Fun Fun Fun Fest Live Shots

The Dead Milkmen

With a suddenness that surprised everyone, including the sound booth, the Dead Milkmen leapt back to life Saturday night by opening with "Punk Rock Girl." The swirling mass in front of the stage sung along to the unlikely starter with loyal ferocity, which nearly made up for sound reminiscent of rec-room stereo speakers with blown woofers. No one ever worshipped the Milkmen for their quadraphonic prowess, fortunately. From there, Philly's reunited scruff-punk titans revisited 1985 with "Tiny Town" and "Serrated Edge" from Big Lizard in My Backyard, the quartet's Texas ties well-represented by "Tacoland" and Daniel Johnston's "Rocketship." Rodney Anonymous hijacked the lyrics to "Right Wing Pigeons" by rhyming "Sarah Palin" with "blew all the roadies from Van Halen" before toasting Obama's victory with Reagan-era adolescent anthems "Bitchin' Camaro" and "V.F.W. (Veterans of a Fucked Up World)." During the first of two encores, Anonymous attempted to simultaneously play keyboards and crowd surf, a stunt that ended with the keyboard donated to a lucky audience member.