Of Montreal
Of Montreal’s trademark visual pageantry was on full display on the Soma side stage Saturday night, complete with a skeleton monster, dragons, and… ice fairies?
A confession: Kevin Barnes and I might be married? Not legally, or really in any other sense, even to the point where he knows my face or name, but, one night in St. Louis about ten years ago in a fantastic venue not unlike Casbah or Soma’s side stage – where he appeared Saturday night in front of a crowd of maybe 200 people – he played the full show in a wedding dress, stating to all of those in attendance that we were married. Just felt right to put that disclaimer up front.
After an opening set from Locate S, 1, the band wasted no time in dazzling the audience with their full dramatics. In past shows in San Diego, there has been a full kabuki theater (Street Scene, 2009… RIP), anti-war messages and kittens, and costumed dog-people; this time was no different, leading off with a full sized skull and arm puppet that took three people to operate.
The band played new music off of White Is Relic/Irrealis Mood, but also played the staples that had the crowd dancing and singing throughout the entire set.
Personal favorite “Wraith Pinned to the Mist and Other Games” was cut short and included as part of a medley, but it was new track “Sophie Calle Private Game/Every Person Is A Pussy, Every Pussy Is A Star” which may have been the true standout of the evening.
Barnes, in typical fashion, had numerous costume changes, shedding his jacket early on and eventually ending up in a yellow Minnie Mouse sweater a kid (or adult) at Disney would be thrilled to be rocking. He finished in a leotard that rivals Joseph’s technicolor coat, perfect for ending the evening.
As always, Of Montreal shined both visually and aurally, leaving all in attendance danced out and happy.
