Kill the Band
nytheatre.com review by Richard Hinojosa
February 26, 2010
Kill the Band is not just a show—it's a rock show! It's packed with quirky songs and lots of laughs from out of nowhere. The setup is simple, a rock band playing a gig for the millionth time and as tensions begin to rise and personalities clash the banter between songs that ensues is the basis for the "theatre" part of the show. They squabble and break apart and then of course come back together and play a triumphant finale.
There are no surprises or plot twists here: that's not what this show is about. This show is about funny, and it does a great job at it. The band is cool as can be. Guitarist Mike Milazzo cranks out some killer riffs on his Fender Strat while Joe Yoga backs him up on bass. The percussion is all done via Bamboo Silva's versatile vocal cords. Silva is a vocal percussionist extraordinaire. He produces some mind-blowing beats and scratches with his mouth and he throws in a few sound effects as well. Leading the whole is Killer Killy Dwyer, comedian, performance artist, and all around rock star. If you could tap into a fraction of her energy you could power Vegas for a week.
Dwyer plays the rock star diva with ease and plenty of panache. She is naturally funny. She spends some time alone on stage and delivers a hilarious monologue read from her diary when she was a teenager and written to her future self. I really enjoyed that segment. I also loved the real postcard she reads that's from a real stalker. Dwyer has some fun with the audience as well, sitting on a lap and singing "Clone U," a song to her husband, whom she has decided to clone. (And whose lap do you think she sat on? That's right—this guy!)
The songs are all very quirky. The opener, "Don't Attack Me With Your Happiness," pretty much sets the stage for the rest to come. I think my favorite tune is the one about having a baby and giving it away to a celebrity so she can have a famous child. The intercourse interlude where Killy and Bamboo run off stage to conceive this baby is one of the funniest segments of the show. The cacophony of beats and sex noises should be a stand-alone song. Dwyer's singing is just as funny as her comedy. Obviously the lyrics are comical but even her singing style is an over-the-top comedy performance. She does some strange things with her tongue that affect her tone and even though it looks funny she may consider pushing her tongue down to get a better sound. The band's banter is good but nothing compared to the power of Dwyer's presence and timing.
Dwyer writes both the songs and the script. Her writing is unique. Her humor maneuvers around the world of theatre, music, and culture. The show's director, Lucile Baker Scott, does an excellent job with the pacing of the show. It's a whirlwind from curtain to blackout. The costumes are all very odd as well. They open in gorilla suits and go from there.
Kill the Band is fun times for all. It has the essence of punk cabaret performance art and it's easy to get into. I had a great time and the best part is the program for the show is their new CD. Not a bad deal. Check this one out.
