Jesse W. Barron ’09 begins with a flourishing solo cadenza. Hunched over the piano, eyes closed, he taps his foot to the beat. A moment later, Eyal Dechter ’09 strums the first chord on his acoustic guitar, leading into an original melody. Loren J. Bienvenu ’08 joins in on drums, completing the trio. Dechter’s soft tenor breaks into a love song. The band crescendos as they near the chorus, at which point Dechter sings the lyric that gave the song its name, “You are my fetish”.
These three musicians form the band “Fetish Fetish,” and as their name suggests, all of their songs have a common theme—bringing the bedroom to the stage.
“The concept of the band is unlike other bands, where their songs are not only about sexual fetishes,” says Barron. “This band has songs that are only about sexual fetishes.”
The band’s songs venerate fetishes that span the sexual spectrum from “Public Service,” a song about sex in public places, to “Furries,” a song about sex in animal suits “with a hole for the dick,” explains Barron. Most of their work explores the oft-uncharted territory of body paint and doing it to the waltz in “three four time.” But it’s not all fun and games: one of their recent songs, “Sick of Sex,” points out that intercourse can’t always be an obstacle course of lechery.
Barron says the three men’s lives mirror the content of their songs, calling their relationship with one another “polyamorous.”
“We have been trying these sexual fetishes out on each other,” he jokes, to which Beinvenu replied, “Yea, we want to be authentic.”
Amy E. Heberle ’09, Dechter’s girlfriend, indicates that, joking aside, Fetish Fetish truly is dedicated to their work. “I love listening to them play, obviously,” Heberle says. “More importantly, though, our sex life is off the charts. And I never knew I had such a talent for painting.”
While the band has only made one public appearance thus far and doesn’t yet have many fans in the traditional sense of the word, Bienvenu says they’re going to work their way up the charts with a fail-proof plan for fame.
“This is our recipe for success—or rather sexcess: a pound of…umm…I always forget this recipe.”
His bandmate was quick to help him out. “A pound of rhythm,” Decther says.
“A pound is a lot,” Bienvenu replies.
“Two cups of rhythm,” Barron interjects.
The guitarist’s hatred of all things sweet (note: there are no songs involving food fetishes) gave the band some trouble with their metaphorical recipe: “How do you make a cake? Eggs, you need eggs right?” Dechter asks.
But Beinvenu saved the plan with a recipe fit for Gourmet—and Rolling Stone. “Two tablespoons of sultry melody, a dash of soulful lyricism, and a pinch of passion.”
While Fetish Fetish would certainly be a disaster in the kitchen, they’re bound to be a hit on the stage. And probably get hit on off the stage. The band’s first public concert is taking place today at the Harvard Advocate, from 10 p.m. until everyone trickles home to bed.
