After our last several attempts to see live music at the Orange Show were thwarted by inclement weather, Eggs and I were rarin' to pay another visit to Houston's best tribute to citrus. Though the skies were cloudy on Thursday, October 16, the rain managed to keep away long enough for us to take in Mucca Pazza, Baby Dee and Benjamin Wesley.

Read more about the night after the jump

As we drove to the Orange Show, the gray sky still had us skeptical that the show would indeed go on. When we exited the car, however, we immediately began hearing the distinct sound of live music coming from the direction of the monument. At the time, we didn't know who it was, but we liked what we heard on the short walk to the entrance. After picking up wristbands and drink tickets, we arrived inside the Orange Show even more primed than we'd been thirty minutes prior. Since most of the monument is open-air, I'd worried that it might have sustained damage during Hurricane Ike. Happily, though, only minimal damage occurred. The windmill that's usually attached to one side of the building wasn't up, but for the most part everything was in its right place. There weren't many spectators present, perhaps a result of the gloomy weather conditions. That's unfortunate, because from start to finish, this was one of the best shows I've seen all year.

We found one-man band Benjamin Wesley midway through his set inside the circular fish pond structure that serves as the Orange Show's stage. Wesley lends his bass talents to Houston bands Basses Loaded and Tha Fucking Transmissions, and I'd previously seen him play with both those groups, but I had no idea that he was such a multi-instrumentalist. Backed by pre-recorded beats, Wesley sang while incorporating an array of instruments into his music, including electric and acoustic guitars, an accordion, a harmonica and (of course) a bass. I don't think he's released a solo album yet, but on the strength of the originals I heard during his Orange Show performance, I'd definitely be interested in hearing more from him. I especially enjoyed the interesting juxtapositions he presented - pairing futuristic-sounding beats with an accordion, for example.

Going into the show, I didn't really know what to think of Cleveland's Baby Dee. From Internet research, I'd gathered that she plays harp and piano and is transgendered. I also saw pictures of her dressed as a 'bilateral hermaphrodite' and watched a few YouTube videos that made me prematurely draw the conclusion that she'd be too campy for my taste. In fact, her live show was incredibly campy - but it was also laugh-out-loud funny. From opener "The Only Bones That Show," she had me hooked. I wasn't the only one - I spotted several members of Mucca Pazza intently watching her set as well. Her style might be described as vaudevillian, but with an unexpected darker slant. To introduce her second song, she declared, "This one's kinda spooky...well, I'm kinda spooky." When someone in the audience cackled in appreciation, she grinned and quipped, "That sounds like my love child over there. Say hi to your dad for me!" She successfully captured the audience's attention and kept it, bowing with flourish and adding amusing anecdotes between songs.

Simply put, Mucca Pazza is the marching band that I wish I'd been in during high school. Known for their energetic live shows, this Chicago-based "circus punk" collective couldn't have been more perfect for the Orange Show. Band members with speakers duct taped to their helmets were constantly appearing in different sections of the monument, blasting from a balcony, or hanging from a railing, or startling seated fans by suddenly materializing next to them. There was never a dull moment, and the band genuinely seemed to be enjoying themselves as much as the audience was. It's difficult to capture in words the energy, enthusiasm, and brilliance of Mucca Pazza - it's something that you really need to see for yourself. You're guaranteed to leave their show with a goofy grin on your face - you might even find yourself experiencing nostalgia for your band nerd days. Seriously - I would re-learn the clarinet in a heartbeat if Mucca Pazza would have me. Go see this band the next opportunity you have - there's nothing else quite like them in the world.

You can view more photos from the night on our Flickr page, and more videos on our YouTube channel.

--Cereal