2008 Woodie Awards
Ironic moustaches, drunk millionaires, and man-bulges
Art Brut with Gil Mantera's Dream Party
By: Jesse Sawyer
Issue date: 3/31/06 Section: The Arts
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“Dance! Fuckin' dance, you fuckers! They're pouring their hearts out for you, why don't you fucking dance?!” These were the inebriated cries that punctuated the space between songs at Art Brut's sold-out performance at the 7th Street Entry Tuesday night, and they emanated from the beer-breath throat of my best friend's boss, who, it turns out, is a self-made millionaire, as well as an Art Brut fan. Art Brut's moustachioed frontman, Eddie Argos, took my drunk companion's cue, ripping into a frenzied rendition of “Modern Art” by leaping into the bouncing pit of fans while terrified stagehands held on to their rock star's microphone cable, who continued speak-singing the words to the song while submerged in a sea of newly-made friends. For one set, we all forgot ourselves and dissolved into the shared glory of the rock idiom. The show killed any sign of hipster cynicism that may have been present, and immediately replaced it with unabashed love of everything rock and roll. Like lepers to the Jesus-robes, we came, we touched, and we were healed.
By the time I got into the Entry, opening act Gil Mantera's Dream Party were already into their fifth song and down to their tightly-fitting underwear briefs. Two large, long-haired men, supposedly brothers, but playing it up with an awkwardly gay swagger, this band is quite possibly the most fun type of uncomfortable known to man. Sporting the phrase “Ageless Wonder” across his crotch, lead singer Ultimate Donny represented for all of the ugly bearded men who love to show their bloated naked bodies off, belting out songs as if in a packed arena, even as he roamed the sparsely-populated dance floor singing to no one in particular and everyone at once. Brother Gil manned the electronics and the synth, wearing a tight leotard with Zubaz patterns, occasionally reaching into his underwear to, ahem, rub himself while playing. Their music was bouncy and electronic, Devo meets Xiu Xiu, perhaps, but it was the performance that made me love them.
By the time I got into the Entry, opening act Gil Mantera's Dream Party were already into their fifth song and down to their tightly-fitting underwear briefs. Two large, long-haired men, supposedly brothers, but playing it up with an awkwardly gay swagger, this band is quite possibly the most fun type of uncomfortable known to man. Sporting the phrase “Ageless Wonder” across his crotch, lead singer Ultimate Donny represented for all of the ugly bearded men who love to show their bloated naked bodies off, belting out songs as if in a packed arena, even as he roamed the sparsely-populated dance floor singing to no one in particular and everyone at once. Brother Gil manned the electronics and the synth, wearing a tight leotard with Zubaz patterns, occasionally reaching into his underwear to, ahem, rub himself while playing. Their music was bouncy and electronic, Devo meets Xiu Xiu, perhaps, but it was the performance that made me love them.
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