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Shoulder Voices In Space! Release Party
Although the band's been performing since 2001, Shoulder Voices never officially released an album. This week, however, the eclectic Albuquerque group—powered by Little Bobby, The Musk and a rotating cast of characters—will unleash its first proper, non-CDR collection of recorded material. In Space! is a concept album rooted in '70s psychedelia, as well as a means of furthering the band's aggressively festive shows.
"I think in the last couple of years we've gotten to a place where now the songs are sort of a vehicle for this large, sort of controlled chaos," says The Musk, who plays guitar. The chaos to which he refers includes costumes, glitter, fake blood and stuffed animals that are occasionally ripped apart onstage (and later turned into costumes). "It changes the whole atmosphere and pulls people in a little bit. Even if they think it's excessive, at least they're thinking about it. It's hard not to notice some person with a wig and a large orange robe and stuffed animals. You just can't ignore it. It's slightly confrontational, too."
Little Bobby, who sings and plays saxophone, tambourine, guitar, keyboard and probably any other instrument given to him, says one of the purposes of Shoulder Voices' music is to make listeners feel as though they are in altered states. “Coming to see one of our performances is an event. A happening, as they used to say in the ’60s. A 14-hour Technicolor dream. It’s much better than sitting at home doing nothing, watching celebrities eat bugs—or dance with bugs.”
While it's safe to assume that Shoulder Voices' performance will be the most bizarre thing happening in town this Saturday night, what with the space helmets and plushie homicide, it will also likely be the most truly groovy (plus the professionally pressed discs will be handed out free of charge). See you there.
