Buffalo-based jam-rock outfit Aqueous has released a new live video from The Great Flamingle, the group’s recently launched hometown festival. The video, which features a recreation of the theme music from Gameboy classic Pokemon: Red Version/Pokemon: Blue Version games and a crowd-selected “Origami”, is the first in a new bi-weekly series of live releases from the festival, “Flamingle Friday,” which will culminate this winter with the arrival of a new EP, The Flamingle Singles.
In the 30-minute video, after powering through a prog-rock recreation of the circa-1996 Pokemon theme, guitarist/vocalist Mike Gantzer steps to the mic to poll the audience about which song they want to hear next. “Origami” wins the head-to-head, and the band proceeds to take the fan-favorite on a long, winding ride.
According to Aqueous’ Mike Gantzer, “On a recent trip to Denver, my sister took me to this awesome antique mall, The Brass Armadillo, where I found some old school first-generation Pokémon cards! I decided to surprise my bandmates with a backstage gifting of a few classic Pokémon, and it sparked some big-time nostalgia and fun. A few weeks later we covered one of the themes from the old Gameboy games at our festival, The Great Flamingle.” You can see one of the aforementioned cards in action in the video, too, when lespecial bassist Luke Bemand strolls onstage to show it off to the crowd. Watch the full video below.
Aqueous – “Pokemon Red/Blue Theme”, “Origami” – 9/3/22
[Video: Aqueous]
While the full band is on a brief pause as guitarist/keyboardist/vocalist Dave Loss takes time at home with his newborn child (congrats, Loss fam!), the other Aqueous members are staying busy with various Aqueous side projects. On Saturday, October 15th, Gantzer, bassist Evan McPhaden, and drummer Rob Houk will perform at Brooklyn Bowl with Josh Schwartz and Craig Brodhead as Aqueous + Friends alongside fellow jam stalwarts Perpetual Groove. Tickets are available here. Fans who can’t make the show can also watch a livestream via The Relix Channel on Twitch.
On October 29th, Mike, Evan and Rob will be joined by Al Schnier and Vinnie Amico from moe. to perform as moe.queous at the Town Ballroom in their collective hometown of Buffalo, NY. The band encourages fans to dress up in Halloween costumes to fit in with the show’s “Party Animals” theme. Limited tickets remain here.
Finally, on New Year’s Eve, Aqueous + Friends will hit the Water Street Music Hall in Rochester, NY featuring Craig Brodhead and support from Funky Dawgz and Pickle Mafia. Tickets are available here.