I wasn’t sure about spending $50 on the ticket, but three sold-out shows has got to mean something…wanted to see what the fuss was all about. The lead singer is Billy Campion (aka Vic Thrill) who I’ve seen perform solo a few times, but this was my first full on Bogmen show. A quick side note, Chris Campion (Billy’s brother and lead singer of the Knockout Drops) plays every sunday at the Village Lantern on Bleecker St. Chris sings and Mike Tait plays guitar…they call themselves the “Fonduo“. Anyway, they are hysterical and a lot of fun and you should definitely check them out if you’re in the village on a sunday night.

OK, back to The Bogmen. Billy Campion (aka Vic Thrill) is your perfect frontman…great stage presence, flamboyant style, funny banter, and that sense he could go crazy at any moment (plus he can spin in circles like a mofo…see “Englewood” clip below). A Vic Thrill show is very synthetic and electronic and experimental…while The Bogmen have a full percussion section, two guitarists, bass, drums, keys, and a horn section. Billy isn’t a great guitarist (think early David Byrne wobbly chuka-chuka style), but his voice and lyrics are so distinct and unique…you either get it and love every song he sings or you don’t and it all just sounds like crap. I definitely got it and loved it…and so did the crowd all night long. Lots of singing along and fists pumping to the fan favorites (of which I surprisingly recognized most of them). The end of a three night run, the holidays approaching, benefit for Kristy’s Smile, thinking this is the last Bogmen show ever…all culminated into an emotional and spectacular encore…you could feel the sense of family amongst the band and their fans. This show definitely goes into my top ten of the year and I hope it really wasn’t the last Bogmen show ever.

Here are some YouTube clips from the show:
The Bogmen – “Mexico“
The Bogmen – “Yellar“
The Bogmen – “Mad Larry“

And here a couple more Bogmen clips on YouTube:
The Bogmen – “Suddenly”
The Bogmen – “Englewood”

Another side note, got to the Bowery Ballroom at 9:45pm in time (so I thought) to see the opening band (Knockout Drops), but arrived only to see the sign: “Doors: 8pm, Acquiese: 8:15pm, Knockout Drops: 9:15pm, The Bogmen: 10:15pm“. Have you ever heard of a show starting 15 minutes after doors open?? Anyway, my disappointment quickly faded when I noticed the Bowery had setup a beer stand to the left of the stage between all the gear and the stairs. My friends and I quickly planted ourselves five feet away. I asked if this was going to be regular thing and unfortunately he said it was just for the night.