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Katzenjammer @ Mercury Lounge (video) & Bonnaroo (pics)

photos by Graeme Flegenheimer

Katzenjammer

“They came on like a Norwegian version of the B-52’s, pounding a beat and chirping random phrases in unison, but that didn’t last. Soon they were bouncing to a polka (complete with trumpet), or singing in pure close harmony that suggested Scandinavian traditional music, or delivering a cherry-pie recipe over a ukulele-strumming tune suggesting 1920’s jazz (with close-harmony “diddley-diddley-diddleys), or going near-Goth with a raspy song about “walking in the big black woods,” or sharing an a cappella dirge (with a drumbeat) about a dust storm. Accordion, banjo and kazoo came and went; their finale was a bluegrassy bounce. There was no telling what they’d do next, except that it was sure to be deft and charming.” [Jon Parales]

Jon Pareles caught Norway’s Katzenjammer on the David Byrne-curated stage at Bonnaroo. The band then stopped in NYC for a show at Mercury Lounge on Tuesday (6/16). How was that? The pictures in this post are from neither of those performances, but were taken while the girls were rocking out backstage at Bonnaroo. More of those pictures, and some videos from their regular sets at Bonnaroo and in NYC, below…

Katzenjammer

Katzenjammer

Katzenjammer

Katzenjammer

Katzenjammer

Katzenjammer

Bonnaroo video…

Mercury Lounge video…

Bonnaroo video…