BOMB Fest '011 - Man Man

I’ll never forget my first thoughts when listening to Man Man. I wasn’t sure at the time (and am still not sure) whether it sounded like Tom Waits playing Captain Beefheart or Captain Beefheart playing Tom Waits, but damned if it isn’t fun, technically proficient, and, most importantly, mustachioed rock.

We first saw Man Man opening for Modest Mouse in Spring ’07. They ripped through a 40-minute set that felt thrice as long (in a good way). Dressed in all white and looking like a combination between house painters and Indian warriors, they barely paused between songs to catch their breath. This provided for a sustained feeling of energy and excitement throughout the set, with each song building on the last rather than having lulls between them. Swapping instruments both between and during songs is also a hallmark of Man Man’s live experience, with each member having a go at everything from guitars and keyboards to horns and woodwinds, further adding to the carnival atmosphere created by their sound.  This 2006 performance of Feathers and English Bwudd is not unlike what we saw back in 2007, and hopefully what we'll get more of next month.

Their new album, Life Fantastic, drops May 10th (although Google seems to think it’s Live Fantastic), and we couldn’t be more excited. We’ll finally see them again during this year’s B.O.M.B. Fest, playing Sunday May 29th (likely an afternoon set). Embedded below is the music video for "Rabbit Habits", featuring Charlyne Yi and Fred Armisen, as well as “Knuckle Down”, the lead-off track from their forthcoming LP.