Buckethead — mad scientist of electric guitar

Without a live band, Buckethead kept the packed Music Box of hardcore fans salivating over his axe handling. A souped-up guitar capable of making you breakfast and doing the dishes, buzzed, ripped, soared, and dominated the eardrums.

It was a night with Brian Patrick Carroll and behind him were four amplifiers — no drummer!? Slightly disappointed, but more intrigued, the show began with what sounded like a deranged astronaut speaking over an anxious crowd. With just a backing track holding the tempo, the former Guns ’N Roses guitarist gave his fans exactly what they wanted — complete insanity. His six-foot-something self was dressed in all black, under plain white bucket and mask, with his white Gibson Buckethead Signature Les Paul — a rocket scientist would have difficulty translating the guitar specs. His robotic dances moves paired well with his pick-up knob twerking in and out with just a switch — he even let the front of the audience do it. Looking around you would notice the mild fans and the worshipping ones, who became the most interesting part — middle-aged men mimicking every guitar lick with their air guitars in one hand and their beer in the other! People had buckets on their heads as well; you kind of felt as though you were in a cult and something was in your beer. There wasn’t, but the sounds Buckethead produced from maneuvering around the guitar were intense! The piercing high notes of white noise and otherworldly soundscapes argued with the blossoming lows that crunched and pummeled your equilibrium.

With 264 albums to his credit, Buckethead played whatever he wanted, and the diehard fans devoured every minute, forgetting they had to return to their desk job in the morning. I wonder if anyone else there had nightmares later that night...

• Concert: Buckethead
• Date: June 21
• Venue: The Music Box
• Seats: General