Like many groups, Crash Test Dummies legacy is primarily tied to one big, hit single. In their native Canada, they’ve notched five top-ten hits and four additional top-40 appearances. However, in the U.S., it’s the #4 smash “Mmm Mmm Mmm Mmm,” and that’s the end of it. Weirdly, that track only hit #14 in their homeland.
In any case, Crash Test Dummies are one more group with just one widely-known song despite having an amazing canon, particularly their first two albums, which are extraordinary. Fortunately, their big hit is a great song, which isn’t always the case with other acts in the same predicament.
The tunes
On the current set list, half the tracks come from the first two albums, with seven pulled from the sophomore effort, the brilliant God Shuffled His Feet. They open, though, with the title track to their debut, The Ghosts That Haunt Me, which sets the table nicely. After a track from 2003’s Puss ‘n’ Boots, it’s the very fine “Flying Feeling” and “Songbird” from 2010’s Oooh La La! From there, it’s straight into a suite of God Shuffled His Feet tracks.
In some ways, Crash Test Dummies ply the same waters as their countrymen Bare Naked Ladies, as well as American acts They Might Be Giants and Talking Heads. All four present clever lyrical ideas with multiple musical influences, but Crash Test Dummies are just a bit more subtle in their presentation.
Banger after banger
That’s evident throughout the set list as the band drops banger after banger. The only knock comes when the very talented Ellen Reid steps up to do the band’s amazing cover of XTC’s “The Ballad of Peter Pumpkinhead.” Normally, Brad Roberts does the backing vocals in the chorus with his distinctive baritone. However, it’s guitarist Stuart Cameron that lately takes those duties.
Cameron is a touring member, but is no less enthusiastic in that role. The main set wraps up with “Afternoons and Coffee Spoons.” Cameron, during the bridge, gets the audience on their feet and rocking during that section of the song.
The four-song encore includes a great new track called “The Sacred Alphabet,” and is capped off, not surprisingly, by the top-10 U.S. hit “Mmm, Mmm, Mmm, Mmm.” What’s great is that the crowd this night knew the band so well that any number of songs could have been a great closer. If they tour again, and it seems they will to promote the album they released this past March, you must see them.
PF Wilson has been writing about music, TV, radio, and movies for over 20 years. He has also written about sports, business, and politics with his work appearing in Cincinnati CityBeat, The Houston Press, Cleveland Scene, Cincinnati Magazine, Cincy Magazine, Atomic Ranch, and many more. Check out his podcast PF’s Tape Recorder available from Podbean or in iTunes.