"Big Head" and Skunks

“Big Head Todd and the Monsters” opened for John Hiatt at the Taft Theater in Cincinnati last night.  We had come for Hiatt, the man with the sweet voice and poetic songwriting talent who has penned such classics as “That Thing Called Love”, Crossing Muddy Waters”, “Riding with the King”, “Slow Turning”.  Well the list could go on and on.  As could the list of successful musicians who have covered Hiatt’s music.  But hearing the original songwriter is a real treat, especially such an energetic performer with such a beautiful voice.

However the real surprise was the opening act, “Big Head Todd.” and the crowd that came to see him and his band.  My husband tells me Todd does indeed have a big head.  I couldn’t tell.  A very enthusiastic crowd stood, or should I say danced, near their seats during most of their hour and a half performance and “Big Head’” music was very danceable, with a strong beat and good guitar work.  I remained sitting during most of the performance but could not keep my toes from tapping.

The really interesting part was the crowd, a few of whom overlapped for both musical groups, but most of whom obviously had come for one or the other performance.  Both crowds were baby boomers for the most part.  And both crowds were mostly clad in folk-concert attire—denims and t-shirts.  Most distinctive about select portions of the “Big Head” crowd were their odoriferousness, if there is such a word.  And that, unfortunately is not in a good way, at least to my sensibilities.  Such as the gentleman next to us in clean denim but reeking of body odor.  

Or the two youngish women who had taken great care with their sparkly denim duds and heaped on the musky scent.  When the two ladies entered the venue you could smell the musk from across the lobby.  I said a silent “thank you” to whatever gods may be, when I saw the “skunk goddesses headed for the front of the auditorium, far, far away from our z row seats.  Often I lament being seated in the rear of a large auditorium where viewing is difficult, particularly when the crowd mostly stands.   But not last night.

 I don’t know if Todd enjoys “eau de skunk” but having a back row seat at this concert, similar to a “Blue Man Group” or ballet performance where you see and smell the performers fluids, was a real benefit.