It should be fairly obvious by now, but I love this band. For a while, I was obsessed. Not going to lie about it. Their first full-length was a thing of weird beauty. Like a 3-legged supermodel or something. Their new one is even stranger, but ultimately more indicative of what their live show unleashes. That might freak some of you out, that might intrigue some of you. As mentioned in the album review, listen to “Mailman” or “Biscuits and Groovy.” If you like those songs, you pass the test.
Last nite’s show at Death City posed a bit of a challenge for the boys in Dr Manhattan - Vocalist and Guitarist Matt Engers, Keyboardist, Vocalist, and Percussionist Andrew Morrison, Bassist and Vocalist Adam Engers, Drummer and Vocalist Marc Esse, and Guitarist Matt Parrish. Their mustachioed bass player Adam was having a tough time dealing with the conditions of the basement, so he was forced to actually play in the backyard, listening through the storm door (We have some photographic documentation to show how awesome this actually turned out to be. It was like 2 shows in one).
This was my first time seeing the band with the addition of their second guitar player (Matt) and new drummer (Marc), so there was a lot to take in. Both new members fit in quite well, and really, there was no discernible difference in the quality or intensity of the music compared to previous shows. Not that I expected there to be, but, really, you never know…
A basement feels like the most natural place to see a band like Dr Manhattan. They seem to thrive on the heat - the sweaty, grungy closeness of everything and everyone. Their show is designed to encourage audience participation, and the occasional bassist hurling himself and his instrument is a normal thing, and all the more comical because of it. The fact that he was upstairs and outside was bizarre in the best way. Even better was having little mini conversations in between songs, and hearing the band shout up to him for one thing or another. There was something so odd about the whole situation that made the evening more interesting. Some friends of theirs (including tour mates Truman & His Trophy) were in the audience taking pictures and occasionally stealing the microphone. But it made sense. It felt like what should be happening while they were playing.
The new jams fit in well with the old ones, and actually play a little bit better than some of the stuff off of their first full length. They just seem made for a live show. “Biscuits and Groovy” live is fantastic. It’s an odd song, for an odd band, that played an odd show.
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