I have a hard time advising people on what bands to check out during Homegrown Music Festival. I was seated next to some newbies on Wednesday night at Chester Creek Cafe while two guys looked at the Field Guide like it was Sudoku. One wanted to hear metal; The other wanted Duluth’s Ke$ha or Justin Bieber.
The former request was a little easier than the latter. Homegrown seems void of pop pageantry.
I favor a spectacle. Bratwurst, I’m looking at you. This band has been around forevs and were pretty much numero uno on my wish list. Their lore is the stuff of urban legends. An entire stage reeking of raw meat. They toss it into the audience.
Friday night’s set at RT Quinlan’s did not disappoint. Tyler Scouton, dressed in a white lab coat, ripping into — what, a packaged deer heart? Blood on his face and down the front of his coat. Spitting bites of it, rubbing it on his face. All the while, power tools and synths, industrial techno performance art. Whatta wonderful mess. It was like watching and listening to a Chuck Palahniuk novel.
Hard to believe that a half hour earlier Mr. Kickass had covered “Just Like Heaven” at the same venue. (This was great, too. And more vegan friendly).
Where is your blog about Satuday night?