Shows/John Flansburgh/1996-06-14
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Links:
- New York Daily News article; Jun. 14, 1996
- The Village Voice listing; Jun. 18, 1996
Setlist:
John Flansburgh
— with Loser's Lounge opening —
Fez in New York, NY
June 14, 1996
Fan Recaps and Comments:
Loser's Lounge 30th anniversary tribute concert to The Beach Boys' 1966 album Pet Sounds. This was the first of two consecutive performances. The show featured a complete performance of the album in order, with each song sung by a different guest artist.[1] John Flansburgh performed "Caroline, No" accompanied by the Loser's Lounge house band. This rendition closely resembled the arrangement later performed by They Might Be Giants in 2003–2004.[2] Flansburgh repeated this performance at another pair of Loser's Lounge Beach Boys tribute shows in 2002.
An article about this show appeared in the June 14, 1996 issue of the New York Daily News:
Bands Unleash 'Pet Sounds' for the '90s
By Mary Talbot
"These are totally catchy pop songs, but the things Wilson was doing with arrangement and harmony and orchestration were totally out there," says McGinty. Of course, as a small, live band, the Kustard Kings can only do so much to re-create "Pet Sounds'" studio magic. They won't trot out the harpsichord, but there may be some sleigh bells, perhaps a Jew's harp and, McGinty adds, "we do have someone bringing over a Theremin."
In 1966, The Beach Boys made music history with the album "Pet Sounds," a masterpiece of lush studio experimentation that actually didn't sell that well. Its influence has spread over three decades, though. Paul McCartney was desperate to top it with "Sgt. Pepper's" sonic high jinks. Today, bands like Stereolab layer musical goodies in homage to Brian Wilson, and Capital Records is set to release a commemorative CD.
Tonight and tomorrow, roughly timed to "Pet Sounds'" 30th anniversary, the Kustard Kings take the record's gems — "Good Vibrations," "Wouldn't It Be Nice," "Oh, Caroline," — and a raft of Wilson favorites to the Loser's Lounge at Fez. Fronted by the versatile pianist-emcee Joe McGinty, the Kustards have soft-served their loungy fans tight arrangements of such '60s luminaries as Burt Bacharach and Donovan. As McGinty hears it, "Pet Sounds" is a perfect anthem for the '90s, at once sappy and highly complex.