Merry Swankster: Coachella: Of Montreal Live @ Outdoor stage

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May 02, 2007

Coachella: Of Montreal Live @ Outdoor stage - 4.27.07

Friday kicked off with one of the more anticipated sets of the weekend. Of Montreal on the Outdoor stage. We scooped a terrific spot against the front barrier during the end of Nickel Creek's folksy bluegrass and got ready for the Georgie Fruit goodness of 2007's much loved "Hissing Fauna. Are You the Destroyer?" Sound issues plagued throughout the set to the annoyance of an obviously bothered Kevin Barnes. Taking the stage to a thunderous feedback loop and pleading for decibel amplification, he gave up before launching into "Suffer for Fashion." Frustrated with the volume on vocals and guitar Barnes' displeasure was distracting. People further back may not have noticed, but the pouting really took away from the show. Disrupting flow and the ability for them to settle in for take off. The chronic eye-rolling was relentless as tension between Barnes and the sound men continued to rise. Mix problems provided a great outlet for his fabulous eye shadow to punctuate disgust though. Very rawking.

Two costume changes and the pervasive androgyny - MJ styled crotch grab revealed fishnet thigh-highs below blue hot pants - cranked more campy instead of glam. Attributed somewhat to the blue canvas of sky framed between palm trees serving as background rather than the usual baths of flashing strobes and disco balls.

Save for one song, they played exclusively from Hissing Fauna.. That is 10 out of a possible 12 for those counting. Requisite shout out to the most famous rehabbing single mom in the world during "Cato as a Pun" happened too:

"I guess you just want to shave your head, have a drink and be left alone?
Is that too much for Britney Spears to ask?"

Highlighting the midday set was a killer version of "She's a Rejector" firing on all available cylinders. The CCAA booty patrol approved dance-punk juggernaut pounded the dynamic scale with every change and allowed the band to blow off some steam as Barnes screamed " I CAN'T I CAN'T I CAN'T!!" Pure bliss wiped the disconcerting feelings of the washy sound for at least a few minutes.

More pics and setlist after the jump.

Of Montreal setlist:
1. Suffer for Fashion
2. Sink the Seine
3. Cato as a Pun
4. Heimdalsgate Like a Promethean Curse
5. Labyrinthian Pomp
6. She's a Rejector
7. We Were Born the Mutants Again with Leafling
8. Bunny Ain't No Kind of Rider
9. Faberge Falls for Shuggie
10. ? [Think its a Sunlandic Twins song..a little help?
11. Gronlandic Edit