Live music review: Butthole Surfers member JD Pinkus and Melvins front man Buzz Osborne at Antone’s
If you’ve ever seen Washington’s Melvins in a live setting, you know the uncontrolled chaos that ensues with every live occurrence. For frontman Buzz Osborne, he lives and breathes it. Since releasing the latest Melvins LP Tarantula Heart, Osborne has embarked on a solo acoustic tour with none other than Texas legend JD Pinkus from the titans of weird, The Butthole Surfers. A chilled-out crowd made their way to coveted downtown Austin music haunt Antone’s on September 21 for a stripped-back gauntlet of tunes fans of the main Melvins act rejoice in with thunderous audience fury in their typical, abrasive format. The attendees came prepared for the quiet show, respecting the performers by keeping side conversations to a minimum once the music commenced. Fans were there to see some legends, and their audience etiquette proved it.
Texas-turned-North Carolina resident Pinkus took the stage first, admitting upon entrance that he and Osborne took several bong rips in the venue green room, and due to his cannabis-filled lungs, the spectators would have to bear with him throughout his set. Armed with just a banjo and several loop machines, Pinkus went to work to bring a raw performance that explored the wonders of weird Pinkus has explored throughout the better part of the past five decades. Pinkus’ humorous, off-kilter banter spoke to his fans, making his tenure as a musician that much more timeless. Since the Surfers have sworn off live appearances and touring, Pinkus has since moved to a more psychedelic-infused bluegrass sound. Fans were also treated to immersive visuals projected on two pear-shaped screens to commemorate the title of his latest studio effort, Grow A Pear.
Osborne took the stage armed with nothing but an acoustic guitar and Mr. Bungle’s Trevor Dunn on standup bass. The pair released an acoustic collaborative album, Gift Of Sacrifice, in 2020, of which the songwriting team performed a lone track for the Saturday evening show. Though the headlining artist was virtually banterless, as certain colleagues of the Melvins frontman have deemed it the norm, King Buzzo let the music speak for itself. The two heavy music musicians chopped through solo cuts and Melvins cuts alike, even performing a cover of Austin punk band Dicks in the form of the track “Sidewalk Begging.”
The King Dunn duo shared harmonies and call-and-response sections throughout the 60 minute stretch, exchanging looks with one another that determined what territories each consecutive song in the set would venture to. Dunn’s bass playing gave each track a new dimension, making the set’s more epic compositions, such as the monstrous Melvins classic “Boris,” stand out in an alternate route than the usual full band renditions. The nine-minute cut made for a highlight of the evening, showing a faithful entry that should be recorded for the live album treatment. KISS track “Shock Me” made for a cover tune closer for the evening, after which Osborne and Dunn bid the crowd farewell with the first words King Buzzo uttered to the crowd all evening. “Thank You,” Osborne said before departing the stage as the house music killed all hopes for an encore.
King Buzzo and Pinkus continue down the road this Fall for a European tour next month.
All photos by Casey Chumbley
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