MUSIC MENUBy Todd Bowman Gam Surfing in on the sci-fi freak rock tip, this Savannah quartet has been frightening and mesmerizing regional audiences for nigh on 10 years. Musically, the brainwashing, trance-like sounds of Phase 8 (Blast-O-Disk) whiz eerily through everything from caterwauling punk to brainy interstellar pop, making a dozen sonic pit-stops in between to take on gallons of Butthole Surfers, Iggy Pop and even Leonard Cohen. But this band's focus isn't in the studio, it's on stage. Their penchant for dramatic lighting, billowing smoke and a caravan of bizarre wardrobe changes is legendary, alternating between chaotic rock and technology excursions with equal glee. The band thrives on spontaneity, turning potentially disastrous equipment failures and audience intrusions into part of each performance. At times the presentation overwhelms the music, but you can expect lots of aluminum foil, fire, screaming and general debauchery, perhaps a few bellydancers and the odd Elvis apparition to make up for it. |
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