Ah yes, The Residents. Those masked marvels of musical mania have returned with a live album and DVD spectacular recorded in their spiritual home, San Francisco, which does, in some way, take the sting out of the cancellation of the UK Tour announced one day – one day! – before this was released. Watching this DVD and listening to the CD shows just what a show it would have been. A fever dream for the eyes and a sonic assault on the eardrums, it is a sensory overload of avant-garde weirdness. Imagine a kaleidoscope on acid, directed by David Lynch after a particularly strong cup of San Francisco fog. That’s The Residents live experience. Grotesque costumes? Yup. Bizarre stage props? Definitely. Audience members spontaneously combusting into interpretive dance? Well, maybe not, but maybe next time…

Whereas the CD pulsates with the band’s signature blend of indescribable madness, it’s the accompanying DVD that elevates the experience, showcasing the band’s crafted live show. The Residents, shrouded in their iconic costumes, deliver a captivating performance, blending theatrics, multimedia elements, and puppetry (of people!) to create a truly immersive experience. Guest collaborators like Les Claypool of Primus (whom some have speculated has been in the band since childhood), Ego Plum, Sarah Cahill, Conspiracy of Beards, David J, Dren McDonald, Josh Freese, Pamela Z, Joshua Raoul Brody and The San Francisco Girls Chorus, and Peter Whitehead all bring a freshly bizzare and brilliant energy to the band’s alraedy bizarre and brilliant material.

Released to mark their 50th anniversary of music mangling, this is more than just a concert recording. It’s a testament to the band’s enduring legacy, a genre-bending extravaganza, and a love letter to their fans. Filtered through The Residents’ unique lens of absurdity, it’s strange, it’s nonsensical, and it will probably leave you with a headache. If you’re looking for a normal concert experience, you’ve come to the wrong place. But if you’re up for a wild, weird, and utterly wacky journey through the unique mind of The Residents, then this is the album and DVD for you.

Review by Jason Guest

• Released 16 February 2024 and available through Cherry Red Records here
• The Residents website

Track listing (CD & DVD):

1. Would We Be Alive?
2. Hey Everybody! It’s Randy!
3. Shadows
4. Semolina
5. Rest Aria
6. Welcome, Mr X
7. Life Would Be Wonderful
8. Hello Skinny
9. The Whispering Boys
10. Tyrone Contemplates Love
11. Santa Dog
12. Whatever Happened To Vileness Fats?
13. Godsong
14. Whitey Tells It Like It Is
15. The Car Thief
16. Honey Bear
17. Grandpa Elvis Tells His Baby King Story (Again)
18. Burn My Bones
19. Who Do You Love?
20. Constantinople
21. Nobody Laughs When They Leave