Les Claypool and the Oddity Faire Entertainment Art Riviera Theater Chicago, IL March 21, 2009

Part of the problem was the timing. While the concept for a mini-festival makes sense you need to start it early enough to account for all the bands. By starting it at nearly 8 p.m the show went until nearly midnight, dragging out all the bands. Anything that involves a festival should start in the afternoon just for the sake of the audience.

The musical acts in the Oddity Faire covered the entire musical spectrum. At a little after 7:30 Secret Chiefs 3 walked on stage to, strangely, absolutely no introduction. Dressed like medieval monks the Chiefs tore through a half hour genre bending instrumentals. It was a great opening to the night although the audience really had no way of knowing who they were.

None of the performers were introduced and none took the initiative to say it. Many in the audience were most likely confused by who they had just seen. It is one thing to be avant-garde it is another to simply not advertise your own band.

The whole night was an experience. Most of the music was instrumental so in the end it became more about absorbing the mood than paying attention to the band. A quick look around and it became obvious just how surreal a scene you were a part of. For the first half of the show I danced next to a guy in a full, furry dog costume and someone dressed as a glow in the dark skeleton. This crowd meant business.

After four bands, each of which played extended sets, Claypool finally took the stage. By this time it was nearly 11 p.m and most of the crowd had been dancing for over three hours. Logistically everyone was pretty impatient.

Which brings us to our next problem. While Claypool claims there is no such thing as perfection he plays as if there were no audience. Throughout most of his set, a large bright light blinded most of the audience. Claypool played on without notice until much of the crowd yelled to turn it off. Musically Claypool can play circles around most bass players; he just has to work on his people skills.

It should be noted that during his set, Claypool took a brief intermission away from the mic and gave full reign to his two drummers. The result was absolutely beautiful. For over five minutes the two drummers battled it out, driving the intensity of the set way up to “eleven”. The professionalism of the night shone through as the intense battle led seamlessly into Claypool’s newest “Mushroom Men” single.

For good and bad, it was a long night of beautiful musical madness. Claypool gives his audience their money’s worth, packing over four bands and a few magic acts in a Saturday night show. Given a little more planning and slightly more structure, it could have been a great night that challenged and engaged each and all of our senses.

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