Although the season of Summer is coming to a close, Concert Season has only just begun! As I made my way to Saturn, located in the southern part of Birmingham, AL, I took some time to take in the scenery of the Iron City around me. Rustic structures, some of which have been standing since the city’s founding years, Myriads of folks gathered around the venue chattering away in anticipation. Folks appearing to be as old as the performers while others appearing as young as me. Really showing how diverse these guys’ outreach is! As I took this in, I also took it as my cue to make my way to the box office and get ready for the King Dunn tour.
As folks were still gathering and socializing, Void Manes took stage left and began his visually delightful set. Utilizing the senses of sight and hearing, Void Manes delivered a unique experience. Completely blackening the room, except for his set, he utilized visuals of the human eye, colorful patterns, and frequent switching of sound strings. Quite literally shaking the whole room! As his hands intricately moved each cord from one place to the next on the sound board, as did the visuals. For me, many sounds and sights made me feel a sense of ease and eager to see what the rest of the evening had in store.
Next, JD Pinkus (of the late Butthole Surfers and formerly of the Melvins) took the stage. Equipped with a banjo, pedalboard and quick witt, JD, born Jeffery David Pinkus, delivered a very soulful performance. Utilizing the sound board at his feet…and with his feet, JD wasn’t the least bit phased about being up on stage. With his use of live looping and audio manipulation, it added celestial dimension to his rugged space folk sound – like floating through the atmosphere on shrooms, if you will. In addition to the audio, the visuals were certainly a sight to see. Various images and videos of space and nature were projected onto a set of two large pairs along with the stage lights changing hue to correspond with the sound. A notable example of such was during “Churn” when images of women connected with the lights all changed to yellow, just like the color of butter.
Additionally to his original material, JD threw in a few covers. His reconceptualization of “Bride of Crankenstein”, which was humorously introduced as “a cover of a song I wrote”, was particularly pleasant. JD wasn’t shy about interacting with the audience. Matter of factly offering to “split some beef jerky” with anyone who asked. As the stage cleared, anticipation once again filled the room. Giddy anxiety coming from many around me for the next set!
King Buzzo and Trevor Dunn were nothing short of exhilarating and made for a rewarding experience. I had a funny feeling when Trevor Dunn walked out with a double bass at his side…sh*t was going to get funky. I’ll admit, I had not listened to any of their earlier collaborations before so I was eager to see what turn things would take. Needless to say, it was a real treat as they mixed Melvins, Mr. Bungle, and original compositions with King Buzzo on acoustic guitar holding down the main rhythm while Dunn matched him with incredible technical jazz bass and inventive style of playing. It’s truly astonishing how well those grungy Melvins songs translated to a two-piece acoustic setup. The show was a compelling mix of heavy riffs, complex rhythms, and eclectic influences that kept the audience enthralled from start to finish.
The duo opened with a thunderous rendition of “Hung Bunny,” setting a cool-energy tone for their gig. Their blend of slow, melodic riffs and jazz-like feel was on full display, showcasing their ability to seamlessly shift between contrasting dynamics. Led with King Buzzo’s guitar work and distinctive voice as a central element and backed by Trevor Dunn’s cogent base line, King Dunn delivered a powerful and immersive experience. Tracks were often extended with improvised jams, allowing each member to showcase their individual prowess. Seamlessly moving along their set list as if you were taking a relaxing car ride. The interplay between the duo was effortless, highlighting their deep musical chemistry and mutual understanding.
As I looked in awe of their show, I couldn’t help but let my eyes wander around the stage and take in their setup. The stage setup was minimalistic, allowing the focus to stay squarely on the performance. A big thing I admired is how they manipulated the lighting to keep things a bit moody and heavy. Large usage of colors, like shades of red and blue, come to mind. The visual and auditory elements of the concert worked in harmony to enhance the overall experience with the lighting being stark and dramatic, while the sound design ensured that every note and nuance was captured with precision. Resulting in a well-rounded and intense show that engaged the senses and heightened the impact of the music.
Although the performance wasn’t too vocal, there was hardly any need as the music spoke for itself through the crowd. And King and Dunn made quite certain to acknowledge this with crowd pleasers like “Laid Back Walking” and a cover of “Shock Me” by KISS. This connection added a personal touch to the performance and made the show feel like a shared experience between the band and their fans. The enthusiastic response from the audience was a clear sign of the deep respect and admiration they have for these gentlemen.
As the night came to an end and I made my way back to my car, I looked back on how things went. Taking note of the exhilarating show of their genre-defying artistry. Their ability to combine heavy, experimental sounds with intricate musicianship made for a memorable evening.
Check out our contributor photographer, Dani B. photos now!
Check out the band websites for more info –
Void Manes
JD Pinkus
King Dunn
Hung Bunny
Roman Dog Bird
Dark Brown Teeth
Laid Back Walking
Dirty One & the Poor Dog
Eat the Spray
I Like Stuff Clean
Sidewalk Begging
Suicide in Progress
Science in Modern America
Revolve
Boris
Shock Me (KISS cover)
The post King Dunn Deliver a Night of Musical Mastery in Birmingham first appeared on Rockstar Culture.
