“This dynamic duo has relentlessly pursued an uncompromising vision of the subversive power of music that pays no heed to commercial imperatives. Standing outside the industry, two fingers raised in salute, they have nevertheless managed to forge an international career completely on their own, idiosyncratic terms.” This was how Vivid Live festival in Sydney described King Khan & BBQ show, when they were handpicked by Lou Reed and Laurie Anderson to perform there in 2010. Of course, the “dynamic duo” of King Khan and Mark Sultan broke up after that, but it wouldn’t be the first, and maybe not the last time, and now that they reunited again and touring, and the entire above quote is still entirely true. King Khan & BBQ Show may be more of a legendary band at this point than a new band, but I’m going to stretch our definition of “emerging” and say that with this new tour and several re-issues of old albums, this surf rock doo-wop garage punk outfit is gaining more exposure than ever.
Recently on this tour, the band played a couple shows in NYC. The first one was at Santos Party House, and I’d like to think they played there just of the venue name, because these guys wanted a party.
They got what they came for.
It all started then their intro song, Bowie’s “Under Pressure” came on. Mark Sultan came out and took a seat behind his minimal drum rig, all sequined and sparkled up, looking like the King of Clubs from Arabia. King Khan came out looking like he just escaped from The Indian Tomb, picked up his guitar, and took his place on stage in front of a giant disco ball dick. I had to wonder how they traveled with that thing – it must break down somehow, but from where I was standing it looked pretty solid. The two launched into their raucous jams, full of lyrics and in-between song banter full of awesomely foul bathroom humor and generally smutty jokes. These guys are like comedians who can shred. King Khan worked the stage and got down Beach Party style, and Mark Sultan actually has a really amazing voice. They also have more than a few “love songs,” that they somehow make both irreverent and tender. The guys even dedicated a tune to their wives, noting that Mark Sultan had recently wed, but then joking that they had really just married each other.
They kept the slow jams to a minimum though, because the kids came to dance and mosh. I’ve never seen such a mix of genres in the crowd. The crust punks were right up at the stage to represent, as well as the modern day greasers and hardcore punk ragers. There were done-up girly girls and the more bookish indie-looking types, regular dudes, and freaks and geeks. In essence, this amalgamation was as colorful – in every sense of the word – as the band, and through much of the set all of these different lookers became a blur of fists and smiles bouncing like pinballs in the nucleus of a mosh pit.
They ended with an encore that was like a long jam out on their song “Why Don’t You Lie” with the entire venue screaming along in unison, wet hair plastered to faces and hands up. After this grand finale, their exit song “We Are the Champions” was queued up, which felt like the most brilliant thing ever. What a show. King Khan & BBQ show is a hell of a drug.
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