The Presidents of the United States of America came along at just the right time, during an era when mainstream rock music was exceedingly serious, when tortured grunge musicians ruled the charts. Into that dark emotion, the Presidents injected some much-needed levity, with goofy, catchy songs like Lump, Peaches and Dune Buggy, all from their self-titled 1995 debut album. In addition to singing about peaches and kitties and other silly topics, the Presidents also took a quirky approach to their instrumentation, with singer Chris Ballew playing a “basitar” (a guitar strung with two bass strings) and bandmate Dave Dederer playing a “guitbass” (a three-string guitar).
Dederer has been replaced on guitbass by Andrew McKeag, but the band’s unconventional instrumental style remains intact, and its minimalist approach puts the emphasis on Ballew’s well-crafted hooks and clever lyrics. The Presidents have maintained a cult following and critical acclaim over the last two decades thanks to their infectious sense of fun and their inventive songwriting. The goofy little band has become a long-lasting institution.
House of Blues, 8 p.m. Aug. 23, starting at $23 plus tax and fee. 800.745.3000 Ticketmaster
