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Ozric Tentacles @ The Independent SF, 5/27/09

by Brooks Rocco on May.28, 2009, under Reviews, Tour/Events

Yes, I’ve already written a little dP blast about the Ozric Tentacles, and for good measure.  They’ve been consistently swirly for over 25 years now, and eternally fueled by hallucinogenic globs of mind stuff, will probably keep up their long trip for years to come.

Last night was their second show of their newest tour in support of The Yum Yum Tree, and while the crowd was notably sparser than their last stays in San Francisco, it was nonetheless a joyful one.  An encore was demanded by the crowd with a furor I haven’t heard in years.

Yeah, it's a little like that

Yeah, it's a little like that

While the band is led by the “man, the myth,” Ed Wynne, it is really Ed’s wife Brandi Wynne who, in managing the low end and sound spirals, is the head honcho (in poncho).  Her exuberant grins when the music spirals into infinity, and her jubilant jumping when drummer Ollie Seagle is on a roll (which he was at many times last night), fuel the fire and keep the music beaming.

Though it is still Ed that keeps the music ablaze.  With his unlabeled Marshall stack pointed directly at him, and his litany of keythings to his side, he is an unabashed musical control center, guiding his band through colors unimaginable, into worlds unknown.  The bits between the bits, indeed.

This is psychedelic, hallucinogenic music.  While the experience is certainly enhanced by the consumption of leafy greens, smelly fruits, or a chemical supplement, the music essentially provides this itself.  A great deal of audience members had their eyes closed and their heads tilted back while the Ozric Tentacles shredded their heads away.

dope

dope

Many bands combine dub, electronic, techno, trance and psych (Younger Brother, EOTO, Shpongle, to name a few), but the Ozrics have always had the wild card of Ed Wynne’s complete mastery over the electric guitar.  Had Frank Zappa actually done drugs, he would have very likely come up with something like the Ozric Tentacles.  You can see the same smile of Ed’s face when everything is going to plan as Zappa had when his band was on a roll and it was time to take a blast into solo land.

I do need to point out one hilarious moment of the gig.  After snapping a string on his Ibanez JEM, he had to replace it for his trusty Artist at one point in the night.  However, later in the set, he went to pick up his guitar for the next song, and grabbing the JEM, forgetting what had happened.  It took about 20 seconds and a knowing glance from his wife before he noticed the guitar was crippled.  It was a hilarious moment for all, but just goes to show you that a quarter decade of living in the ether can take it’s toll.

This current group of the family Wynne and friends is certainly a psychdelic squad of the swirly, and, even after 26 albums, has no end in sight.  I raise a glass of soma, and toast the 25 anniversary of the Ozrics!



The Ozric Tentacles new album, The Yum Yum Tree, is now available.


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