Megapuss, 'Surfing'

Devendra Banhart and friends get naked, have a laugh

By Keith N. Dusenberry

Special to Metromix

The buzz: L.A. freak-folk weirdo Devendra Banhart teams with Greg Rogove (who drums for sludge-rockers Priestbird and Devendra’s touring band, but co-sings with Banhart in Megapuss) and Fabrizio Moretti (who drums for the Strokes, and hits the skins in this project as well) to form a goofy pseudo-supergroup side project. 

The verdict: For a “band” originally intended as an in-joke, Megapuss pulls off a remarkable feat: bringing the audience in on the fun without trying too hard to be anything to anyone. “Surfing” gives the impression that those making it are having such a good time the listener can’t help but get swept up in the joyful ruckus of these mostly jokey takes on typical Banhart-style ‘60s-meets-‘00s neo-hippie rock and folk. The lyrics are abstract, odd, colorful and ridiculous, while the music bears the tossed off—but casually stellar—proficiency of professionals letting loose. It may not be the most enduring musical monument Banhart leaves behind, but the emotions are pure, the concept intriguing, the good times plenty and the legitimately good songs (“Crop Circle Jerk ’94,” “Adam & Steve,” “Theme From Hollywood” and “Lavender Blimp” among them) scattered consistently enough to render this a worthy attempt at serious silliness.  

Did you know? The track “Duck People, Duck Man” features a monologue (concerning hummus and vitamin C, among other things) performed by Aziz Ansari, star of the MTV sketch comedy show “Human Giant.”