Another Milwaukee Review

- By Daniella Maria

(Sadly, no pictures were taken. I opted to actually enjoy the show rather than take 300+ pictures like the last time I saw them in Milwaukee.)

Just when you think that Of Montreal shows couldn't get any better.... they went and topped themselves again.

I arrived slightly after MGMT started. I saw them back in 2005 when they played in Madison at Club 770. To be honest, I thought that their energy back in 2005 was a lot higher. But they now perform with a full band, whereas before it was just two of them and an ipod. They were a lot of fun. I enjoyed the new full band version of "Time to Pretend".

Grand Buffet. Holy shit, dudes. Seriously. That was one of the best opening acts I've ever seen. They were so high energy. Lyrically hilarious. Beats were fantastic. I absolutely LOVED them. I was instantly very comfortable with their vibe. They seem like really nice and likable people. I was really really impressed. If you haven't heard of them, please check them out. I had so much fun watching them. I'd love to do it again very very soon.

This was the fifth time I've seen Of Montreal. And it seems there stage shows get better and better every time. This time, Dan and Nick (of the official CCAA booty patrol) built a HUGE set (Damn, I wish I had a camera). I could draw a crappy MSpaint version of it... but I'll just let you see it for yourself (check out the tour dates, kids). While the insane amount of lights that were coming from the stage made me hope that no epileptic kids were in the audience, it was really fun to watch.

oM played a handful of new songs, including Softcore, which they have played out before (check the youtube video). And a few other fantastically naughty songs. I'm very excited for Skeletal Lamping, which is the name of the new album, hopefully coming out beginning of next year.

Kevin mentioned that Dottie has a solo act, which I thought I heard as "Dorathy Hagard" but when I googled it, nothing came up. So maybe my memory isn't serving me correctly. But as soon as I find out I'll make sure to link to it here. I was hoping for another My First Keyboard release, so its really exciting to me.

All in all, it was a great show. I was nervous because last time I was at the Milwaukee show I was extremely irritated with their fans. This time I felt much better about the crowd. Less drunk/high 16 year olds. So that was cool. I didn't even get punched in the head ONCE when Kevin would get close to the front of the stage. Sweet!

New acoustic EP! + Big Oil reissue

of Montreal have released a new four-track EP from an acoustic session they did earlier this year called the "Sony Connect Set". It features Kevin and B.P. playing two tracks from "Hissing Fauna" ( "Heimdalsgate Like a Promethean Curse" and "We Were Born the Mutants Again With Leafling") and two covers, Neil Young's "Harvest Moon" (which of Montreal have been playing on tour) and Love Is All's "Make Out, Fall Out, Make Up". Here is an excerpt from the "Harvest Moon" cover:

of Montreal "Harvest Moon" (edit)

You can get the new EP from Sony, although you do have to register for their new Connect Music Service. Pitchfork, which is streaming the Love Is All cover with this article, says it is / will be also available from Polyvinyl, but no listing as of yet there.

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Polyvinyl does, however, have the reissue of the "If He Is Protecting Our Nation Then Who Will Protext Big Oil???" compilation, originally put out by Track and Field in the UK and sold as a tour-CD, and it's either now available (as Polyvinyl's front page says), or will be by the 23rd of this month (as the album page says). On CD only, sorry vinyl hounds. Tracklist is:

1. "My What a Strange Day With a Swede"
2. "An Ill-Treated Hiccup"
3. "Cast in the Haze (Been There Four Days)"
4. "Mimi Merlot Beatnik Version"
5. "Girl From NYC (Named Julia)"
6. "Inside a Room Full of Treasures a Black Pygmy Horse's Head Pops Up Like a Periscope"
7. "Charlie and Freddy"
8. "There Is Nothing Wrong With Hating Rock Critics"
9. "Maple Licorice"
10. "Barely Asian at the Beefcake Horizon"
11. "Spooky Spider Chandelier"
12. "Friends of Mine" (The Zombies Cover)
13. "Christmas Isn't Safe for Animals"

(note: above mp3 ripped from a vinyl 7", not quite as nice as the crystal-clear version found on "...Big Oil".) Buy it now.

Kevin and BP solo acoustic show in Boston

If you live in the Boston area, check the new of Montreal blog post for news of a special show acoustic show with just B.P. and Kevin tomorrow night (the 26th), for the Revenge of the Bookeaters Benefit.

Geminitactics to Design New of Montreal Merchandise

Nina Barnes has posted at the Geminitactics blog about how she will be designing a new line of of Montreal merchandise, with different items available at of Montreal shows, from the Geminitactics Myspace, and some from the "coming Geminitactics website", to be designed by Kangaroo Alliance, the same peeps that did of Montreal's site. There are two poster designs and one T-shirt so far, and Nina also promises hoodies and even of Montreal ladies underwear. We wondered why she wasn't doing men's underwear, and then we remembered Vegas ;-)

Big thanks to the magnificent Optical Atlas for cluing us in.

For The Kids track

of Montreal have contributed a track to the third volume of the "For the Kids" series, it is basically a reworked version of of Montreal's "The Actor's Opprobrium" (Sunlandic Twins Bonus EP):

http://www.pitchforkmedia.com/article/news/44740-of-montreal-blitzen-mates-of-state-on-kiddie-comp

You could probably find this pretty easily.