|
|
Review by: Janel Spiegel
King Buzzo and Trevor Dunn: King Dunn
With J.D. Pinkus
Friday, August 30, 2024 at 8:00PM
Musikfest Café
3rd Floor, MFC Main Entrance
ArtsQuest Center
101 Founders Way
Bethlehem, PA 18015
Bethlehem, Pennsylvania… What a vibrant night. Roger “Buzz” Osborne is King Buzzo. King Buzzo is a guitarist, vocalist, and songwriter. The founder of the Melvins. King Buzzo has worked with Fantomas, Venomous Concept, and Fecal Matter. Buzzo has been in the music industry since the early 80s. The impact of King Buzzo, and (the) Melvins has been BEYOND impactful. The genres of music range from metal, grunge, experimental, but every song feels like a wild mad scientist experiment where they just come up with these sounds and using instruments the way so many musicians do not seem to fathom. They CREATE, they bring new songs, and each show has felt completely new.
Jeff J.D. Pinkus was walking around the Musikfest Café, and I said to my friend who came along with me, I said, that is J.D. Pinkus. J.D. Pinkus is just casually walking around the Musikfest Café. He was genuinely cool. My friend and I got to chat with him for a few minutes. J.D. Pinkus was a member of the band, Butthole Surfers from 1985 to 1994. They even had a reunion. The music ranges much like the music that Buzzo and Dunn create. It varies from hard rock, blues, punk rock, psychedelic rock, noise rock. You name it, they have created it.
“What’s that strange sound that instrument is making?” Oh, that is just a new bad ass King Dunn song or something J.D. Pinkus created. It’s magical seeing genuine musicians who can create non-stop and work it into the tours without it feeling like it’s too much.
Trevor Dunn… Tonight, I wondered what it would sound like if thunder was electrocuted, and Trevor Dunn worked the stand-up bass as only Trevor Dunn could. In 1977 Trevor studied the clarinet. In 1981 he became involved with two bands including: Ful Choke, and Gemini. In 1986, one of the most ICONIC bands was formed, Mr. Bungle. “What kind of music is this?” Mr. Bungle is an entire genre. People do not often talk enough about Trevor Dunn’s work with John Zorn.
The music Dunn plays can vary, and they list Avant-garde, free jazz, improvisation (If you’ve heard him talk about working with Patton on Fantomas, that was all written music, not improvised so, take a moment and imagine the TALENT!) punk rock, beyond heavy metal. The building is melting metal. Trevor Dunn has worked with Fantomas, Mr. Bungle, Melvins, Tomahawk, Jamie Saft, John Zorn, and of course, King Buzzo which created King Dunn.
The setlist for J.D. Pinkus, and King Dunn was intense. It was as if everything was moving and growing. Fungi just thriving. Evolutionary work with songs that are grimy, alive, dead, thriving, heartfelt, sickeningly beautiful. King Dunn kept it real. They came to perform, and it was a variety of awesomeness. “Laid Back Walking,” “Eat the Spray,” “Dirty One & Poor Dog,” “Revolve.” It was exquisite with layers, and watching Dunn just ravage the bass, it was euphoric, and intense. I could have listened to them play all night into the morning. If you get a chance to see King Dunn, and J.D. Pinkus, GO AND SEE THEM. SEE THEM TWICE or ten times.
One of the best shows ever, and Musikfest Café truly killed it. The staff, the AMAZING volunteers, the security. Every person works so hard. It was an incredible night.
https://www.instagram.com/realkingbuzzo/
https://www.steelstacks.org/about/venues-at-steelstacks/musikfest-cafe/
