Big Head Todd Tests New Songs On Audiences

Got your tickets for the Big Head Todd and the Monsters concert Friday at The Met?

We certainly hope so. The concert sold out almost two weeks ago.

It’s hard to believe, considering the trio hasn’t released an album in two years.

Noticeably, very little fanfare was made about the performance.

Spokane isn’t alone. The band is treating every other date on its five-week trek across the country the same way - low-key. The band won’t even grant interviews.

The reason?

Singer-guitarist Todd Park Mohr, bassist Rob Squires and drummer Brian Nevin are using these concerts to test-drive a Big Head batch of new songs slated to appear on the band’s forthcoming fifth album, “Beautiful World.” The album is due in stores Feb. 11.

“Beautiful World” features a duet with Park and blues legend John Lee Hooker called “Boom Boom.” In addition, the Parliament/Funkadelic keyboardist lends his funkified keyboards to a fistful of songs. The album’s first single, “Resignation Superman,” takes to the airwaves in January.

Though the focus of the concert is on new material, Big Head Todd and the Monsters will include essentials from past albums, such as 1993’s “Sister Sweetly” and 1994’s “Strategem.”

Few rock bands like Big Head Todd remain on the concert trail. The three musicians didn’t build their loyal fan base with hit songs, No. 1 albums or by living in a major music mecca; they did it by touring incessantly, logging hundreds of thousands of miles on their ‘77 Dodge van.

On their own, the band, born in 1986, financed two full-length albums, “Another Mayberry” (1989) and “Midnight Radio” (1991).

Most Americans didn’t learn of the band until its major-label debut, “Sister Sweetly,” began rising on the charts.

The opening band, Ugly Americans, is primed to be a cult favorite of the late ‘90s. The Austin, Texas, sextet credits tours with H.O.R.D.E., Dave Matthews and Big Head Todd and the Monsters for enabling it to reach wider audiences.

Ugly Americans, currently signed to Capricorn Records, formed in 1993. The lineup includes former members of Cracker/Poi Dog Pondering (guitarist Bruce Hughes) and Mojo Nixon’s Toadliquors (bassist Sean McCarthy).

Like a number of H.O.R.D.E. veterans, Ugly Americans build its sound on a groove foundation. From there, they add touches of soul, R&B, funk and roots rock.

Their tasty stew has earned praise from leading critics. “They’ve got a sound and they’ve got a style,” says the Boston Globe. The Los Angeles Times notes: “A moveable feast of talent, rock. … A splendid party band … a sort of Skynyrd-goes-to-N’awlins sound.”

, DataTimes MEMO: This sidebar appeared with the story: CONCERT Big Head Todd and the Monsters perform at 9 p.m. Friday at The Met with Ugly Americans. Tickets are sold out.