words and photos by Courtney Dudley

King Khan / Nicky Da B, House of Vans 7/26/2012

Just as doors opened at 25 Franklin, a dark, ominous cloud rolled over Greenpoint like a barge. Despite threats of tornadoes in the metropolitan area polluting social media outlets all day, a ton of people showed up for the third Vans House Party on July 26th featuring King Khan & The Shrines, Nicky Da B and The Everymen. It was shocking, really. Huddled under umbrellas or not (apparently having come to terms with the wetness), BK kids weren't gonna let a little lightning get in the way of their booty shaking-- or the free booze.

After one really epic downpour, the weather turned to a light sprinkle that, when compared to the heat, was actually quite refreshing. Inside, however, the combination of hundreds of damp people and relatively still air turned the place into a sauna-- the perfect setting for a dirty, ass shakin' dance party. No one even had to try for an excuse to take off their clothes. The Everymen opened, warming up the crowd with their energetic rock n roll. The seven piece outfit from New Jersey, reminiscent of the New Pornographers in structure, took command of the stage and the crowd was pretty into it considering that most of them were waiting for King Khan.

Nicky Da B took stage next and gave everyone what they were waiting for-- some serious ass shaking inspiration. I believe there is something comforting in having the desire to dance and going to a place where no matter how hard you try, one can never be the most risque or ridiculous person in the joint. What freedom! No one is looking... well maybe they are but they're looking in the direction of a shared, sweaty, collective experience where everyone goes home satisfied even if they don't get laid. But as the crowd got closer together, hair sticking to faces, glitter and neon flying about and SO MUCH ass in the air-- getting laid was more likely than not.

Finally, King Khan and the Shrines went on and energy sort of switched from sex to light hearted anarchy. You know, the kind of dancing where you accept the fact that you may get a black eye. What other kind of dancing is there, really? So many crowd surfers kept security occupied as King Khan screeched and wailed in front of a full backing band with horns and all manner of instruments. Strongly rooted funk but with a Bollywood flair thrown in, the man gives the late James Brown a serious run for his money. King Khan, with his feather headpiece, flamboyant dress and ironic, funny lyrics, doesn't take himself too seriously. The loose hilarity of it all creates a safe haven for humans to forget if you're a boy or a girl or you have to work in the morning and just GET DOWN.

King Khan plays NYC again, tonight (7/27) at Bowery Ballroom. Nicky Da B will be at Brooklyn Bowl on Saturday night. The next free show at House of Vans is August 2nd with Washed Out, Chairlift, and Lemonade.

More pictures from House of Vans last night are below

Continue reading "King Khan & The Shrines played House of Vans w/ Nicky Da B and The Everymen (pics, review)"

photos by Leia Jospe

In a way, Sunday's free King Khan & the Shrines / Deerhunter (they didn't headline) / Black Lips show was also a King Khan show in three parts. Part one was the very entertaining performance by King Khan & The Shrines. Part two was King Khan on stage with Deerhunter whose final notes were overshadowed by King Khan's bare ass with a flower stuck in it. Part three was King Khan on stage with Black Lips which included a one-song guest appearance by The King Khan & BBQ Show (who are playing Santos Monday night) and a grand finale with the entire Atlanta crew on stage throwing toilet paper, ripping apart pillows and just generally being silly. The photos in this most are basically limited to act one...

Continue reading "King Khan & The Shrines @ McCarren Pool, NYC - pics"

King Khan & The Shrines play NYC on August 2nd & 3rd. The King Khan & BBQ Show play NYC (Santos Party House) on August 4th.

photos by Jason Bergman

King Khan and the Shrines played what was advertised as their first U.S. show on Friday at South Street Seaport (June 27, 2008). I heard they played their second later that night at Don Pedro's in Brooklyn. Their next two NYC shows are at McCarren Pool and Mercury Lounge. The latter just went on sale. More pictures from Friday below....

Continue reading "King Khan & The Shrines @ South Street Seaport, NYC - pics"

Tickets are on presale for the upcoming Carcass show at Nokia Theatre (password=carcass)

Tickets are on sale for the upcoming King Khan and the Shrines show at Mercury Lounge.

DOWNLOAD: King Khan & The Shrines - Torture (MP3)

"Tonight you can catch the first ever US performance of the spectacular soul sensation King Khan and The Shrines and his 9-piece live extravaganza. What can you expect from this Indian-Canadian-German shaman of showmanship? Costumes, dancers, horns, Stax, Stones, Nuggets, farm animals, pillow cases, James Brown, Sun Ra, completely unnecessary nudity, and crazy awesome addictive songs. How must one appropriately prepare for a live King Khan show? Read his own words below when Exclaim Magazine asked him the same question....

EXCLAIM: How must one appropriately prepare oneself for a live King Khan show?

KING KHAN: Rub raw onion and basil all over your body. Oh shit, that is how to get rid of scabies! I would say fill your pockets up with cash to throw onstage. I once went to a strip club in Atlanta and a stripper asked if I was from a band and when I said Yeah, she said that if I had some music she would go up and dance. I ran and got the King Khan & BBQ Show CD from the car and they played Shake Real Low and then two black strippers started doing buttsnaps on stage and going all out. As if that wasnt ridiculous enough, the girl I was with named Jessica Jugs (she is South American) got so excited that she just ran up and started taking her clothes off in front of the stage on the floor. She got completely butt naked and all the ballers with golden teeth rolled to the front and showered her with money. Best day of my life! Wait, what was your question again?

King Khan and The Shrines play South Street Seaport (12 Fulton St) at 7pm on Friday. It's also a great place to see Olafur Eilasson's waterfalls.

Continue reading "King Khan & The Shrines - 1st US show tonight (Seaport), updated tour dates (McCarren, Mercury Lounge)"

Continue reading "2008 free McCarren 'Pool Party' lineup announced "

The initial 2008 lineup of free summer concerts at South Street Seaport in NYC has been announced. It includes King Khan and the Shrines who just signed to VICE and who may also be playing McCarren Pool with Deerhunter who are playing somewhere this week with Atlas Sound who are also playing the Seaport......

Continue reading "South Street Seaport 2008: Atlas Sound, King Khan, A Place to Bury Strangers, No Age, Mary Weiss, El Guincho & more"

DOWNLOAD: King Khan & The Shrines - Torture (MP3)

Speaking of big bands, VICE signings and Deerhunter shows.....

Continue reading "VICE signs King Khan & the Shrines, new album, MP3"