The Residents Talk To The Light

It hardly seems possible that a band could exist for 40 years yet manage to keep individual members shrouded in anonymity. But The Residents have been able to keep each member’s identity under wraps even through several albums and tours. These days the band refers to individual members simply as “Randy, Chuck and Bob.”

The “Talking Light Tour Featuring Randy’s Ghost Stories,” which began last year, showcases the band’s interest in the supernatural with each show beginning with the title piece, “Talking Light,” and concluding with “Unseen Sister” and featuring ghost stories portrayed within the context of pop culture, specifically TV and commercials.

Or, as the band’s tour announcement puts it: “In a world where nearly everything has become defined and categorized, how do we fill our obvious, purely human need for the fuzzy, vague and supernatural – with TV commercials?”

After launching this year’s tour in Mexico City at Lunario del Auditorio Nacional March 15, The Residents head up to Portland, Ore., for a gig at the Wonder Ballroom March 17; followed by a stop in Seattle at Neumo’s March 18.

The band then crosses the border, playing Canadian towns Vancouver (March 19), Edmonton (March 21), Calgary (March 22) and Winnipeg (March 24) before returning to the States for a show in Minneapolis at the Cedar Cultural Center March 25.

Other destinations include Chicago (March 26), Montreal (March 29), New York (March 31), Philadelphia (April 1), Atlanta (April 4), Los Angeles (April 9) and San Francisco (April 15-16). The band is also playing London’s Mute Festival May 14.

The Residents will also be selling a CD called Randy’s Ghost Stories featuring videos of eight spooky tales told on the tour. For more information, click here for the band’s website.