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October 9, 2008

of Montreal's New Stage Show Looks Ridiculous

thumbnail icon: of Montreal's New Stage Show Looks Ridiculous

A friend close to Camp of Montreal warned me a few months ago that missing the new oM stage show would be a bad idea, detailing the absurd audio/visual orgy the band had planned. That was wise counsel. The last time we saw a Skeletal Lamping cut performed live it was last tour with a stage show that was comparatively, well, skeletal. This clip of "Id Engager" captured during the band's tour opening show at the Carolina Theatre in Durham, NC is, well, not. I only say that because of the hats and the choreography and the dancing golden buddhas that strip off their outfits to reveal skintight black leotards and the projections and the stage risers. But that's all.


(via YANP)

The vibe is very this. The dancing golden buddha-free version:

of Montreal - "Id Engager" (MP3)

You can still win the entire paradigm-shifting Skeletal Lamping goodie bag via the 'Gum Drop.

From what I understand, this particular stage show won't be there for the duration of this tour, but it's probably a good idea to hit one of these dates anyway:

10/07 - Durham, NC @ Carolina Theatre
10/08 - Asheville, NC @ The Orange Peel %
10/09 - Washington, DC @ 9:30 Club %
10/10 - New York, NY @ Roseland %
10/15 - Paris, FR @ Elysee Montmarte
10/16 - London, UK @ Koko
10/17 - Barcelona, ES @ Razzmatazz
10/18 - Rome, IT @ Circolo degli Artisi
10/19 - Berlin, DE @ Lido
10/20 - Stockholm, SE @ Debaser Medis
10/21 - Copenhagen, Denmark @ Amager Bio
10/24 - St. Louis, MO @ The Pageant &
10/25 - Minneapolis, MN @ First Avenue &
10/26 - Milwaukee, WI @ Pabst Theatre &
10/27 - Chicago, IL @ The Riviera &
10/28 - Toronto, ON @ Queen Elizabeth Theatre $
10/29 - Montreal, OC @ Metropolis $
10/30 - Boston, MA @ Orpheum $
10/31 - Philadelphia, PA @ Electric Factory $
11/01 - Richmond, VA @ The National $
11/08 - Atlanta, GA @ The Tabernacle #
11/11 - New Orleans, LA @ Howlin Wolf #
11/12 - Houston, TX @ Warehouse Live #
11/13 - Austin, TX @ 507 East 6th Street #
11/14 - Dallas, TX @ House of Blues #
11/15 - Lawrence, KS @ Liberty Hall #
11/16 - Denver, CO @ The Ogden Theatre #
11/17 - Murray, UT @ Murray Super Theatre #
11/19 - Seattle, WA @ Showbox So Do ^
11/20 - Portland, OR @ Roseland ^
11/21 - San Francisco, CA @ Regency Center Grand Ballroom ^
11/22 - Los Angeles, CA @ TBA ^

% w/ Love Is All
& w/ Sinkane
$ w/ Gang Gang Dance
# w/ Icy Demons
^ w/ HEALTH

Posted at 11:52 AM by amrit in , ,
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24 Comments

it seems a bit 'public high school play' to we..

Posted by: Nina Twin at 10/09/08 12:05 PM | Reply
Score = 5 Vote up Vote down

One reason that rock music is superior to hip-hop is that it isn't all synthesized beats and recorded "turntabling". Hip-hop is extremely conscious of the fact that at the live show, there is really nothing going on. This is why there is alway 18 dancers, showers of sparks, and random dudes with baseball bats on stage -- to distract us from the fact that the emperor wears no clothes. It's about time somebody is onto Of Montreal: Real rock bands don't wear make-up, and they sure as shit don't turn the live show into a failed summerstock theater production.

Posted by: Adam E. at 10/09/08 12:07 PM | Reply
Score = -15 Vote up Vote down

please, there are tons of "real rock bands" that have stage gimmicks. Just look at bands like led zepplin and rush and shit. they all had crazy stage effects.

This is awesome and makes me excited to see them live. what's wrong with adding a little creativity and excitement to a show?

Posted by: drab in reply to Adam E.'s comment at 10/09/08 12:23 PM | Reply
Score = 2 Vote up Vote down

I bet Adam E. was listening to Creed while he wrote his comment.

Posted by: la la landon profile link in reply to Adam E.'s comment at 10/13/08 3:11 PM | Reply
Score = 4 Vote up Vote down

Some real rock bands wear makeup.

Granted, I've never been a fan of Of Montreal. And nothing about this changes my mind.

Posted by: ziggy at 10/09/08 12:16 PM | Reply
Score = 2 Vote up Vote down

Honestly, that is pretty weak. Even allowing for the improvement that being there live would give, a hokey stage production like that can't make up for the lack of stage presence of the band members.

Posted by: Justin at 10/09/08 12:19 PM | Reply
Score = 1 Vote up Vote down

This is old news. Their stage show I saw in LA toward the end of last year was very similar and easily as ridiculous.

Posted by: Colin at 10/09/08 12:28 PM | Reply
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They've also got December Dates with the Fiery Furnaces in Florida:
December 4 - Tallahassee, FL - The Moon 18+ ##
December 5 - Gainesville, FL - The Venue 18+ ##
December 6 - Fort Lauderdale, FL - Revolution Live AA ##
December 8 - Tampa, FL - The Ritz Ybor AA ##
December 9 - Lake Buena Vista, FL - House of Blues Orlando AA ##

Posted by: Jack at 10/09/08 12:39 PM | Reply
Score = -1 Vote up Vote down

Yeah, this is pretty much the same vibe of their previous shows that I've been to.

Posted by: tautou at 10/09/08 1:16 PM | Reply
Score = 1 Vote up Vote down

remember when this band used to actually write interesting songs? now they're caked in tired 70's tropes, parliament funkadelic, bowie, alice cooper... they all did this shit 35 years ago, but managed to have music that could outshine the bombast of the live show ...i have no problem with flashy shows and cheeky productions...but the songwriting seems to have been lost somewhere along the way.

Posted by: gentlemanjim profile link at 10/09/08 1:17 PM | Reply
Score = 6 Vote up Vote down

Wrong

Posted by: Eduardo in reply to gentlemanjim's comment at 10/09/08 1:49 PM | Reply
Score = -3 Vote up Vote down

this looks like a really bad talent show audition, or someone's vhs footage of their son/daughter's 3rd grade play from 1988.
but i won't let one youtube video taint my opinion of this band.
i'm sure somewhere in blogland there was a very good write-up on this show, sans shaky camera footage, and all the kids rejoiced.
i'm no of Montreal expert by any means, but is it me or is this just a bad song?
before i get yelled at, fellow gumdrops, throw me a song or two to check out by them.

Posted by: clockistotime profile link at 10/09/08 2:11 PM | Reply
Score = 1 Vote up Vote down

Just listen to "Hissing Fauna, are you the Destroyer?" You won't be let down.

Posted by: The Spilken8r in reply to clockistotime's comment at 10/09/08 3:01 PM | Reply
Score = 4 Vote up Vote down

This is horrifying and amusing at the same time. That said, I'm dying to see this live.

Posted by: Blair at 10/09/08 3:00 PM | Reply
Score = 1 Vote up Vote down

What is wrong with rock fans these days? you're unhappy if a band comes out and just plays their music, but then you're also unhappy if they put on makeup and stage a fun and inventive production. you just love to hate, which probably is indicative of the fact that you need to get laid more. the rest of us will enjoy the music in whatever format they present it.

Posted by: haters at 10/09/08 3:48 PM | Reply
Score = 3 Vote up Vote down

They used to do skits more up until Sunlandic Twins came out. I'm glad they have recently started doing this stuff more often on tour. I used to really look forward to thier stupid skits. They had one where they woudl all fight in extreme slow motion while a wall of noise raged from thier amps. They had one about McDonalds meal called the McPurge that was pretty funny. It was ridiculous, but charming if you are willing to like it.

Posted by: whistle at 10/09/08 3:56 PM | Reply
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wow .... this is retarded. When do they cover KISS?

Posted by: chris at 10/09/08 5:10 PM | Reply
Score = -4 Vote up Vote down

talking of rock bands not having gimmicks
probably the greatest live show - pink floyd maybe - the wall??
also of montreal have bundles of character in their music and performances
they certainly don't need to put on a big theatrical show like this but its definitely something different and I wouldn't be disappointed if I turned up to a gig and this was going on.
and yeah this is really cheesy but im sure theyr'e fully aware of that

Posted by: ben at 10/09/08 5:55 PM | Reply
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Boy stereogum posters are dumb. Most of you seem to not know anything about of Montreal.

Posted by: bm at 10/09/08 9:27 PM | Reply
Score = 3 Vote up Vote down

Someone like the Black Keys, with only a drum set and a guitar, would put the stomp all over this stupid looking production. Sometimes less is more.

Posted by: Michael Quirk at 10/09/08 10:44 PM | Reply
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Saw them live tonight; I'm not a huge fan of their newer stuff, so my opinion may be biased, but I was unimpressed. I've no problem with bombast (The Flaming Lips put on one of my favorite concerts a few years back), but something about the show seemed quite hollow.
I can never tell with new OM if that's on purpose or not, but I can tell that I didn't really like it.

Posted by: Matt at 10/10/08 1:16 AM | Reply
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why do people still care about this band? i seriously find nothing good about them. and theyre ridiculous live shows are...well..ridiculous. ina really bad, lame way.

Posted by: gaby at 10/14/08 12:03 AM | Reply
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Regardless if you dig the show or not, we are all still talking about it so it did its job. I'm sold.

Posted by: EddieMat profile link at 10/14/08 4:52 PM | Reply
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Really impatient to hear how tonight's show went in Toronto.
Was crushed I didn't make it. (8 hrs twice & too biz/broke too)
I adore this band.
The Past is a Grotesque Animal is massive.
I lived with just this sound for months.
More please.
Hissing lyrics have coloured the local vernacular.
Skeletal Lamping is a more brutal revelation. amongst other beauties
Sounds so party. musicianship delux. pure sound
as unspeakable is spoken.
Hope K catches up with Beatrice and her Car
And drives the hell on outa there.
OK Toronto. Do tell!!!

Posted by: Marguerite at 10/29/08 5:37 AM | Reply
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