Har Mar Superstar

Bye Bye 17 (Cult Records)

“Lady, you shot me!” Sam Cooke’s final words when Bertha Franklin unloaded the fatal rounds into his chest are the opening sob of Minneapolis’ second least likely sex symbol. Tagged too long as a novelty act – just because he sometimes tucks his chubby physique into a thong – now Sean Tillman deliciously and shamelessly embraces his Motown passions. Label boss Julian Casablancas lends fellow Stroke Fabrizio Moretti to add an NYC disco rat-a-tat to “Prisoner,” then “Everywhere I’m Local” creates psychedelic doo-wop, its cosmic keys and boop-beeps swirling over Archies-style teen pain. Lovesick “WWW” could pass as a deep cut from the Animal House soundtrack – another soul homage created by tubby white boys – and it’s where Har Mar becomes the new John Belushi. “Power Lunch,” from 2002’s You Can Feel Me, remains a sleazegrind Har Mar classic, his samurai delicatessen sketch of pure perverted perfection. Here, as when Jake Blues takes his shades off, you’ll fall for his soulful charms. (2:35pm, Yellow stage; FFF Nites: Sat., 12:15am, Hotel Vegas)

***

This article appears in November 7 • 2014.

A note to readers: Bold and uncensored, The Austin Chronicle has been Austin’s independent news source for over 40 years, expressing the community’s political and environmental concerns and supporting its active cultural scene. Now more than ever, we need your support to continue supplying Austin with independent, free press. If real news is important to you, please consider making a donation of $5, $10 or whatever you can afford, to help keep our journalism on stands.

SUPPORT US

The Chronicle's first Culture Desk editor, Richard has reported on Austin's growing film production and appreciation scene for over a decade. A graduate of the universities of York, Stirling, and UT-Austin, a Rotten Tomatoes certified critic, and eight-time Best of Austin winner, he's currently at work on two books and a play.