Reviews

Pat DiNizio, frontman for The Smithereens, was on an unusual national tour of small venues. He entered into his website tour-diary the following review of a show during which Outer Body Llama played an opening set.

January 19, 2000 - 12:40 P.M.

Wednesday afternoon. Home again. Just drove up from the show in Washington, DC last night sponsored by...the guys from the band Outer Body Llama... The concert took place in a magnificent older house (circa 1920 or so)in a neighborhood of Washington, DC. The vibe of the show and audience interaction was just terrific, and the hospitality second to none...

After my friends Outer Body Llama opened the show with a great semi-acoustic set, I took the stage and did long two "unplugged" sets with a short intermission in-between... I had a great time! Thanks again to all of the folks involved with the show, your efforts are greatly appreciated. By the way, pick up Outer Body Llama's CD, it's GREAT! I'll speak to all of you again after the next Living Room Concert, thanks.

-Pat DiNizio

The Washington Post
Weekend
January 16, 1998

OUTER BODY LLAMA "Electric Child Freakshow"

by Mark Jenkins

The various styles that constitute Outer Body Llama's sound are skillfully reproduced, but not so deftly integrated. This local trio's "Electric Child Freakshow" emphasizes neopsychedelic funk-rock that suggests everyone from contemporaries like Phish and Primus to venerable elders like Jimi Hendrix and the Beatles. (The title song echoes both of the latter.) Yet the hip-hop groove of "The Offramps" and the unprintably earthy refrain of "Kitten" is countered by such songs as "Voyager One- and "I'm a Mess," which recall the jangly, tuneful rush of RE.M.

Perhaps this split reflects the effect of having two frontmen, although presumably singer-bassist Eduardo Llanes and singer-guitarist Enrique Llanes have a few things in common. It also surely manifests the stylistic explorations of a young band; this hard-working trio has probably already moved beyond the tentativeness of this disc's songs.

Scene Magazine
Issue 7, Vol 1
Oct. 14-20, 1994

General Elevator with Outer Body Llama at Club Asylum

by Cole Quinn

One of the curses of being a music writer is that when you go out to relax and come across some killin' music, you can't sleep that night until you write about it. So there I was, knee-deep in the new faces from GW that descend on Asylum seasonally. I'm chillin', I've got my Spaten and Camels, and I soon find out what the crowd was so intent on hearing.

Up from the small corner stage comes the fierce, phat, rapid-fire music of ... Who are these guys anyway? (even the owner wasn't sure: "Friends of General Elevator or something"). The groove was funky but heavily underscored by some good old punk rock, the vocals were nicely effected, and the drummer was very quick (making up, perhaps, for a thin riff-bank). I finally found out

that the Stunned Bats had changed their name to the Outer Body Llama and were presently kicking my ass. Aside from a mini mosh-pit, the set was fabulous. (Don't get me wrong, I'm all for moshin'. but not in tiny Asylum; the floor all but gave way beneath us.)

General Elevator took over at about 1:30 and also did a good job of delivering their eclectic style of music, which included everything from an edgy version of-Pink Floyd's "Goodbye, Cruel World," to thick duel-rap, to punk rock, to almost hippie-iock (in structure, rather than tone). I had heard good things about General Elevator last month, and was glad to have checked them out; but seriously people, keep your eyes out for Outer Body Llama. If they're consistent, you'll be in for a hell of a show. [A word of encouragement to local bands: You never know who's watching.]

Scene Magazine Review
Issue 24, Vol.1
Feb. 17-23, 1995

Outer Body Llama Republic Gardens

by Alex Zavistovich

Originally known as Stunned Bat. Outer Bodv Llama is a threepiece band featuring Enrique Llanes on guitar, his twin brother Eduardo on bass, and drummer Joey Rossetti. The trio is based in Silver Spring, MD, and has quickly amassed a repertoire of 51 songs which boast solid playing, inventive arrangements, and influences that span three decades.

Outer Body Llama sound like Nirvana crossed with XTC's Dukes of Stratosphere alter ego, or Bad Religion with Carlos Santana sitting in on guitar. The three-piece approach of the Llama combines the raw, angry sound of the best of Epitaph's A-list with trippy late-'60s influences such as the 13th Floor Elevators. On songs like "Trixie," with its potently catchy chorus, and "Oasis," redolent of The Amboy Dukes, Outer Body Llama show themselves to be front-row honor students at the Summerschool of Love. Other songs, like the phat groove "Trampolina" and the punky "Winner," are more contemporary, while no less catchy.