The story of Quintron and Miss Pussycat runs deep. Far deeper than I knew going into the Empty Bottle Saturday night. The NOLA couple formerly called Chicago home – an extensive profile of their history was chronicled in the Reader a decade ago. The two have cultivated a following over the years and are always looking for and creating something bizarre and left-of-center. Quintron blares on his distorted Hammond keyboard with a natural Southern swagger, accompanied by his patented Drum Buddy. Miss Pussycat handles backing vocals, and oh yeah, did I mention she put on a puppet show to begin the set? The story of a grizzly bear that travels through outer space to defeat a vampire is a perilous one, but it must be told. As for Quintron’s candle-lit set, it was much more energetic and amplified than I imagined after hearing recordings. My ears were ringing before the show was even over. Listening to last year’s Sucre du Sauvage (which was recorded in a 2010 New Orleans Museum of Art exhibit) isn’t by any means a tranquil experience, but Quintron gets intense live. Seated at a keyboard behind the grill of Lincoln, equipped with a crash cymbal and hi-hat, and the aforementioned self-designed drum machine, Quintron belts out his campy, R&B tinged “Swamp-Tech” that wouldn’t be out of place soundtracking a B horror film. Miss Pussycat helped out on vocals, sometimes with high-pitched yelps, sometimes more subdued and melodic, but ever so consistent with the maracas. I couldn’t help but think at times what a great collab this duo could make with the Fiery Furnaces. Can someone set that up please?
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