Live Review: BADBADNOTGOOD with OCnotes and UGLYFRANK at Neumos 10/14/14

Toronto’s BADBADNOTGOOD’s first headlining show in Seattle proved that they have come a long way from their viral-video rap-cover roots, as the three-piece made some serious noise tearing through several familiar covers and even more originals from their debut album, III. With only a drum kit, electric bass and two keyboards, the trio played their crossover jam-trap-jazz-fusion selections as hard as possible, with the dynamic buildup-to-rockout original numbers inciting only semi-awkward pogoing mosh pits among the fairly enthusiastic (especially for a Tuesday night) crowd. During one of their first cover songs, Flying Lotus’ “Putty Boy Strut”, they made the audience contribute the intro 1/8-note claps. The mostly-twentysomething male music nerd crowd was uncannily adept at this, and became a metronome rather than a distraction for the band, guiding them through the entire song as BBNG’s three players played it to perfection. The group also covered TNGHT’s (the collaborative project from Glasgow/Montreal producers Hudson Mohawke and Lunice) trap banger “Bugg’n,” which incited a full-fledged bro-down complete with crowdsurfing, and closed with Odd Future frontman Tyler, the Creator’s Bastard Intro into a raucous version of Gucci Mane’s “Lemonade” sped up to a thrash-punk tempo (swag).

The late addition of local opening acts (and KEXP Street Sounds favorites) OCnotes and Tacoma’s UGLYFRANK (featuring the other members of group ILLFIGHTYOU as an added bonus) – both of whom BADBADNOTGOOD voiced their appreciation for – made the whole night one for the record books.

OCnotes:

UGLYFRANK:

BADBADNOTGOOD: