[ATTENDED: November 7, 2021] Particle Kid
I have always been delighted yet puzzled by the name Particle Kid (the band created by Willie Nelson’s youngest son Micah (who also plays in his brother Lucas’ band Promise of the Real). I read recently that the name comes from his father intending to call him the Prodigal Son, but apparently misspoke and called him Particle Kid, which is pretty damn funny.
As is Micah.
Micah was able to use The Lips’ video screen to project images on, which was cool.
The band for this tour was Micah Nelson – Guitar, vocals Aroyn Davis – Bass, vocals Milo Gonzales – Guitar Anthony Logerfo, Drums, vocals.
And they were excellent. Even though Micah is the main figure of the band, Milo Gonzaes was an amazing guitarist to watch. He could play fast riffs and then alternate with incredible unreal sounds. And then there was Aroyn Davis, an amazing bass player who was all over the neck playing low and high notes and also using effects pedals to create bizarre wonderful effects.
The band started playing before Micah came out with some visuals on the screen behind them.
Then Micah paraded onstage in a hooded cape. He played keys while the rest of the band jammed out. As they started playing this weird noises soundscape (with bird sounds and waves of keys), I figured that maybe the whole set would be this sort of weird, abstract indie rock (it is a Flaming Lips show after all). But after the intro, the band settled in to some proper (and properly great) songs.
The setlist online suggests that they played six songs, but I was sure there were more than that. After a couple of songs Micah switched to guitar and while Milo was playing great swirling guitars sounds.
They played an amazing and inventive cover of Radiohead’s “Pyramid Song” and then played a song that made me fall in love with Particle Kid: “Everything is Bullshit.” This is neither an uncommon nor original concept, but Nelson’s execution is excellent, with this wonderful lyrics unveiling:
IT’S BULLSHIT
IT CAME OUT OF A BULL
IT LANDED ON THE GROUND
IT GREW A LITTLE MUSHROOM
AND THEN A HAIRY APE MAN
HE PUT IT IN HIS MOUTH
HE STARTED HAVING THOUGHTS
ALL KINDS OF IDEAS
GREW HIMSELF A LITTLE EGO
INVENTED A NEW LANGUAGE
BUT THEN HE BUILT A TOWER
DESIGNED A SYSTEM OF POWER
YOU KNOW I READ IT IN THE PAPER
HE MADE A TINY COMPUTER
THAT FITS INSIDE YOUR HAND
COMMUNICATE ACROSS THE PLANET
LOOK BACK INTO THE COSMOS
POST A PICTURE FOR YOUR FACEBOOK
MAKE A PROFILE FOR YOUR SNAPCHAT
MURDER PEOPLE FROM A DISTANCE
AND LAUGH AT VIDEOS OF CATS
“Backwards” and “American Life” also proved to be excellent songs. Nelson’s voice is strong and very good. He’s got a Neil Young vibe both in his voice and especially in his guitar playing. It was a great opening set and a wonderful introduction to this clever band.
- Velocirapture (the Serpant Flew)
- Radio Flyer
- Pyramid Song
- Everything Is Bullshit
- Backwards
- American Life
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