King Khan and the Shrines

Natasha Papadopoulou

South Street Seaport; Fri 27
Mercury Lounge; Aug 2
McCarren Park Pool; Aug 3

In the King Khan & BBQ Show, the marvelously debauched garage duo in which he sings and plays guitar, “King” Arish Khan explores early rock without fancy frills, such as bass players or pants. The band’s concerts are wild affairs featuring Khan in messy drag, but the act is anchored by its melodic, traditionalist rock & roll. In his other band, King Khan and the Shrines, the Canadian-born Berliner turns to another bygone sound: old-time soul, doused with garish psychedelic rock.

In the nine-member-strong Shrines, Khan forgoes his other group’s minimalism to present a spectacle featuring prominent horns, a groovy rhythm section and pom-pom dancers. The nexus remains Khan himself, who appears as a mock preacher in a sleazy white suit, a simultaneous tribute to and send-up of sweaty soul stars. On The Supreme Genius of King Khan and the Shrines (Vice), a new album that culls material from the band’s earlier singles and albums, the singer howls and yelps about all sorts of nonsense. The Shrines’ best songs are also their funniest, particularly “Took My Lady to Dinner,” in which Khan itemizes a date’s dinner order; it begins with “50 miles of ribs,” deep-fried. “My baby’s fat, she’s ugly,” he concludes. “But I love her! I need her!” The musician sings the number with all the conviction of Otis Redding; his date is a lucky woman.