The Audio Perv

What’s better than a rock concert and a circus? Obviously a rock circus—especially if it’s filled with delicious food, booze, crazy costumes, talented sequin-clad performers, cute animals and great bands. The Big Apple Circus tent in Damrosch Park last week was a total trip, featuring amazing acrobats as well as some interesting performances from Aska ft. Nick Zinner, Amazing Baby, Saint Motel and Ariel Pink. The Rock & Roll Circus just might be my favorite event of the year and it’s only January!

The tent bustled with excitement, as curious fans looked around at all the different vendor booths. There was a tattoo parlor, a photo booth, candied goodies and eccentric fashion gear. I stumbled into a larger dark section away from all the vendor lights to find an intimate setting featuring Aska alongside Nick Zinner. The duo produced some ethereal xylophone infused melodies luring audience members into a trance. Each track melted into the next, creating a fluid-like circus waltz with no end or beginning. I kept waiting for Karen O to just hop out in an animal costume, shaking things up a notch. Sadly she never showed, but an eye-catching group of five Mongolian contortionists sporting some slick red costumes wowed audience members. Aska’s eerie background soundtrack worked well with the performers artistic movements. The act ended on a forgetful note, but nobody could believe just how flexible the dancers were.

A beautifully coiffed drag queen approached the stage introducing him/herself as the host for the evening, just for visual reference he was dressed to the nines in Lady Gaga’s rejected concert costumes. Every comment made revolved around the phrase “alcoholic lubrication,” while the paisley clad host pranced around the tent making funny noises and shaking an obviously fake giant blonde wig in anticipation for the next act, Saint Motel.

White button downs. Check. Red suspenders. Check. Killer dance moves, definitely a check. The four members of Saint Motel hit the stage bursting with energy. Their soulful riffs transformed the whole event—people were actually standing up, dancing and singing along. Everyone was having a blast with the band’s happy-go lucky beats and soulful guitar licks. Lead singer, A.J. Jackson’s gritty vocals set a spot on circus vibe, while the band members’ eccentric antics completed the act. By the last song Jackson was flip flopping all over the floor hammering on his guitar, showing just how committed these LA boys were.

Amazing Baby was up next, with hard to hear vocals and a kind of awkward stage presence it was difficult to get into their sound. I missed Saint Motel and wanted more of their acoustic party. Lead singer Will Roan was unable to interact with the audience and worse sang off pitch for most of the 80’s inspired grunge set. The band lacked punch and was easily forgettable.

After a slow set, the show picked up when a group of wild white ponies appeared. The scene was magical and everyone oohed and ahhed, as the anticipation for Ariel Pink’s set grew. Pink graced the stage, channeling Kurt Cobain with tussled blonde locks, Ray Bans and a mismatching sequin jacket. Two backup go-go dancers, courtesy of the circus, danced around Pink in cosplay rave attire without any coordination. Pink sang along to a pre-recorded 70s-esque cassette that played as background music. The lyrics were muffled and he sounded more like an off key off pitch drone, rather than a musician. Everyone was confused and couldn’t tell if Pink was for real or validating a persona. At one point he stopped singing sat on a slide and just mouthed into the mic “next song.” Audience members looked around wondering if they were missing something and several gave up and left. Without a change in demeanor Pink even attempted to climb one of the 10-foot tentpoles mid song, but was stopped by security. He seemed removed from the show, perhaps because he was really in a drug daze. The set was a cacophony of sound that was overall pretty terrible to experience. His falsetto riffs and choruses were off pitch, and painful to listen to. Unable to withstand the noise pollution both my friend and I agreed it was time to go.

All in all, the circus was a blast, were definitely a lot of high points and many more lows. The Big Apple Circus really added depth to the singer’s sets making the concert experience pop. While different in musical styles the performers all stood out in different ways, but Saint Motel truly stole the show. Seeing Ariel Pink really made me question how and why Pitchfork gave him a 9.0 for Haunted Graffiti, but I was glad to see what the fuss was really about: nothing.