The Budhahood’s guitarist/singer, Tony Cavagnaro, is one laid-back
cat. He oozes contentment, charm, and cool. Even when he leans into his guitar
to summon noodles and demons while sporting a Viking helmet (like he did Friday
at The German House — a fantastic venue, I might add) he still manages to wax
cucumber.
You see, I think
hats, more than any other article of clothing, effect mood, behavior, and
personal presentation. Cowboy hats urge a drawl and a wider gate. Pith helmets
might have you saying things “eee-gads!” and
“heavens!” while looking over your shoulder for mummies. White baseball caps
help keep your hair outta your face while you deliver
street pizza. Viking helmets? Now there’s a
commitment. Steeped in rape and pillage and conquest and bloody goings-on in
general, a Viking helmet is not your casual cabeza attire. Unless you’re,
say, Keith Moon. Or Tony Cavagnaro.
Cavagnaro rocked his side of the stage beneath his horns as if he
always had them on his head. The rest of the band was equally decked out and
animated. Troll wigs, stockings with garters (personal fav),
and smoking jackets ala Hef were all illuminated by a
fantastic, liquid-trippy, psychedelic light show. The
band’s horn section was punchy and bright and more rhythmically cooperative
than the rhythm section that seemed intent on creating new ways to groove and
challenge the dancers. And man, that steel drum just always makes me feel all
warm inside.
The Buddhahood has always been somewhat schizophrenic, what
with its world beat-rock ‘n’ roll-jazz-funk-reggae-soul-Caribbean-klezmer-polyrhythmic boogie. But new highs were definitely
attained when it broke out with a field holler version of Black Sabbath’s “War
Pigs.” By banging on pots and assorted metal objects with multiple ominous
harmonies and grunts, The Buddhahood actually
returned some of the prophetic evil and power the song once had prior to Ozzy showing his ass — back when he still had horns.
Maybe Sharon will get him to don a Viking helmet.
— Frank De Blase
This article appears in May 17-23, 2006.
