live talk: KK + BBQ = OTT
Hailing from Montreal, Canada, King Khan and the BBQ Show are a two-man team of pure, uncut musical madness. Their genre-warping, infectiously-catchy doo wop and punk-infused garage rock has blown minds from the forests of Bavaria to the hills of San Francisco. In late 2009, the duo released their second album, Invisible Girl, to widespread critical acclaim. Known for their ridiculously over-the-top live performances, the pair was kind enough to take some time out to speak with TALK ahead of their first visit to China.
Hello boys. First off, could you walk us through your duo’s genesis?
At the dawn of time, the sun farted and created two cinnamon boys. Us. We travelled through underground tunnels all over the globe, listening to the earth's crust shift and taking notes. We learned how to handcraft instruments and make these sounds our own. Only recently, maybe six years ago, we started playing shows, first conquering Europe. And now we own keys to most major cities.
Your music is pretty brilliant. Is it even possible to describe to someone who has never heard you before?
Death doo wop or psychedelic R&B or toenail shabazz!
What bands really stick out for you in helping shape you as artists?
We have many, many influences, from all sorts of genres: early rock n roll, early R&B, soul, psych, garage, punk, country, hardcore, avant-garde, noise, jazz, etc.
You sing about things like zombies and taste buds. What influences your lyrical song writing?
A toilet, a pack of Sun Maids and Gremlins 4: The Reckoning.
Your last album, Invisible Girl, was released about six months ago. Have you been happy with the reception it’s received thus far?
Ya! I mean, we like the album, as it's a departure a little, in sound, for us. We like it. So it's cool to hear that others enjoy it – but we hope they then find our earlier albums, too.
This will be your first time performing in the PRC. Any expectations?
To be honest, we don't know what to expect, but we are excited. Even if people don't get or so much enjoy what we do, we are thrilled to just make sure our sounds sit in the air like a wet fart.
What we can expect from your live show?
Fun. Emotion. Chaos. Comedy. Sex. Gentle violence.
Are you planning on toning things down slightly to, ummm, take local sensibilities into consideration?
Yes. Take the answer above and then erase everything we wrote.
King Khan & BBQ Show with the Fever Machine and the Beat Bandits. RMB 60. 9pm, 11 June. Yuyingtang, 851 Kaixuan Lu, near Yan’an Xi Lu
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