Live Cuts: James Got Ants in his Pants

Live Cuts: James Pants SF 2009


Little did I expect to sneak into the Great American Hall to see the Stonesthrow Records DJ tour. After all, I already bought tickets to peep the label originator, Peanut Butter Wolf's, on the video spinning tip and a couple live shows by the likes of James Pants and the newly signed old skool soul stunna, Mayer Hawthorne. But damn. Handheld recorders are not allowed in elite venues like the GAMH. I would hope for a little more openness from a historic venue of counter-culture San Francisco, tucked neatly in the Tenderloin quarter's strip club turned early bird special prostitute haven.

For the sake of steady bloggin', you know I got to break the rules. For this edition of "Live Cuts" James Pants freaks out a fresh monster jam, "Let Me Brush", with his band, Royal Zodiac. While not much is known on the blogosphere about the newly formed outfit, they certainly can rip some unadulterated funk. While the band holds down a heavy backbeat, flooded with high tonal keys and bass guitar riffs, Mr. Pants flops around like a wild salmon on stage maneuvering between a cowbell, percussion, keyboards, and the microphone all while trying to keep his cool. Although staying debonair might be too much to ask for anyone trying to fill the role of three other band members, Pants puts in an exceptionally entertaining and sonically pleasing effort.

The live sound from Pants and Royal Zodiac feels more new wave funk than the electro-boogie overtones of last year's refreshingly original debut album, Welcome. The leaning towards improvising on the keys and manipulating synth laden atmospherics experiments with the vibrance of the lush arrangements but without too much finesse, interrupts the steady groove. Adorned with a poof-ball beanie, Pant's exercises the most astutely ironic, pop antics, as he bounces sporadically and thrashes his hips in diamond like angles akin to a slightly confused and feverish David Bowie gyrating with ants in his pants. The show certainly adds much needed cohesion to the multi-flavorded music, he just doesn't look all that comfortable playing the role.