A full concert video has emerged on YouTube of a bootleg of an early career set from Mr. Bungle, live at Club Lingerie January 10th, 1991. For those unfamiliar, Mr. Bungle was the incredible and impossible to categorize genre collision fronted by three artists we’ve covered in detail here at mxdwn. On vocals is none other than Mike Patton (from Faith No More, Tomahawk, Fantomas, Peeping Tom), on guitar Trey Spruance who is the diabolical mastermind behind the brilliant Secret Chiefs 3 project and on bass is Trevor Dunn who has recently joined Tomahawk and The Melvins Lite after years in Fantomas following Mr. Bungle’s demise. Most notably in this massive set is a gem right at the end that was routinely the end of their set list in those days. Almost ten minutes in length, it is a dual cover/medley of “Existential Blues” and “Pencil Neck Geek.”
Both songs originate (at least in association) from the long-running Dr. Demento show. T-Bone Stankus is the originator of the drug-addled look at the Wizard of Oz “Existential Blues” while “Pencil Neck Geek” pro wrestling fans may know as being a tune sung by the legendary “Classie” Freddie Blassie. Together, Mr. Bungle turn these songs into a rollicking freight train of pure insanity. The band starts and stops, shifting between genres and time signatures both, while carrying a manic, enrapturing story. For those curious, yes, the band did routinely where clown masks or clown costumes in those days. Watch the video below.
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