KEXP (Kinda, Sorta) Suggests: The Pizza Underground at Chop Suey 4/28

KEXP Suggests
04/24/2014
Janice Headley

We can't wholeheartedly "suggest" this, but morbid curiosity sure makes it one of the most compelling shows this month: The Pizza Underground are on their debut North American tour, entitled Fresh to Your Door, and are "delivering" (in 30 minutes or less?) to Chop Suey on Monday, April 28th, with Toby Goodshank (of the Moldy Peaches, a terrible pizza topping) and a DJ set from Derek Erdman.

If you haven't already heard, The Pizza Underground is a New York-based quintet who cover Velvet Underground classics, replacing the lyrics with words like "cheese," "slice," or "pizza." Revered classics like "All Tomorrow's Parties" become "All the Pizza Parties." Lou Reed's legendary "Walk on the Wild Side" is transformed into "Take a Bite of the Wild Slice."

We'll just let you re-read all that and take a few deep breaths.It gets weirder: the band is led by actor Macaulay Culkin, best known for his work in the '90s film Home Alone. If the name doesn't ring a bell, here's a still from that movie to jog your memory:

Instrumentation consists of kazoo, glockenspiel, and empty cardboard pizza boxes for percussion. If you dare, here's a stream of their demo:

What will Monday's night show be like? A few reviewers commented on prior dates on this tour:

• "I can’t tell you to see the Pizza Underground, but I can’t recommend missing them either." — Consequence of Sound

• "Macaulay Culkin’s Pizza Underground turned out be exactly what everyone had expected — an over-hyped, under-talented group of friends who got stoned and took an inside joke (which should have worn off with the weed) as far as they possibly could." — San Diego Reader

• "Yeezus? Fuck that, meet Cheezus." — Stereogum

Doors open at 8:00 PM for this 21+ over event. (Yes, sadly, the young'uns aren't invited, but who under 21 remembers Macaulay Culkin anyway?) Tickets are $12 ADV / $15 DOS and are available online here. Watch the band's version of "Femme Fatale" (transformed into "Pizza Gal") below:

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