You don’t know Buckethead if you’ve only heard him with Guns N Roses. In Guns N Roses, Buckethead was a Slash clone and chained to Axl’s vision. Now he’s on his own, the chains are broken, and Buckethead is free to be the guitar virtuoso that he is, as was evidenced by last night’s performance as part of the Frankenstein Brothers with That One Guy.

That One Guy is an interesting act. He plays a variation of a bass called the Magic Pipe. The Magic Pipe is seven feet tall, shaped like a harp, and composed of bass strings, swiveling pipes, and electronic buttons. It has a unique sound that is very hard to describe. It has to be heard. (Click here for a sample)

Buckethead’s performance was a sonic journey. He started the show off by shredding then took the audience on a trip to multiple musical realms like jazz, classic rock, heavy metal, and even dance. He played his guitar like a bass at one point and did a solo that sounded like techno crossed with a crisp Tom Morello-esque screech. In addition to being a great guitarist, the Bucket is quite the showman. Throughout the performance he would stop playing and do the robot with and without giant foam fingers, gave the audience presents, and a nunchuck demonstration. He also showed episodes Johnny Socko and His Flying Robot (a Japanese giant robot show) on the screens beside the stage.

Toward the show’s end, That One Guy joined Buckethead on stage for a jam that included covers “Yo Ho, Yo Ho a Pirate’s Life For Me,” and “Pure Imagination.”

Buckethead-Viva Voltron

If you’re a fan of experimental music you have to check out Buckethead and That One Guy as the Frankenstein Brothers.  It’s a musical experience you have to see to believe.