|
Buckethead's Giant Robot :: 06.04.04 :: Fox Theatre :: Boulder, CO
Buckethead by Tony Stack |
This just in: Buckethead is a bit odd.
For those unfamiliar with the man, his name is derived from the fact that he wears a KFC bucket as a helmet at all times while sporting a Jason-esque kabuki mask. If you count the bucket, he reaches the seven-foot mark, which gives him an immediate stage presence in smaller venues.
What makes him really different is his handiwork on the six-string. With chops most guitarists only dream of, there's little doubt as to why Guns 'n Roses wanted him in their lineup (for longer than he wanted to be). After touring solo for a while, Buckethead has gone the power trio route and added Brian "Brain" Mantia on drums (formerly of Primus) and Butthouse on bass and now goes by the moniker "Buckethead's Giant Robot." For those more familiar with the band... onto the show.
Ten minutes before midnight, the lights cut out and left the Fox Theatre in complete darkness. Buckethead's Giant Robot emerged from the abyss and took the stage in front of a packed house. The band wasted no time and immediately settled in a remarkably tight groove with Brain thrashing away at the drum kit and Butthouse digging in deep on the bass. (A brief sidenote: Butthouse was ridiculously animated in the opener, leaning forward and bending down to the point where he appeared to be attempting a reverse-limbo of sorts. Highly entertaining.) Irrespective of that spectacle, the Giant Robot was performing like a well-oiled machine: the band executed a number of start-stop jams perfectly in addition to a host of sudden rhythmic and melodic changes. They are proficient enough to befuddle the crowd as to when they are performing composed pieces and when they are improvising on the spot.
 |
 |
| Buckethead's Giant Robot by Tony Stack |
It was a purely instrumental performance. The only words that were spoken to the audience the whole night came from an unnamed individual that appeared from behind the stage. Making his way to the microphone wearing a full suit... you knew something was up. The man obviously must have something important to say. With the smoke from his cigarette slowly drifting into a lone spotlight above him, he had established a persona before he even spoke a word. Maybe it was the way he approached it, or maybe it was because he was standing next to a couple of guys named Butthouse and Brain, but there was an element of intrigue as to what his message would be. He pulled out a manuscript and proceeded to read about taxidermy for the next couple minutes. Taxidermy. Didn't see that one coming. But then again, Buckethead is a bit odd.
Buckethead by Tony Stack |
Musically, the band sounded like a nice mix of Frank Zappa and Primus. The majority of songs had a hook comprised of a short sputter of bass and reverb from the guitars, providing a nice contrast to the often frenetic pace of the rest of the tune. Near the halfway mark of the show, Brain and Butthouse left the stage and Buckethead soloed for a solid seven minutes or so. One of the clear highlights of the night, Buckethead showcased his versatility by oscillating between inspired blues riffs, filthy bass lines, and full-throttled wailing. The remarkable part was that it somehow all seemed to fit together.
For the encore, Buckethead strutted onstage and stood front and center. Not saying a word, he whipped out a set of nun-chucks and showed he's not a one-trick pony, busting out moves only previously seen in the epic film Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. After a couple minutes of some truly impressive stunts, he discarded the nun-chucks off to the side and in one fluid motion began the "robot dance" from the '80s. The crowd ate it up. He then went to the side of the stage, grabbed a large bucket full of random goodies and memorabilia, and tossed them into the crowd.
By Tony Stack |
For the (double) encore, Buckethead paid homage to the guitar gurus before him with a medley of Hendrix, Zeppelin, and AC/DC tunes. The Hendrix numbers seemed to get the most attention at the end, and an impressive "Who Knows" was capped off by a triumphant rendition of "Machine Gun."
Listening to Buckethead's Giant Robot was like watching someone else flip through channels on TV. Musical ideas were stumbled upon and quickly eschewed in the spirit of finding something new and better. Very few entertainers will captivate an audience as well as Buckethead is able to. The visual display alone is truly bizarre, and is set to an off-the-wall soundtrack. He has learned how to work the crowd as well, pulling out certain tricks every once in awhile like utilizing his elastic guitar strap to make it seem as though his axe was a yo-yo. Above all else though--behind this circus-like surface--is an equally impressive body of musical thought that is well worth the price of admission.
Nathan Rodriguez
JamBase | Colorado
Go See Live Music!
|
