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FFF6 Artists Exposed: Nobunny's costumed art-rock and lo-fi hits
Oakland art-rocker Nobunny celebrates an important milestone this year; no, he hasn’t landed a modeling deal from strutting around onstage in nothing but a terrifying bunny mask and tiny underwear. 2011 marks Nobunny’s 10th band-iversary, a decade of catchy, lo-fi hits and unforgettably off-the-wall sets.
The “band” is really a character created by singer Justin Champlin (formerly of The Okmoniks and Sneaky Pinks), whose rotating backing band usually features an all-star lineup of garage rockers (like members of Rock n Roll Adventure Kids, Smith Westerns and The Yolks). While Champlin always performs in a tattered, ragged rabbit mask, the performance art parts of Nobunny’s shows can’t hide the fact that the music is infectiously catchy.
Nobunny recently released his second LP, First Blood (Goner Records), a follow up to 2008’s critically acclaimed Love Visions (Bubbledumb Records). They’ve also released several cassettes on Burger Records (I played Raw Romance so often the tape wore out).
Check out a few Nobunny videos for a taste of what to expect at the band’s Sunday set (2:55 p.m. on the Black Stage).
Nobunny – “Motorhead With Me” (live in San Francisco)
Fans milling around the Black Stage will definitely appreciate the Motorhead reference in this otherwise bubblegum song about crushes and cute dates.
Nobunny on Chic-A-Go-Go 2005
Seeing as the band is mostly a front for Champlin's enthusiastic nudity (and onstage profanity), you wouldn't think the act would translate well to an elementary-age audience. You'd be wrong! The first time Nobunny appeared on Chicago-based public access dance party Chic-A-Go-Go—Champlin clutching a plush carrot with his mic—the younger half of the crowd was definitely into it (who can resist a bunny?!).
Nobunny on Chic-A-Go-Go 2011
Six years later and Nobunny's still going strong with the absurdity and awesomeness, wearing what looks like the same filthy mask and rocking out just as hard as when he started.
Nobunny – “Blow Dumb”
The first time I heard "Blow Dumb," the lead single off Nobunny's latest album First Blood, I thought it was a "Sister Ray" cover, which sounds like a dig but is actually a testament to how well the band manages to maintain that 1968-vintage sound—poppy, fuzzy and melodic but with a distinctly rough edge.
So, what to expect at Sunday's early afternoon set? While Nobunny's shows are always unpredictably wild, there are a few things we know: it'll be impossible not to dance, and it's highly likely the crowd closest to the stage will end up seeing some X-rated antics. Get ready!
Bonus:
Check out the lovely Colleen Green’s sweet, slow cover of Nobunny’s S&M ballad “I Am A Girlfriend.”
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Nobunny plays on the Black Stage on Sunday at 2:55 p.m. Check out the full FFF lineup and plan your schedule online now.