14 Chicago Tribune | On TheTown | Section 5 | Friday, May16, 2014 C

POP MUSIC PREVIEW Of Montreal’s Kevin Barnes: Naked and unafraid

By Jay Gentile When: 9 p.m. Friday Special to the Tribune Where: Lincoln Hall, He’s performed wearing 2424 N. Lincoln Ave. nothing but face paint and a pair of fishnet stockings. Tickets: $25 (18+); He’s strutted out to greet 773-525-2501 or the crowd while seated lincolnhallchicago.com atop a live white horse, in what could be the only indie rock set ever per- ter how dirty it is or how formed on horseback. He’s dangerous it is. But we’ve crucified himself onstage, been sort of moving in a not to mention the time he more abstract, visual direc- brought out Susan Sa- tion with not as much randon to spank a man in a physical theatrics. We did pig suit with a ruler. that tour where I was hung But after more than a at one point from the gal- decade of masterminding lows and covered in shav- one of the most consis- ing cream and — I just sort tently outlandish and un- of like getting covered in predictable live shows in a weird stuff — and that was generation (which might or really fun. But as of late, might not have included we’ve been focusing more pantomimed orgies and on just creating a visually slow-motion sword fights), dynamic and transportive Of Montreal frontman and semi-psychedelic, Kevin Barnes has just visual experience for the shocked everyone by doing audience. It’s just a differ- the unthinkable: making a ent approach. normal album. Normal, of course, is a Q: You came out on relative term. Of Montreal’s stage a few years ago new album “Lousy With riding a white horse. Sylvianbriar” does not bend Where did you find the the mind with the avant- horse, and how did that garde classical composi- all come together? tions of the group’s previ- PHOTO BY NINA BARNES A: That was just one of ous album, “Paralytic “Lousy With Sylvianbriar” is a relatively normal rock/country-tinged folk album from Of Montreal’s Kevin Barnes. those wild ideas that I had. Stalks.” It does not concoct And at that time period, we the nightmarish R&B freak script of that conversation. our natural state. So if you American cross-dressing shed that, and I don’t need were basically just throw- funk of 2010’s “False can just get over that hur- funk musician whose that anymore. I can still be ing every idea at the wall Priest,”nor the hedonistic Q: In an act that many dle, you know, the hurdle of elaborate backstory in- extroverted and free on- and just saying, “No idea is electro-glam experimenta- people would consider breaking that taboo. … I cludes multiple sex stage without feeling like too crazy. Whatever idea it tion of 2007 concept album their greatest nightmare, think it’s actually very changes. Did you find the I’m somebody else or is, if it’s interesting, let’s go “Hissing Fauna, Are You you once performed beneficial for people to creation of this persona something else. for it.” And so that was one the Destroyer?” “Sylvian- nude onstage in Las stand naked in front of, you enabled you to perhaps of those ideas. Our tour briar” is, for the most part, Vegas and, in your recent know, the world in a sense. do things onstage that Q: Of Montreal’s on- manager is a good friend of astraightforward American video for “Fugitive Air,” Ithink it’s something that Kevin Barnes could never stage antics are well mine. I’ve been friends rock/country-tinged folk you again are briefly we should all do. Not nec- do? documented. But from with him since we were album. In fact, the weirdest shown dancing naked. essarily exposing ourselves A: I think so initially, your perspective, what children, basically. So I like thing about it could be its Where do ideas like these to children or whatever, but yeah, where it was sort of a do you think is the crazi- giving him a challenge: relative lack of weirdness. come from, and where do to stand naked in front of defense mechanism or est thing you’ve ever like, “All right, find a white We spoke with Barnes you find the courage to your contemporaries, it’s something where I could done onstage and are horse that we can bring on about his proclivity for actually go through with sort of humbling, in a good go, “Oh, it wasn’t me; it was there any ideas you’ve stage, work out all the nudity, his flamboyant alter it onstage? way. this persona.” Of course, it’s had to scrap because they logistics and make it hap- ego Georgie Fruit, and the A: It doesn’t really take always you anyways. just were too crazy or pen.” method behind Of Montre- that much courage. Maybe Q: You created the There’s no escaping. … I wouldn’t work? al’s live show madness. The I’m a bit more of an exhibi- alter ego Georgie Fruit, a think that initially it helped A: We have an idea, and [email protected] following is an edited tran- tionist or something, but it’s 40-year-old African- me as a device. And then I we go for it. It doesn’t mat- Twitter @chitribent

northwestern university Bienen School of MuSic 2013–14 opera SeaSon Michael M. ehrMan DirecTor eManuele andrizzi conDucTor thursday–saturday, Now May 22–24, 7:30 p.M. MEMORIAL DAY through sunday, May 25, 3 p.M. SALE May26 cahn auditoriuM Mozart’s all bikesonsale! così fan tutte including 2014 &2015models Grab aDealonEverythingYou Need forSummerCycling

VILLAGECYCLE.COM 60 We st Walton Street,Chicago,IL60610

FREEACCESSORY PACK Bell RelexHelmet $ •Chicago PLUS Bottle & Cage 45 RETAIL VALUE Interest WITHANY 2014 OR 2015 ADULT BIKEPURCHASE •Art,Music, EXPIRES: MAY26, 2014 andLanguage

FREEACCESSORY PACK+ •Religionand Bontrager Philosophy Solstice Helmet $60 PLUS Bottle & Cage RETAIL VALUE •History, WITHANY 2014 OR 2015 Genealogy, ADULTBIKEPURCHASE OVER $700 andSocial EXPIRES: MAY26, 2014 Sciences % 10,000 BIBIKKEESS •Literatureand UP TO IN STSTOOCCKK Theater 50OFF $450 Pedals & Shoes RETAIL VALUE •Writing WITHANY 2014 OR 2015 Workshops ADULTBIKEPURCHASE MON-FRI 10-9 •SAT-SUN 10-6 EXPIRES: MAY26, 2014 1337 NWELLS •CHICAGO 312-751-2488 KrazyKat, printed score, 1922.NewberryMidwest MS Carpenter, Box2. NATION’S LARGEST BIKE STORE Classesbegin June 10 www.newberry.org or (312)255-3700 DeadlinetoregisterisJune3