Descending the stairs into the sloping basement of Cake Shop for the first time, I was struck by two things. One, it smelled like a gym. Two, I couldn't see the stage. Pack a hundred under-deodorized bodies in this space and it becomes a stinky oven with horrible sight lines. Somewhere up ahead and slightly down, a band was playing; around us there were more variations of hipster body hair on display than I'd see at any one show. If it weren't for Man Man and their devilish brand of salty, percussive sing-alongs, I'd have stayed but five minutes. It's not that body odor or hirsute hipsters bother me that much. But if I can't even see the band playing what's the point of being there?

There was no way we would stare at the back of people's heads for Man Man, so Jeff (one of our new contributors) and I fought our way up to the front and around to the left of the band. From this vantage point we were nearly on top of Man Man's propulsive rhythm section. It was the perfect spot to observe their madness. Man Man is a rhythm section, one that chugs and churns with rampant enthusiasm. At one time or another, all five members participated in the rhythm, banging cans or pounding cowbells.

Man Man live is a five ring circus, with mustachio clowns leading the entertainment with toy instruments, hoots and hollers and delirious drinking songs sung in raspy growls and delirious falsetto.

The band were in town to promote the release of their second album, Six Demon Bag, to be released February 21 by Ace Fu Records. Near all of the new record was played live, with a helping of highlights from The Man in a Blue Turban With a Face. Requests were made for at the end for "Werewolf (On the Hood of Yer Heartbreak)", but the band were on their way out into the cool night. Hopefully when they return the venue will be bigger and the air will be conditioned.