I’ve been wanting to write a Circus Contraption review pretty much since I started this blog, but I can’t begin to describe how amazingly awesome they are and how devastated I was to find out that a few days before I had found out about them, they had performed their last show in The Show to End All Shows. This band is unique and dark and showy. It’s funny and perverse and beautiful. There is nothing about them that I don’t love. They perform their shows as a one-ring circus complete with aerial performances, clowns, and freak shows. As I’ve said before on this blog, there’s nothing I love more than a dark and sexy circus, and their old CDs feature all that and more in an oldworld, vaudevillian, and all-around jazzy setting.
Not that they’ve ever left my mind since I recklessly bought all of their CDs last year, but their newest CD for The Show to End All Shows just came out this month and I had to snatch it up immediately. It’s very different from their other shows. I absolutely love it and I wouldn’t change a thing about it, but it’s not the CD I would start new Circus Contraption fans on. It’s a much more modern show with a lot darker themes. It’s less circus and more 1960’s variety show with the worst of religious television thrown in. They’ve definitely had strong things to say about religion before but in this modernized version, instead of burning witches, they’re having the audience shoving money into Poppy Daze’s hotpants. This CD also had a synopsis of the show included, which I was fascinated to read, as I have never seen them live and didn’t really know any of the characters except by voice.
This band is amazing and whatever money they’re making, it’s not enough to compensate them for all the joy they’ve brought me. If you have some time and money on your hands, I would definitely reccommend you buy their CDs, and if you’re in the Seattle area, find out what they’re doing and when. They are worth your time and money.
I'm So Great: The Rantings of a Jaded Youth 
You and I are so operating from the same channel and wavelength. I totally just bought FINALLY, “Halfwit’s descent,” and one other cd that escapes me at the moment. Halfwit totally arrived saturday and I literally listened to it ALL day yesterday. So, that’s hilarious, and awesome, and you are totally right, they are GREAT. They feed this like side of me that is all dark and dismal, while also sparkly and vaudeville. It’s good medicine. Gooooood Medicine.
I think that IS the CD I bought. Is it ‘Our latest Catologue?’
Anyway, yes, it’s insane, insane, insanely sad that they are no longer performing. I too, never ever got to see them live and it’s the saddest thing IN THE WORLD. I only hope that one day they’ll have one last final, supreme come back show that is halfway between you and me so that we can go and reach enlightenment. Le. Sigh.
What’s your favorite song right now?
YAY! Those two CDs are all good. I listened to them over and over for weeks when I got them. I’d say Grand American Traveling Dime Museum next bc that one is also amazing, not that they all aren’t.
I couldn’t pick a favorite song if I tried! I immediately think on and then go, But this one is great too–OH and this one! They’re too good. I haven’t put them on the back burner since I found them.