By Rebecca Munroe for Curtains Up
Photography by Andy Gryn
Having never been to a Bad Uncle show before, I was intrigued when I heard that this eccentric hometown band planned to include Burlesque dancers and circus performers at the launch of their new LP A Surgeon’s Lament. My immediate thought was, “how very Montreal of them”, and what ensued was more than I ever could have imagined.
The night began with an emcee, dressed in appropriately in drag with cue cards in tow. Our understanding of what was to come, was overshadowed by his hyper anglicized French while narrating the story. It almost beckoned the French police, but created snickers and giggles from the audience.
What happened next, in short was a barrage of burlesque dancers and circus performers hitting the stage performing bizarre, yet fabulous acts . There was a crow on the trapeze, blood spewing from a baby who was bit in the face, a burlesque/acrobatic bride of Frankenstein doing handstands on a chair and a woman lighting herself on fire… and Bad Uncle had not even come on stage yet.
When the band did hit the stage at the old bathhouse turned venue, Bain Mathieu, the real mayhem begin. Santosh Lalonde, the unconventional front man of Bad Uncle along with his accordion and band, performed songs from their new rock operaesque LP A Surgeon’s Lament, while a grisly and macabre scene took place.
The scene, performed by the troop from Cirquantique, was that of an evil surgeon who devises a plan to create his perfect wife using body parts from his patients. He succeeds, and happy with himself he puts her in the family way. When his wife gives birth to many, many, many babies, it makes the natives restless, creating a torch wielding gang who go on a witch-hunt, chasing the wife around the venue. When they catch her, they do what you imagine, but can’t at the same time, burn her at the stake.
To say that this show was well orchestrated is an understatement. The performances by everyone were impressive to say the least. There was something for, well maybe not for everyone, but at least for the dark, deranged and somewhat bizarre for sure. It was an album launch to remember.
For more information on Bad Uncle and where to buy A Surgeon’s Lament go to http://saybaduncle.com/
