Dunce Cap stopped by Highline Ballroom Sunday night as Outernational and friends celebrated the release of the band’s spanking-new EP, the Tom Morello-produced Eyes on Fire. Notes fom the frontline:
* Lest it seem as though nothing could top first opener R-tronika singing the chorus “I am a hipster” while watching assorted hipsters in the audience dance their asses off (meta? Maybe), wait and behold the power of second act Japanther.
* Donning a homemade mask, Japanther drummer/singer Ian Vanek conjured up a tattooed Burt Ward. (Substitute, of course, the “holy cow, Batman”s with some feedback and garage rock.) ‘Course, the Boy Wonder was concerned with the crimefightin’, while Japanther is more intent on throwing off governmental shackles entirely (e.g., at one point instructing President Obama to “go fuck himself”). Then, more instruction: “We’d be as happy playing in front of three people at your house. Make your shit small and independent.” And — anarchy-wise, at least — they practice what they preach: By the end of the set, the drum kit was thrown across the stage.
* You’d be forgiven for thinking Outernational was ready to serve up some Kid Rock — Southern fringed shirt and red leather pants on the frontman will do that — but their music and politics couldn’t be farther apart from those of the greasy-haired, tank-top-loving rocker. Maybe if Kid Rock was well-produced and progressive, he could compete with Outernational. The group’s fan base is rabid (and skews young — the band made a point of giving props to Highline for being one of the few venues in town to host an all-ages show), and tends to show up wearing red armbands along with the rest of the band. And the group treats its fans in kind, bringing one up for a guitar jam (one of the best moments of the evening) and letting more climb onstage to get their vogue on during the last song.
* Verdict: no better way to end the weekend than being in the audience for such an epic show. Will learn the good gospel of earplugs next time? Affirmative.
