Monday, January 19, 2009
Why I'm Here, pt. 5: Imagine "the" Band
Posted by admin on Mon, Jan 19, 2009 at 11:38 PM
Over the years, whenever I’ve urged friends to attend “concerts” by Los Angeles-via-St. Bernard Parish performer, Imagine “the” Band, I’ve always prefaced with, “Maybe the third time you see it you don’t laugh as hard, but the first time, it blasts your mind.” This January 14th however (days before driving back home to New Orleans after two weeks of near-fruitless job hunting in Austin) I caught Imagine “the” Band (aka E.P., aka Eric Pierson, aka Egos Personos) for about the 12th time in my life, at Beauty Bar in Austin, and I admit to laughing as if I’d never seen his shtick before.
Opening the show were Focus Group, a good instrumental indy-rock band with electronics, trombone, and more heart, spirit and fire than many of the Austin bands I’ve seen these past two weeks. This show’s closers, Frantic Clam, also rocked, though both bands still lacked some essential fire or edge. Even the best Austin rock bands I’ve seen (and most have been technically “good,” if not interesting) suffer the same near-blandness. I think the problem – which is probably not a problem for most rock fans – is that Austin’s bands seem to lack any Black music influence. Not that every band has to have roots in Motown or hip-hop, but aside from Austin’s T-Bird and the Breaks, I’ve heard nothing but pure white sounds on 6th Street. I thought indy-rockers at least dug Prince.
After Focus Group came E.P., who’s been repping this Imagine “the” Band concept for, amazingly, over 10 years now. When I long ago interviewed E.P. for OffBeat (before he lost both his St Bernard home and his marriage to Katrina and so left for L.A.) he explained that he’d had all these great, funny songs written, but couldn’t find a backing band. So he donned a wetsuit and a headset and just starting performing his songs alone, a capella, while interacting with an imaginary band. At one point in the Beauty Bar show, E.P. struggled on the ground with a playful bandmate who was getting too rough: “Hey man! Lay off!” E.P. shouted, half-nelsoning himself, “I thought we worked this out in the bus back in Philly!” Then “they” got back up and busted into “Knife Fight.”
The fun, smiling crowd at Beauty Bar (trendy haircuts and tight clothes be damned, Austin people are super nice, like in New Orleans) reacted in the universally typical way: seeing E.P. up there jumping around sweating in his wetsuit alone, half the attendees crowd around. Within 15 seconds most walk away, unable to understand the long silences that make up E.P.’s “bandmates” “solos.” Ten minutes in though, everyone’s back at the stage-front laughing and bobbing along to a beat that isn’t there.
“This next song is called ‘Track 13’!” E.P. announces, then directs the soundman to turn up the tracks in his headphones (spoiler alert: the in-jack on E.P.’s headphones is tucked into his underwear; nor did I spot a soundman at Beauty Bar). E.P. crouches, ready to rock, then… “Wait, soundman. I said ‘Track 13’” E.P. crouches, waits. “Oh man you know what?” he slaps his forehead, “Soundman I’m sorry, it’s called ‘Track 13’ but it’s actually number nine on the CD. Sorry dude.”
Do yourself a favor and check E.P.’s myspace page: http://www.myspace.com/egospersonos
Comments (2)
Showing 1-2 of 2
I saw this maniac open for Morning 40 a couple of years ago at Mardi Gras. That turned into the first time I've been in a mosh pit in over 20 years, surely the last of my life. JawDropping is the word for it. One of the many great "musical" experiences of my life.
like
dislike
Recent Comments
-
Re: Interview: Willie Robertson of A&E's Duck Dynasty
I really love the show and at this time of morning, I just posted on…
-
on May 22, 2012
via mobile
-
Re: More reality TV shows to embarrass Louisiana
There isn't anything embarrassing about Louisiana(well, our education system n politics but there getting better),…
- on May 21, 2012
-
Re: WDSU: Hedge-Morrell will return for next Council meeting
Doesn't Mitch keep veto power thanks to morrell and johnson? (5 needed to override a…
- on May 21, 2012
-
Re: Book your favorite movie at a local theater
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f6FXurcdaf0 - Josh Stover introduces the crowd to NOLA's first Tugg event.
- on May 21, 2012
-
Re: Foodies opens on Julia Row
Dinner of Thai Wrap and side salad was delicious, the best Cappuccino that I have…
- on May 19, 2012
-
Re: The artist's mother
Thank you, Salena. I appreciate your comments, especially after viewing your dedicated and proficient blog…
- on May 19, 2012
- More »
