I’ve always been hesitant to review live shows. Although I might thoroughly recommend a band based on one excellent performance, it’s entirely possible that someone heeding my advice and attending a show elsewhere might have an entirely different experience. Nevertheless, I had the opportunity last weekend to attend a performance by Man Man at The Spanish Moon in Baton Rouge.

That said, let me summarize my experience for all of you: Man Man is the best act I have ever seen perform in a club environment. I am, quite simply, astounded by what I saw. Never before have I so thoroughly enjoyed the performance of any band. I would easily rank them as one of my top five shows ever (club, stadium, whatever). They’re really that good.

You’re probably thinking to yourself, “Alright I get that you liked them, but why are they so good?” The answer I believe is twofold. For starters, their music contains characteristics that transition to the stage impeccably well. Their tracks are energetic and flashy and full of debauchery. Songs like “Engwish Bwudd,” “Spider Cider” and “Zebra” are just meant to be heard live. I think a lot of it has to do with the prevalent infusion of klezmer into their music. It is a genre that is naturally given to foot stomping, dancing and audience participation. This alone is truly enough to make a great show, but that’s not the only thing Man Man has going for them.

Secondly, their showmanship is incredible. They seem so natural in their roles that the audience is easily swept into their energies. Frontman Honus belts forth lyrics with fiery precision as the band alternates wildly between myriad instruments to create something quite unlike anything I’ve ever heard. It’s as if Hell spat them up to lure the horde into assured damnation.

If there is one bad thing I can say about their performance, it’s this: The day after the show I felt as if someone had runover my puppy. Since, however, I don’t have a puppy, this answer clearly wouldn’t do. After raking my mind for awhile I came to the realization that my normal life seemed meek in comparison to the experiences of the previous night. The show had created such a high for me that I actually spent the rest of the weekend visibly depressed. The following evening while watching deadboy & the Elephantmen, several people asked me why I was in such a morose mood. I replied, “If you’d seen Man Man, you’d understand.”