Arcane Candy

Los Angeles, California
February 8-9, 2020

Alvarius B. plays live at Zebulon in Los Angeles, California on February 8, 2020.

The Brothers Unconnected play live at Zebulon in Los Angeles, California on February 8, 2020.

Formerly known as the Sun City Girls (1981-2007),The Brothers Unconnected was formed in 2008 by guitarists / vocalists Alan Bishop and Sir Richard Bishop after their SCG bandmate, Charles Gocher, died the previous year. Following a nationwide tour in 2008, The Brothers Unconnected have played sporadic shows over the years, including this two-night stint at Zebulon. On the first night, Alan, employing his Alvarius B. nickname, opened the show with close to an hour of exactly the kind of strumming that everyone does when they pick up an acoustic guitar. Frankly, it bored me to tears. I really prefer the kind of intense prickly attack that he splattered upon the public on his 2013 solo acoustic guitar LP, Fuck You and the Horse You Rode In On. Nevertheless, some highlights of his set included “Rocking the Zion Ship” and a few SCG nuggets.

Uncle Jim scribbles some ancient occult knowledge, I mean some complete and utter bullshit at Zebulon in Los Angeles, California on February 8, 2020.

“I saw you sittin’ in a wheelbarrow, eatin’ a bowl of Cheerios with Dale Bozzio. And now all of your closest relatives have been classified as missing persons!”–Uncle Jim

Sir Richard Bishop and Eyvind Kang play live at Zebulon in Los Angeles, California on February 9, 2020.

Luckily, I was lifted out of my misery by Sir Richard Bishop, who climbed up on stage and played connected circles around his unconnected brother. Near the end of the set, AB’s guitar broke, which led directly to a brief visit from his alter ego, Uncle Jim. A character who can often be found belting out a barrage of insults mixed with stream-of-consciousness non sequitors, Uncle Jim is an unholy mix of Jonathan Winters, Don Rickles and a beat poet all blended into one major misanthrope. I’ll have to admit Uncle Jim was pretty funny, and I was happy I finally got to see him live after hearing him on records for so many years. The next night, the Brothers played some more SCG tunes, and were joined by the violinist Eyvind Kang for some extended moody jams. At one point near the end of the set, Alvarius B took a swig of water and sprayed it from his mouth all over the people in the front row. I’m surprised no one threw anything back. They should have! You can see it happen in the video below at 1:17:11.

The entrance to Zebulon in Los Angeles, California on February 8, 2020.

Photos and text ©2020 Arcane Candy.

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