King Khan and BBQ Show

What the King Khan and BBQ Show does is so off-kilter, so left field, and so rad, that one might be forgiven for confusing the duo for a Miami band. Which is all the more reason to see what happens when the pair brings its proprietary brand of doo-wop-infused garage-rock to Miami’s Churchill’s Pub on March 25. The great thing about what King Khan and Mark Sultan (also known as BBQ) bring to the table as a duo is that it’s universally enjoyable. The songs are excellent, ‘50s-tinged rock ‘n roll that inspires a proper dance party at every show. The pair always comes correct with some sort of ridiculous outfits to complete the spectacle, and it’s really, truly, honestly, nearly (almost) entirely impossible to have a bad time watching this band do what it does. It’s almost like stepping into a Tim Burton film scored by the Sonics instead of Danny Elfman.    

The Montreal-based duo has been on and off of performance hiatus for many years, but this year marks its first return to recording since 2009’s album Invisible Girl. The band’s return to form, Bad News Boys, drops on February 24 on In The Red Recordings and brings the goods for anyone familiar with the band’s previous work. Still lo-fi, still gritty, the new record does not screw with the tried and true formula of sparse percussion, jangling guitars, and soulful vocals. What’s more, the duo’s signature, demented stew of early rock ‘n roll and soul is as potent as ever, reminding us that Khan and Sultan really do have something special in the grand scheme of garage-rock revivalists, and nostalgia-fueled music in general.

Those that have caught a King Khan and BBQ show in the past know just how tailor made it is for a night of debauchery at our own Churchill’s Pub. The music lends itself to the spirit of this particular bar exceedingly well and we fully endorse taking off the following Thursday from your day job because you will undoubtedly need the time to recuperate.

~Von Bader