Weekly Release Spotlight: The King Khan & BBQ Show

Posted on 11/30/2009

The King Khan & BBQ Show

Invisible Girl

[In The Red]

The last couple years have seen a surge of interest in garage-rock throwbacks. But Montreal’s King Khan and BBQ had already been around the block a few times before ‘60s adulation made its way to the forefront of the musical consciousness. As bandmates in the Spaceshits during the ‘90s, Arish Khan (King Khan) and Mark Sultan (BBQ) forged not only a friendship, but a mutual reverence for stripped-down percussion, jangly guitar and doo-wop vocals. Their relationship has withstood Khan’s relocation to Germany, a veritable saturation of the garage-rock market in the States, and more recently, their arrest for drug possession in Kentucky. More than just a marriage of musical convenience, Sultan and Khan seem to have something enviable and inimitable (especially where the music industry is concerned): a stable and genuine relationship.

From their first record, released in 2004 on In The Red, The King Khan and BBQ Show was a well-kept secret, although the project’s audience covered a wide spectrum. The band was revered among punks, indie kids, ‘60s girl group fans and garage enthusiasts alike. Even those people you know who collect vintage records and only listen to music recorded before 1980 were probably sort of into it. The catchiness of all the band’s records, including Invisible Girl, is undeniable. Even if songs like “I’ll Be Loving You” seem slightly inane at first, make no mistake – they will be stuck in your head for days. “Animal Party” is pure sophomoric, King Khan and BBQ fun – complete with animal sound effects and a sing-along chorus. “Tastebuds” is also sophomoric, although more so for its subject matter (as hard as you might try, you won’t be able to get that one out of your head either).

Khan may get carried away with the horns, pompom girls and wild showmanship of King Khan and the Shrines. And Sultan, who fronted Les Sexareenos and releases solo material, has Sultan records to keep him busy. But the duo always comes back to each other. At live shows, they bicker like an old married couple, and when Black Lips fled India after their early-2009 tour shenanigans, they sought shelter with Sultan and Khan in Berlin - a stay that resulted in the first Almighty Defenders record. The King Khan and BBQ Show continues to be Khan and Sultan’s (and their friends’) home away from home, and it’s a bond that will hopefully last for years to come.

Written by Dana Raidt, Radio K volunteer.