Once a week, I sit down with the Damn Fanatic’s Andy Strong and have a pleasant chat.
Topics vary from the prospects of touring, to whether or not David Byrne rocks harder than David Bowie, but one thing is abundantly clear: Andy Strong is a mad man in the best possible sense. And it seems the Damn Fanatics all seem to fit that mold.
My first time witnessing their live spectacle was on a patio at a birthday party. The sun was still out, but their attitude boldly suggested “night time”. The Damn Fanatics are damn fascinating, with a unique sense of fashion (there were top hats and a Jack Skellington head, oh and Andy had some serious BLING), bizarre riffs, and stage antics that bring one back to CBGB’s in the late 70s. It is safe to say the Damn Fanatics are, as my good friend puts it, “on some whole other shit.”
And since they trained in the great skill of acting, that is a whole other entity they bring to their performance. It’s like watching Shakespeare the rock opera, but with more updated dialog and kickass drum fills. What the Damn Fanatics do is simply not just “music,” it’s musical theater. With this in mind, it is safe to say they are one of my top acts of the Balanced Breakfast residency to see, and they probably should be for you as well. Don’t miss them with fellow showmen Dangermaker, Beautiful Machines, and Bear Lincoln this Thursday at Neck of the Woods!
