Gary Lucas & Gods and Monsters 25th Anniversary Concert

Gary Lucas & Gods and Monsters celebrated their 25th Anniversary concert at Le Poisson Rouge last night with special guests Kaki King, Felice Rosser, Jann Klose, Mike Edison, Gisburg and Peter Zummo.  Dusty Wright, the former editor-in-chief of Creem magazine and founder of the online pop culture magazine Culturecatch.com, served as emcee for the opening and close of this spectacular, landmark concert of this band comprised of downtown New York music legends.

Gods & Monsters’ last album, “The Ordeal of Civility” (Knitting Factory) was produced by Jerry Harrison and received 4 stars in MOJO Magazine.  The band features Lucas plus Ernie Brooks (Modern Lovers), Billy Ficca (Television) and Jason Candler (Hungry March Band).

Gary Lucas & Gods and Monsters. Left to right: Billy Ficca on drums, guitarist Gary Lucas, guest singer Jann Klose, Ernie Brooks on bass and saxophonist Jason Candler. Photo by Julia Crowe.
Gary Lucas & Gods and Monsters. Left to right: Billy Ficca on drums, guitarist Gary Lucas, guest singer Jann Klose, Ernie Brooks on bass and saxophonist Jason Candler. Photo by Julia Crowe.

Guest singer Jann Klose sang “Grace” last night.  His voice is featured in the film, Greetings from Tim Buckley, starting Penn Badgley and Imogen Poots.

Gary Lucas and Dusty Wright. Photo by Julia Crowe.
Gary Lucas and Dusty Wright. Photo by Julia Crowe.
Gary Lucas with Felice Rosser, Ernie Brooks on bass. Photo by Julia Crowe.
Gary Lucas with Felice Rosser, Ernie Brooks on bass. Photo by Julia Crowe.

Felice Rosser, a New York-based singer and bassist, is the leader of the band, Faith.

Left to right: Dusty Wright, Ernie Brooks, Felice Rosser, looking toward Gary (off camera). Photo by Julia Crowe.
Left to right: Dusty Wright, Ernie Brooks, Felice Rosser, looking toward Gary (off camera). Photo by Julia Crowe.
Gary Lucas with his Fender Strat. Photo by Julia Crowe.
Gary Lucas with his Fender Strat. Photo by Julia Crowe.
Gary Lucas performing with Kaki King.
Gary Lucas performing with Kaki King.

Guitarist Kaki King has performed with the Foo Fighters, Timbaland and The Mountain Goats in addition to contributing to a variety of film and TV soundtracks.  Lucas and King played an instrumental version of his Lady of Shalott.




Gary Lucas & Gods and Monsters. Left to right: Billy Ficca on drums, Gary Lucas, Kaki King, Erniee Brooks on bass, Jason Candler, Peter Zummo on trombone. Photo by Julia Crowe.
Gary Lucas & Gods and Monsters. Left to right: Billy Ficca on drums, Gary Lucas, Kaki King, Ernie Brooks on bass, Jason Candler, Peter Zummo on trombone. Photo by Julia Crowe.
Gary Lucas with Gisburg singing Chinese pop tunes, Ernie Brooks on bass. Photo by Julia Crowe
Gary Lucas with Gisburg singing Chinese pop tunes, Ernie Brooks on bass. Photo by Julia Crowe

Guest singer Gisburg, who was a member of the Chinese Hai-Tien choir with Mrs. Pi-Chu Hsiao for over 7 years, singing traditional and modern Chinese choir music, works in film as a composer, music editor and mixer.  She has worked with Deborah Kampmeier, Martin Scorsese, Abigail Child, Ethan Coen, Robert Duvall, Rob Marshall and Amie Siegel.

A sampling of one of the songs she sang last night from Lucas’ album of mid-century Chinese pop tunes, The Edge of Heaven:

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Gods & Monsters: Ernie Brooks on bass, Jason Candler on saxophone, Peter Zummo on trombone. Photo by Julia Crowe.
Billy Ficca on drums, Gary Lucas on guitar. Photo by Julia Crowe.
Billy Ficca on drums, Gary Lucas on guitar. Photo by Julia Crowe.
Mike Edison on theremin, Billy Ficca on drums, Gary Lucas on guitar. Photo by Julia Crowe.
Mike Edison on theremin, Billy Ficca on drums, Gary Lucas on guitar. Photo by Julia Crowe.

Mike Edison performing on theremin after Gary’s raucous segue way from “Poison Tree” to “Jack Johnson/Ghostrider.”

Left to right: Ernie Brooks on bass, Jason Candler on saxophone, Peter Zummo on trombone. Photo by Julia Crowe.
Left to right: Ernie Brooks on bass, Jason Candler on saxophone, Peter Zummo on trombone. Photo by Julia Crowe.

Guest artist Peter Zummo, who performed and recorded with John Lurie’s Lounge Lizards.

Mike Edison on theremin, Billy Ficca on drums, Gary Lucas on guitar. Photo by Julia Crowe.
Mike Edison on theremin, Billy Ficca on drums, Gary Lucas on guitar. Photo by Julia Crowe.

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Gary Lucas & Gods and Monsters. Light show, last song--incredible evening. Photo by Julia Crowe.
Gary Lucas & Gods and Monsters. Light show, last song–incredible evening. Photo by Julia Crowe.

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