Maybe the Brian Jonestown Massacre's lunacy onstage Sunday at the Bowery Ballroom can be blamed on the night's full moon? Or perhaps band founder Antone Newcombe's hostility toward band, crew and audience alike was the result of having his beloved guitar stolen the eve before? More likely, there was no reason for the chaotic sold-out spectacle other than it was just an ordinary day in the life of the band's madcap musical visionary.
During lengthy lulls blamed on tuning problems, Newcombe took the opportunity to challenge the sincerity of those in attendance. Without provocation, Newcombe called out, "I will fight all of you." He yelled, "Your love sucks" at one well-wisher and called another fan "a dark little demon," saying, "My God will fucking kill you." He also threatened to wait another 20 minutes if anyone threw anything at the stage.
Then the band's lashing came, which explains why the group has had about 60 players course through its lineup over the years. This incarnation of the band, which included returning original member Ricky Maymi (guitar), Frankie Teardrop (guitar), Collin Hegna (bass) and Dan Allaire (drums), appeared unusually tolerant -- particularly Teardrop, who was asked to leave the stage and then ordered to return.
"I don't understand why you give me the worst amp," Newcombe said to Teardrop. "Is your guitar in tune? Give me your guitar. Why don't you ask your girlfriend's dad to fly you home?"
Dysfunction finally subsided long enough for the full band to strike a song, an extended jam of "Hide and Seek," where Newcombe's disturbingly peaceful guitar style and hazy vocals reminded everyone why they were still there. Next was "Nevertheless," where the band hit its stride, with all three guitarists playing essentially the same parts cooperatively through the same amps, with reverb on 10.
The rest of the set teetered between wonderfully impulsive, twangy guitars with a futuristic spin and temperamental sanity from bare-chested circus-master Newcombe. By the third song, "Swallow Tail," Newcombe had cautioned the audience, "I had a bad day, and I don't want your bullshit." By the fourth, "Nailing Honey to the Bee," Newcombe reminded the audience that he had a hard day but declared he was ready to play again.
And by the fifth tune, "Wherever You Are," finally the first sensible words were uttered by Maymi, who leaned to tune his guitar and said to the front row, "It's like a rock concert in the Twilight Zone."
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