MMW: Legendary Pink Dots

Sunday, February 16th, 2014 // Blogs,MMW

Formed in London in 1980, the Legendary Pink Dots moved to Amsterdam a decade later. A rotating ensemble of band members have come and gone in the 25 years the band has been together, but the prophet Edward Ka-Spel (singer, keyboards), and Phil Knight aka The Silverman, have been the mainstays. Another long time member, Niels Van Hoornblower (various wind instruments and one of my favorite members – he’s a great entertainer on stage), has a great presence on many recordings. The Dots are Legendary (at least in my mind) for blending pop elements with abstract exotica ranging from sampled psychedelia to classical instrumentation. Throw in brooding, apocalyptic lyrics, and the result is a concoction that must be heard, and I have been lucky enough to seem them numerous times in and around San Francisco, and once in Pittsburgh.

Hear it: Blue Velvet & Black Coffee with Patrick, Tuesdays 2-4 p.m.