BUTTHOLE SURFERS
THE APES
Washington DC
9:30 Club
26th June
4/5
The Butthole Surfers were preceeded by local Washington, D.C. group the Apes, well worth checking out if you're a Butthole Surfers fan. Their stage presence and musical style were similar enough to the Butthole Surfers to complement them but were individual enough to make for a great opening act.
The Butthole Surfers didn't disappoint long-time fans with their classic ‘80s line-up of Gibby Haynes, Paul Leary, Jeff Pinkus, King Coffey and Teresa Taylor. It was a somewhat religious experience that included multiple projectors playing on the same screen, occasional bursts of dry ice and a light show all set to the unique sound that only the Butthole Surfers have managed to achieve. The live show is worth the trek, tickets and traffic.
Performing with the Butthole Surfers was The Paul Green School of Rock All-Stars, who took to the stage with surprising talent and professionalism. In the end, though, it wasn't hard to remember they were just kids. I was jealous of their reckless abandon as they wrestled on stage, threw empty water bottles at the fans, tore up setlists, duct taped themselves and each other, revelled in a cacophany of instrumental chaos and shouted through the megaphone as the Butthole Surfers slipped out the back door.
Kellie Morton
