bright and colorful and held a thick imprint of King Khan’s pimp-esque posing face, smiling and giving thumbs up. But before anyone could pay, people started checking their watches and simultaneously freaked out. No, not because it was too late and they needed to get home to study or sleep, but they literally ran for the door and down the street to bars in fear they might not make it before last call. I mean come on …some people have priorities.
For questions or comments e-mail Heather MacIntyre at Heather@yesweekly.com
