Of Montreal 327 If there is a contemporary front-man out there who is more fantastic than <a href="http://www.myspace.com/ofmontreal">of Montreal</a>’s Kevin Barnes, the music world would sure like to meet him. In fact, one would be hard pressed to find a performer whose eccentric stage antics and mind-melting transfigurations could rival those of the psych-pop idol. However, behind every great front-man there is a great band, and the collective members of the Polyvinyl sensation, of Montreal, proved to be no exception to this theory. On July 24, Oakland’s Fox Theater filled to capacity with of Montreal devouts. Inspired by the band’s reputed avant-garde show apparel, admirers of all ages and mindsets came equipped with costumes of their own which not only required a lot of forethought, but also imagination. Well prepared for a night of non-stop celebration, the fans contributed their fair share by bringing loads of balloons and igniting the floor with a wonderment of bedazzled attire, aluminum foil hats and other mystical regalia. Coaxed to the stage by the tune produced by thousands of fans flustered with anticipation, the band and company graced the stage with a carnival of psychedelic costumes and imaginary gas-masked creatures and characters of all sizes. Barnes, who admittedly was happy to be back on American soil after completing their European tour, sprang into action manifesting himself into his arcane alter-ego. Steered by the angel-wing adorned guitarist, Bryan Poole, and Barnes in an intergalactic, colonial suit, of Montreal commanded the crowd with their infectious energy as an overt trans-sexuality seeped from the stage and swathed every dancing body. Performing an assortment of favorites from their extensive discography, including an unexpected cover of Bat for Lashes’ “Daniel” and new song “Metal Finds Troll,” of Montreal did not fail to deliver a lively, interactive and theatrical live show that validated their baroque pop royalty status. However what stands out, not outshines but enhances of Montreal’s music is their ornate props, lavish costumes and dramatic choreography which truly embody the tenor of postmodern performance art. Armed with explosives in the form of confetti and feathers, the band was illuminated by three LCD screen backdrops projecting psychedelic cartoons that emulated the effects of the strongest of hallucinogens. At times, these screens reflected the on-stage performance but mostly rotated kaleidoscopic images of neon landscapes, action figures and geometric patterns (see photos for evidence). After more than an hour of ceaseless dancing, of Montreal returned to the stage for the most epic of encores, serenading Oakland with their 12-minute fantasy “The Past Is A Grotesque Animal,” and leaving the audience awestruck in the surreal reality they created. Whether you’re an of Montreal concert veteran or have only Youtubed their live shows out of curiosity, one thing is for sure: of Montreal will continue to pave the way for experimental artists and lead listeners into a revolution as they break new ground with each forthcoming album and performance. <b><a href="http://www.myspace.com/ofmontreal">of Montreal Official Myspace</a> <a href="http://www.polyvinylrecords.com">Polyvinyl Records</a> Photos by <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/pneyu/"target"-new<b>Uyen Phan</b></a> 73 2009-07-30T05:40:33Z 2 0 Pop 2331 37.7723 -122.215 Oakland, CA 2009-07-30T05:50:00Z 3 of-montreal-alter-minds-and-induce-dance-fever-at-oakland-show published Of Montreal, Polyvinyl 2009-07-31T18:15:50Z 4066