The Mad Scientists
Denton, Texas, United States
Music
Press
Welcome to the dark underbelly of experimental psychedelic jazz funk, where conspiracies have global relevance and humanity (to quote brilliant comedian Bill Hicks), is “a virus with shoes”. The Mad Scientists descend into their laboratory to blaze musical trails like hallucinogenic tracers, mocking and deconstructing the capitalism, competition, greed, selfishness, waste, and spiritual disconnection that lead our human race to the precipice of self-annihilation. Geoparisitism will challenge listeners musically and socio-politically. A few of the songs function as fine singles, but this eclectic fusion is rich with sonic layers and overarching lyrical themes, and so deserves to be experienced in full, with a macrocosmically enlightened ear - Christopher Largen
April 01, 2005
Spring is here and it's time for sleepy winter heads to come out of hibernation and head to the North Texas State Fairgrounds for WakeUp05.
At 11 a.m. on Saturday, the festival madness will start with seven stages of live music and entertainment.
Tickets cost $10 in advance or $15 at the gate and all proceeds will be donated to charity.
This is the second year of the festival, and the aim of the event is not only to raise money but is also to encourage a sense of community in Denton.
The NT Daily got together with some of the participating acts to ask them some questions. Bryan Monday (aka Bryan X) of Dot Matrix, Kim Fry of The Mad Scientists, Cody Robinson of Medicine Window, Shane Wright of Sarah Reddington, and Zachary Richards of Halto * Bravo.
Why did you and your band decide to play at the festival?
Fry: Because our purpose as a band is similar to the purpose of this festival, to wake people up and get them out of their comfort zone; to get them thinking.
What do you think about combining music and activism?
Fry: I love the combination. The whole relationship there is so symbiotic. People unaware of different issues can become more informed and many people who may be more involved in the activist community can come out and learn about new music.
What kind of crazy antics happen at your shows?
Fry: Audiences can expect a strange psychotic soundscape filled with mutant sonic creations. This should be a very interesting performance, because we will be debuting our new drummer.
- The North Texas Daily
Idi*Amin/The Mad Scientists/Violent Squid (TJ's in Denton)
Looks like a good lineup at a fairly repulsive venue. I don't know if I've ever heard anyone say a single good thing about this place but that probably won't matter too much tonight.... The Mad Scientists should be in good spirits since lead member Brannon is celebrating his birthday by playing this show. If I could make a birthday wish for him I would probably wish that he'd cut his solos a few minutes shorter. But that's part of the fun of The Mad Scientists. - www.weshotjr.com
Also, Mad Scientists are playing over at Dada with Boston's Constants and Ft. Worth's Okay James. You've already read DL's writings on Mad Scientists' slightly pysche influenced noisy prog metal, and I kind of dig it too. - www.weshotjr.com
Mad Scientists/Violent Squid/Oveo/Christian! Teenage Runaways (Secret Headquarters): All over the place experimental show in Denton featuring the rotating cast of characters known as Violent Squid, lead by Ty Stamp and including collaboration with members of Oveo and Shane English of Ghosthuster, Undoing of David Wright and Chief Death Rage. This is also Mad Scientists last show in their current incarnation. - www.weshotjr.com
Mad Scientists (J & J's Pizza):
I have to love a band who actually describes themselves as "divisive" in their bio. And you think you're brave. - www.weshotjr.com
September 25, 2005 (Denton, TX.) -- Denton, Texas is renowned for its stange brew of eclectic bands that combine opposing styles to make them their own. Bands as different as Brave Combo and Slobberbone have not only done just that but found a welcoming home in this north Texas community. The Mad Scientists continue this tradition with their Frankensteinian monster of experimental dark psychedelic jazz metal. Their first album, Geoparasitism, ranges in styles from traditional slow blues to prog metal with brain blistering time changes and loud experimental noise fests that release you from their grip only once you brain cells have been perfectly rearranged. The public may become willing subjects to their experimentations beging October 8, 2005 at the CD release party at Rubber Gloves Rehersal Studio in Denton, TX, 10pm.
On October 8, 2005 Rubber Gloves will be transformed into a laboratory with surprises around every corner. There will be gifts and free food for everyone paying the $5 cover. All attendees will become eligible particpants in experiments (drawings) conducted throughout the evening with lucky subjects recieving special prizes. Assisting in the mayhem will be the evil geniuses of Medicine Window and the Zappa-esq Voluntary Mother Earth.
The Mad Scientists do not limit their experimentations to the sonic realm. Guitarist/singer Brannon Barr explains, “If you can get people to open their minds to different sonic messages then you can get them to open their minds to other messages as well. There is more to music than what is presented by MTV and Clear Channel, and similarly there is more to the world than what is typically presented to the average person.” Kim Fry (bass guitar) points out, “Ultimately this is what The Mad Scientists greatest experiment is about, opening minds musically, emotionally, and in general to the world around them.” - www.mi2n.com
If you haven't seen them, they play this weird blend of psyche influenced rock with sharp funk rhythms and half shouted vocals. There is also some inexplicable guitar shredding to top it off but I've enjoyed them when I've seen or heard them. I prefer the originality of their music over a lot of Denton's "tasteful" retro country rockers, music theory students, jazz heads, and gear fetishists. - www.WeShotJR.com
Last weekend a lot of us got together to play a cover show at Hailey's as sort-of end of year/Christmas party. Mad Scientists were tapped to put on a set of early Pink Floyd, and I think that was pretty much the closest you could get to the real thing without the original members, a time machine, and a LOT of drugs.
There's a lot of talent in that band, though they're not exactly on the highest rung of the popularity ladder. Their original material is weird at best, a sort of jazz-metal infused background score to a modernized version of a 1950's movie about a science experiment gone terribly wrong. (Think Rob Zombie remakes "Them"). I think it's impressive in the age of clone radio that a band still plays exactly what they set out to play a few years ago without giving in and playing what's popular. - www.nofold.beloblog.com
Discography
Geoparasitism (2005) available at http://cdbaby.com/cd/madscientists
Photos
Bio
The Mad Scientists have been described using a wide array of musical terms. So, for those looking for commercially accessible schlock rock flee now or abandon all hope. But, for those who crave adventure, originality and return to when rock music made parents turn away in disgust (or a least scratch their head) t hen welcome to the laboratory. The music could be described as experimental, dark psychedelic, jazz, metal hat explores the boundary between chaos and structure. And if that confounds you further wait until you hear the music.
With a new drummer joining the group in in late 2007 the band has big plans for 2008. After only weeks of joining the band has 3 new songs with plans to record a new album in the new year. 2008 will see lots of explosions coming from the lab with the addition of multi-media stage shows, a live album, a video, lots more live show, extensive touring, and more that dare not be said.
The Mad Scientists have had several incarnations. Initially, the band played shows as a two piece (guitar & bass) until they found a drummer. And while drummers have come and gone Brannon Barr (guitar/vocals) and Kim Fry (bass guitar) have remained the key ingredients in this sonic concoction. Brannon could easily hone his guitar playing to fit any mainstream style but instead creates a style that is like multiple weather fronts colliding. Kim often conjures up strange tones and sounds on her bass but the one thing she has yet to capture is the infamous, "Brown Note". The search for this elusive musical legend does not stop her from laying down deeps groves and twisted bass lines. The recent addition of Brandon Whitehead as drummer has made The Mad Scientists' overall feel more tight and condensed but stills retains the more intricate and weird elements the band has a reputation for due to Brandon being a heavy, driving, punk player.
The Mad Scientists very well may be DFW's most divisive band. Audiences are often filled with love and disgust for the show but they always stay and pay attention. This is one of the unfortunate side effects of making unique music. As DefensiveListening of the local and even more controversial WeShotJr.com noted, "I prefer the originality of their music over a lot of Denton's "tasteful" retro country rockers, music theory students, jazz heads, and gear fetishists." The band does not necessarily aim to please everyone. They just want to try to shake up the current complacency that is pervasive in music and society in general. So, for those that enjoy an unpaved ride the Hearse is always ready but for those that don't they can shake off the side effects by buying an extra drink or two at the bar.
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