Photos: Butthole Surfers @ Knitting Factory Concert House

Butthole Surfers @ Knitting Factory Concert House, Reno, NV 2011-08-31
Gibby Haynes rendered in an almost 3D pose on-stage at The Knit...

While most of Reno was en route to the playa for a sold-out Burning Man this August, I had the distinct pleasure of staying in town and catching a performance by one of my childhood heroes.  Yes, Butthole Surfers were prevalently featured listening in my household while growing up in the mid-late 80’s.  My father’s vinyl collection was ripe with alternative surf punk psychedelia in the vein of Ye Ole Buttholes while spanning many other ‘questionable’ micro-genres as well, but one thing listening to records as a babe in arms couldn’t prepare me for was the no-holds-barred vividness of this band’s live performance.

As per some recent recommendations on Reddit, I decided to boost my Nikon D7000‘s ISO to a constant rate of 3200 and throw the aperture wide open on my 50mm f/1.8D lens to f/1.8, enabling maximum depth of field and a substantial ‘natural’ lighting effect.  I did keep the shutter speed within my usual comfort zone, holding steady at 1/250th of a second.  With these elements combined, and a headbanging opening set from Los Angeles’ heavy metal / hardcore band, 400 Blows, the magic was flowing in time with psychedelic, albeit horrifying at times, imagery as the ever-evolving backdrop to Butthole Surfers’ unique brand of psychedesert-alternia.

VIEW THE FULL BUTTHOLE SURFERS GALLERY HERE

 

Butthole Surfers @ Knitting Factory Concert House, Reno, NV 2011-08-31
Paul Leary swirling in guitar-driven psychedelia at Knitting Factory Concert House...
Butthole Surfers @ Knitting Factory Concert House, Reno, NV 2011-08-31
Jeff Pinkus unleashing his bass-fueled frenzy on the crowd...
Butthole Surfers @ Knitting Factory Concert House, Reno, NV 2011-08-31
King Coffee sharing a peculiar glare with the camera as he pounds out a hypnotic beat on the drums...

Camera(s) Used:

Nikon D7000

Lens(es) Used:

Nikon 50mm f/1.8D


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Super-Happy Fun Bonus Pic!!!

Butthole Surfers @ Knitting Factory Concert House, Reno, NV 2011-08-31
Butthole Surfers Setlist at Knitting Factory Concert House...

Upcoming: Big Head Todd & The Monsters with Toots & The Maytals @ Knitting Factory

Big Head Todd & The Monsters with Toots & The Maytals @ Knitting Factory 2011-06-14

The year is 1986.  The place, Colorado.  Todd Park Mohr and band mates begin forming what, in 1987, would be known as the rock band Big Head Todd & The Monsters.

They’ve come a long way since the late 80’s, including the platinum selling 1993 album, Sister Sweetly, and collaborations with David Z. (Prince), Jerry Harrison (Talking Heads), John Lee Hooker, Bernie Worrell (P-Funk) and more.  Heck, they’ve even created music per request of Space Shuttle Discovery and have had their song, “Blue Sky” used as Senator Hillary Clinton’s 2008 presidential campaign song.

The long and short is that Big Head Todd & The Monsters are back with a new album, Rocksteady, which captures a more Caribbean/Roots/Jamaican vibe … and lends itself quite well to touring with legendary reggae group, Toots & The Maytals; a group which formed in the early 60’s, has been reincarnated at least three times, have taken home a Grammy for Best Reggae Album in 2005 (True Love) and have rubbed elbows with early reggae/ska legends, C.S. Dodd (Studio One), The Skatalites, The Wailers, Prince Buster as well as more contemporary stars such as Bonnie Raitt, Willie Nelson, Eric Clapton, Keith Richards, Trey Anastasio, No Doubt, Ben Harper, The Roots and Shaggy.

Tuesday, June 14th 2011 at Knitting Factory Concert House

$28.50-$50.  All Ages.  Get tickets.

Check out Big Head Todd & The Monsters on Amazon: Live Monsters, Midnight Radio

Check out Toots & The Maytals on Amazon: Very Best Of, Funky Kingston/In The Dark, Flip & Twist