If you listen close enough you'll hear police sirens in the distance, water pipes humming, Chinese sweatshop workers listening to Chinese language radio programs and singing traditional Chinese sweatshop songs. And yes, even a barking dog somewhere in the distance. This is the sound that surrounds the sound of
Man Man, a cast of characters who rotate around one Ryan Kattner (a.k.a. Honus Honus), a grown fellow who was once
a military brat who missed the 1980s pop music of the United States.
Based in Philadelphia, but not part of the scene, the band mixes a lot of influences. Though (too) often likened to Tom Waits, Frank Zappa, and Captain Beefheart, Honus said "
It's beyond flattering... but I just don't possess the same kinds of things those guys do." Their sound has also been likened to circus music,
Viking vaudeville and manic Gypsy jazz, but
the band has always insisted that what it plays is pop music. "Pop music has something catchy about it, whether it's a vocal or a rhythm or a keyboard line, whatever it is," said Pow Pow (real name Christopher Powell). Whatever their sound, they gained enough notoriety to
tour with Modest Mouse (who they called "a gateway drug to better music"), and they're still at it. But enough with the words, time for some music videos!
10lb Moustache and
Rabbit Habits are the two official videos, though Engrish Bwudd has
inspired a
number of
fan-made vids, and even
a belly dancing number. (More words and music inside)
[more inside]
posted by filthy light thief
on Jun 18, 2010 -
23 comments
