The Residents

My second time seeing them, this time as a four-piece band. Did a set list that spanned their career. Songs live very different than record versions. Accept that the songs are weird and appreciate the power and passion they are delivered with.

This was an assault on the mind. I am a faceless Resident now, and will feel my identity forever validated whenever I receive junk mail that is addressed to me directly....resident.

The band performed great. The problem was how the show way set up: doors open at 7pm, then eventually a screening of their new 90min documentary (great, but I had already seen it), followed by a half an hour break, and finally the band on around I think around 10pm. This was a general admission show, and the Royale has next to NO seats. This meant 4 or 5 hours of standing the entire time. I wish the ticket or the Ticket Master description said that this was going to be the format, because then I would have arrived later. My wife, who's handicapped (and did get a seat, thanks to the Royale staff) had to miss the band because she couldn't physically take it, having assumed we'd be out much earlier if the doors were at 7pm.

It was GREAT,, last time I got to see them live was like 6 years ago at the HOB in Anaheim...........But this time I enjoyed thier performance much better,, because I've been listing and collecting different works by them,,, Great show,, my wife, son and I had a cool nite!

This show was very different from any of the others I have ever seen. There was no unifying album -- they played items ranging from Fingerprince through Bunny Boy and everything in between. However, all of the music was completley renewed. This is the first time "the singer" mentioned names of the band members, which is a big deal of course, but not sure if they are true or more of an act, as a parody of a "traditional" band introducing the members -- Randy the singer, Bob the guitar, and i forgot the keyboard/effects guy's name. "Randy" did point out that there were only three members to the group, as the fourth had retired. I hope all is well with him or her. They invited us into their living room, complete with recliner, digital fire place, TV with static, and table lamp, while mysterious music and stories filled the air. Randy, the singer was in a bath robe with wrinkly old man mask, while the other guys wore black sequined suits with headgear that had black tenticales all over and goggles right from Thomas Dolby. Being an experienced residents fan, i was familiar with all of the songs (sorry, no list), but the average joe would have a tough time there. I hope they continue to do shows and look forward to another soon!

I have always wanted to see The Residents and I was not disappointed. I knew that the show would be far from anything I expected. To play music that is so unconventional to rythym and melody was unbelievable to see. I found myself in a trance at times and laughing my ass off as well.

great show! i would see the residents weekly if they were available. i missed carlos, and i do wish his mother best wishes, but the boys held down the stage, as 3 amigos with hosts of ghosts. i wish this show on all that i know!

snoozefest. overpowering subwoofers. i want my money back.

After watching the Cryptic Corporation presents The Residents, all I can say is that I have sudden urges to smear my body in Pudding Roll Ups and turn on the TV so the Angel of Death can release me into the light.

Dark and Unrelenting, but riveting and thrilling as well. It was missing only one thing - Some skulls and Eyeball hats...

I always wanted to see the Residents and finally the opportunity presented itself. I'd read and heard a lot about them and their show seemed to be something I needed to see. I don't know what I went in expecting but honestly, I was a little disappointed in the experience. I think if I seen them earlier in their career perhaps I wouldn't be so jaded. I've seen a boatload of performance art; some extremely memorable and some not so memorable. Most of the less memorable shows have been for 'free' or very inexpensive that it didn't seem like a waste of time or money. In this case, I think the price of the show (I paid 31.50 for each ticket including Ticketmasters charges and fees) was not equal to the entertainment value. Like I said before, if I seen them earlier on, I wouldn't have had as many shows to compare this to but I was somewhat disappointed. Most of the songs were just repetitive and redundant plus the visuals were less than thrilling. Overall, it was just bizarre and not really very satisfying to me. They didn't even wear their signature 'eyeball' helmets. Blah!

The Residents give! Hilarious, spooky, and memorable sonic landscapes and inventive stage craft made for a great experience in a perfect venue. The Music Box was just big enough, just small enough, and just funky enough to match and support the kooky ju-ju!

Dark and funny, nervous old man mask. very wall of sound though lyrics vere very clear, which is important because there is a bizzare story line. Audience was all ages and an eclictic bunch. My buddy and I loved the show, 4 stars!!!

Vet glad I got to finally see them! Opened with a two tracks from their masterpiece Freak Show, played several brand new songs and some video sequences as well. Looks like an awesome tour!

This show seeped into my dreams and changed me at a cellular level

I've seen the Residents 3 or 4 times previously at Variety and their shows are always well worth the cost of admission. Their amazing Atlanta-based collaborator Molly Harvey usually graces the stage for a number or two and this event was no exception. Do I sound bored? I definitely wasn't bored. Theory of Obscurity, their new documentary, was also screened at this event. Two shows for the price of one! Consistent and seasoned performers. Yes, please tell your friends. Variety was nowhere near sold out.

Awesome show!!! I had never seen them before and they did not disappoint!! I was also glad to see so many other people there- the Residents are very unique and definitely not for everyone, glad to see that many other people get them!!

I have been familiar with their music for years, thanks to our Son's long time fandom, until this week I never had desire or occasion to hear The Residents live. My reaction...it was a blast! They are MUCH better live than expected... And different from their studio recordings. Honestly, can you hear guitar on their albums? Well...it is an integral part of their live sound. It was indeed more 'performance art' oriented, but had enough kick-ass to keep you excited. The 3 member 'band' (keyboard, guitar and narrator/vocalist) performed flawlessly to a click track. The show was preceded by a documentary that provided vintage and rare footage for the Resident-heads and a good background for us newbies. If you are at all interested or at least curious... I recommend going to see them live..... IF they ever play live again....

I was surprised and saddened to see barely 100 folks (?) in the audience. This is at least my fourth time seeing the band spread over more than 30 years. While it was a fun show, there's fewer folks on stage and less variety in the show then past tours. Other than Randy, I don't think the other two players even shuffled their feet, nor was there any interaction between the musicians. And just not as funny as they used to be. Would I go see them again? Probably. It's still he Residents!

HAVE SEEN THEM 12 TIMES SINCE 1982 AND THEY ARE NEVER ANYTHING LESS THAN BRILLIANT! THIS SHOW WAS ONE OF THEIR BEST AS IT COVERED THEIR WHOLE CAREER.

The opportunity to see a sweeping retrospective from such an important mainstay of the performance art world was truly wonderful. Nothing more need be said - their 40 years of work speaks for itself.

Seeing the Residents in a synagogue was a surreal and unforgettable experience. Sound was great, stage/look was fantastic, and there didn't seem to be a bad seat in the house. The band seemed to enjoy themselves too. As Randy put it: "my voice practically sounded like GOD! in there"

The residents in a new show invite you into their haunted living room for an eclectic theater piece of songs combing late 1970's college student art rock and scary stories set to etheric sounds. Randy is the old man,sort of a crypt keeper who with the aid of a video projector the same shape and size as a flashlight (Hence,The Talking Light Tour) escorts you into a world where old women are ostracised for killiing injured rabbits and ghost babies beg for proper burials, A night unlike any other. Not a something you'd take your headbanging cousin to but so much richer.

Irresistibly incomprehensible at times, The Residents' performance was the most genuinely interesting show I have ever seen.

The best concert I have seen in awhile. If you like weird and different bands the Residents are for you.

As always The Residents take you into a new bizarre universe and rock out!

Absolutely incredible!!! Sad that the drummer retired but it didn't affect their performance, in fact the first song thoroughly creeped me out while their stories made me laugh.

My husband is a big fan but I wasn't before seeing them. I wasn't looking forward to the show but decided I'd keep an open mind. I was very impressed & entertained! I'd go see them again!!!

We weren't sure what to expect, my husband saw the 13th Anniversary show in the 80's and thought this would be a much smaller, stripped down show, but we were both disappointed in what was offered. Thought the sound was GREAT, the group was engaged with the audience and put forth a great effort, but, with all the material to choose from, we thought this show was too verbal and would have benifitted from more of the signature music.

As always, The Residents put on a show like no other. A completely surreal experience.

amazing show. well worth the wait. The residents are still an amazing multi media art ensemble - after 40 years no less.

Saw them about 10 years ago...show was awesome. The current version is just about the least enjoyable music experience I have had in my entire life. Walked out after 20 minutes because I had better things to do.

The weather reports all day were warning that a major blizzard with 8 inches of snow was headed our way. Luckily, we only got about an inch and the show went on. It was a standing room with general admission, so I made a point in getting there early and secured a part up front. Aside from a few screaming myopic drunks who treated the dialogue as if they were at a screening of "The Rocky Horror Picture Show", the show was incredible. (Please folks, if you're gonna scream, at least wait until each song ends!) The stage was set up with a fake electric fireplace in the center, with a doily-draped love seat next to it. On top of the fireplace's mantel were things like a gingerbread man statue, a small green lamp, a wooden duck, and a tiny television that showed nothing but static. This was a place where, the singer said, we'd be doing some "singing along" and "story-telling". Seemed appropriate! Hanging on either side above the fireplace were round, flat, white projection screens. In between some of the songs, the singer would hold up a hand-held projector in front of a screen, and projected a video clip of dialogue, telling some of the different "Talking Light" stories. I recognized the two tracks that wound up on the "Ten Little Piggies" compilation, and there were a couple of other new ones too as expected. And now, try picturing this. The singer was dressed in a skin-tight white body suit, over which he wore boxer shorts, clown-sized saddle shoes, a large red neck tie that extended down to his knees, a black and white striped bathrobe, and a rubber "old man" mask which had a bald head and a large pointy nose. I wouldn't expect anything less weird from The Residents! There were only two other musicians on stage, sitting on either side. They were both dressed in sparkly coattails that were black on the outside with a red interior. Underneath they wore completely black clothes, including black stockings over the faces. On their heads they wore these...damn, how should I describe these. They were like fake dreadlocks, with flip-top goggles over the eyes. The singer said that his name was "Randy", and that on either side of him were "Chuck" and "Bob". He explained the lack of the 4th member by explaining that their drummer, "Carlos", had to go away because among other things, his mother was sick. Seemed like a good parody of the names and touring line-up changes I've seen a number of my favorite veteran rock bands go through. I really enjoyed the new stuff from Talking Light, but much to my pleasant surprise they did a good mix of old songs too. They opened with "Demons Dance Alone". As for the rest, I know I'm forgetting a few, but here are the other titles I remember, in no particular order: Death in Barstow, Semolina, They Are The Meat, Six More Miles to the Graveyard, The Old Woman (great hearing a cut from The Gingerbread Man, since that's a favorite of my girlfriend's and mine), Lillie (where the singer picked up one of the doilies from the couch to drape over his head), My Widow, Bury Me Not.

Next time I want to go to the store before the show and get two giant fish heads and put one under each armpit - know what I'm saying my little biggie? LONG LIVE THE RESIDENTS.

My first Residents show. Wish I'd seen them earlier. Carlos the drummer has retired. I really like the storytelling aspect of this band, along with all the snarling guitars, loopy keyboards and trippy multimedia stuff. I have always enjoyed a well told story. There was a lot of humor in these stories too. These guys were pioneers. Too bad they don't get more recognition. I was surprised to see so many women at this show. Mens still outnumbered women by a wide margin but yeah.

Soul-nourishing in a vaguely sinister but thrilling way.

The show was terrific. It is just sad that the sound system was not always at its best.

As a longtime fan of the originality and creativity of The Residents who had last seen them live in Michigan 25 years ago, I was rather disappointed by the dramatically resitricted range of expression to which the artists who formerly wore eyeballs for heads have confined themselves for this performance. Where once these gingerbread men challenged the most fundamental ideas of melody, harmony, rhythm, and intonation, the former quartet, now appearing as a trio, last night did not venture outside of a limited vocabulary of minor key melodies, straight rhythms, and occasional stock heavy metal guitar riffs that surely had Snakefinger crying softly in his grave. While "Randy, the singer of the Residents" has retained a surprising degree of vocal power, considering how long he has been screaming, crying, croaking like an old woman or lizard, etc., in sutdios and before audiences, this range was not put to powerful effect. Visual imagery, while creative, was insufficient to carry a ninety minute show. Fondly, I say, farewell, ye eyeball men. Carlos was right. The Residents reside now only in my CD and vinyl collection, where they are still loved for what they have done.

Drove from Nashville to Atlanta for this one! Haven't seen the Residents since Halloween week of '97, they never really make it near me regionally so geared for the roadtrip and make a weekend of it! Variety Playhouse was great spot for this show! Not a bad seat in the house! Though I had been to ever venue in Atlanta but first time here...I was lucky enough to see the Residents at The Fillmore in San Fran in '97, but believe it or not, I liked this show much better. Although their "4th" member "Carlos~haha" is not on this tour, the three delivered like never before, music was amazing!!! And special appearance by Molly Harvey was a fantastic treat of us lucky ones that caught this show! If you don't like the Residents, you need to give them a chance, they bring theatrics and music~all for a unique concert going experience. Most musicians should be envious of these guys, they play exactly what they want! Not a bunch of sell-outs, no radio or commercial play! Just doing their thing year after year! Kudos to The Residents!!!

Having been a fan since hearing "The Commercial Album" when it came out, I have always wanted to see These Residents playing live. I was not disappointed, even with only 3 Residents on stage, the show was a completely enjoyable experience, everything I expected and wanted.

After learning of The Residents through the covers by Primus and seeing the vids, I had no idea what to expect. What I got was a very creative and mentally challenging show. I thought I might be somewhat bored during some of the show, but what I found was that the show had a story line that kept you interested and entertained. Also amazing was the amount and quality of sound from such a limited number of instruments. Overall an amazing show. Definitely recommended.

This Iconic band does not tour often. I've wanted to see them for 30 years. It was a mixture of Performance art and Concert. Still mysterious and costumed they were missing an Eyeball ( Carlos ) but still on the money for any Residents fan . I'd recommend this for any Residents fan or performance art fan. If your expecting 80"s pop or The Blue Man Group you will be disappointed .