Buckethead + That 1 Guy

It’s one of rock’s basic laws that far too few musicians, critics and theorists understand: Any musician improves exponentially by wearing a creepy mask and a fried-chicken bucket on his head. So far only the mysterious Buckethead has figured this out, and that’s why this sold-out show is sure to be packed with some truly tasty guitar wankery.

Since emerging in 1992 as a solo artist on John Zorn’s Avant label and as a member of Bill Laswell’s progressive-funk collective Praxis, Buckethead has released dozens of albums and worked with virtually everyone, wowing guitar nerds with a synthesis of extreme shred-ery, funk grooviness, whiplash thrash and avant-garde pickin’. His latest release, From the Coop (Avabella), features a set of archival demo recordings made for a Guitar Player magazine editor in 1988. In addition to providing insight into his teen talents, it spins a tale of being raised by chickens.

As you ponder that origin story, please leave room on your plate for opener That 1 Guy, one of our favorite one-man bands. While Buckethead knows how to get unbelievable sounds from tube amps, That 1 Guy gets equally brilliant audio from plain old tubes—mastering a fearlessly goofy electronic instrument crafted from plumbing pipes, string, foot pedals and a smoke machine.

His lyrics and voice veer toward novelty, but his “magic stick” is far from a novel gimmick; it’s a genuinely incredible sound machine. Rumor has it that B-head and T1G share the stage for a few numbers—surreal, magic moments that will transcend your everyday Jay Z and Mary J’s collabo.