Danger. Espionage. Guns. Effortlessly taking out all the bad guys before they realise your in the room… And Women
Although it has never come up on the pages of Bonus previously, television show The Venture Bros. has been one of my most enjoyable watching experiences since the days of barely blinking at age 6 while watching 60’s era Batman. To be brief, you have an animated series with 4 full seasons completed featuring the adventures of 2 boys who aren’t the brightest, their pathetic yet hilarious father who is living in the shadow of his own father, and their nearly invincible kick ass professionally trained body guard (to say the least).
The shows soundtrack is something in it’s own right. Scored by JG Thirlwell, (“HOLY SHIT”, I yell as my research skills uncover he is actually) an Australian with a huge back catalogue and an almost as long list of names who he has collaborated with. Nick Cave and Nine Inch Nails among them.
A mix of orchestral, rock band, percussion and synthesized sounds combined to make a jazzed up detective, James Bond like mood which at time has so many things going on at once it’s hard not to be overwhelmed. Other times simple, swingy and slow with organs and pianos. Usually though, quite suspenseful and building if not already exploding into high action.
Now check out the above video. This is the coolest conducting work I’ve ever seen (yet maybe not the best). To see this music in this live setting is pretty amazing to me. Performed just under a year ago in Brooklyn where Thirlwell is based, I can only hope I get to experience a show like this one day.
