Astroman show full of energy

By Stan Whitley
Contributing Critic

During a special visit to planet Earth, the group Man or Astro-Man? chose The Wrocklage to showcase its unique brand of interplanetary surf-punk this Saturday. The bizarre quartet, on tour supporting its debut album for Touch and Go Records, Deluxe Men in Space , arrived in town disguised as four humans in a television repair van. The members' tightly honed, peppy instrumentals, in addition to their comic banter with the audience, made the show an avidly rewarding experience.

The stage set-up itself was something to marvel at. A multitude of second-hand televisions were stacked around, blaring static and cheesy commercials, while overlapping film projectors played 1950s educational film strips about the solar system.

The band took the stage from the midst of the crowd, costumed in space helmets and fighter pilot uniforms.

"You can't touch us," warned singer and lead guitarist Starcrunch. "Being from outer space, we're radioactive."

They then proceeded to blast through a powerful set of auditory collaborations, like the catchy "Destination Venus," and a slew of surf guitar instrumentals, or, as the band explained, "songs sung at a frequency too high for humans to hear."

Often dancing along with agitated, quirky movements, they display a commanding stage presence similar to those legendary '80s techno-punks, Devo.

Unit Birdstuff supplied a powerful drum beat, often taking time out to go to the restroom or hang from the rafters. Handling the bass and rhythm guitar, units CoCo and Dexter X kept the stage secure.

A daring fan took the stage but was soon dispatched by Dexter X, who threw her a psychotic glare and some karate chops. Starcrunch, an intergalactic Dick Dale, provided an all-out aural sonic bombardment. At one point, he played while standing on his amp.

The evening was thoroughly entertaining as well as educational. The band let us in on what is in store for us in the far distant future, a future where, I am told, Man or Astro-Man? is a multi-platinum success. We are headed toward a future that will hold sci-fi B-movie samples galore and popular radio will be controlled by slam dance beach ditties.

As the show reached its close, someone shouted from the back of the crowd: "Show us Uranus!"

Admirable performances also were given by the Woggles, whose high-energy lead singer somehow combined the personality of Mick Jagger with the machismo of Martin Short, and Lexington's own Stuck Pigs.