31 photos of the spectacle that is White Cowbell Oklahoma

Wow.

Like a tsunami of sordid songwriting, mostly-naked-pasty-clad burlesque dancers, power tools, fire, sweat and booze, this past weekend's White Cowbell Oklahoma spectacle crashed into the Grand Theatre.

Supported by the psychobilly blues of Big John Bates and the Voodoo Dollz, and the gospel roots punk of the Schomberg Fair, the event was the unexpected party of the year.

White Cowbell's notorious and far-reaching reputation for impropriety has to be more than slightly intimidating when a relative newcomer to the scene is slotted into the opening spot.

Such was the case for Toronto's Schomberg Fair.

The band didn't have scantily-clad ladies or fire or power tools.

What it did bring to the event in spades was raucous and inspired speed gospel teeming with tales of the downtrodden hunting for salvation.

Matt Bahen, Nate Sidon and Pete Garthside peppered the unsuspecting audience with with breakneck banjo, thunderous beats and bone-rattling baritone vocals.

No spectacle, no gimmicks.

Just raw and remarkable music.

Big John Bates and the Voodoo Dollz followed with blues-infused psychobilly, wanton burlesque dancers and the incredibly fit Brandy "Bones" Anderson on upright bass.

While the Voodoo Dollz disrobed, lit sensitive body parts afire and played doctor by lubricating an audience member from a Jagermeister bottle, the trio of musicians ripped through a set list capable of making the Reverend Horton Heat, and possibly the devil himself, blush.

Needless to say, there are a number of photographs from this portion of the night that would be highly inappropriate to post here.

Not to be outdone, White Cowbell Oklahoma's signature southern-fried school of rock brought some spectacle of its own.

The band's namesake and most infamous prop - that's right, the cowbell isn't just for beating with a stick - was front-and-centre with sparks and flames flying as the six-man Toronto-based outfit played a sweaty, booze-fueled list of fan favourites.

After the contents of an entire bottle labelled 'Jagermeister' were poured down the throats of eager audience members, the night culminated in Chainsaw Charlie applying his power tool to industrial-sized rolls of toilet paper, showering the crowd in a blanket of white.

Debauchery and gimmicks aside, the lads that make up White Cowbell are a talented lot of players who can verse anyone in the true meaning of the term "rock out".

They've also attended a party or two, but that's merely speculation.