Eight people, all dressed in striped pants or striped shirts, sing solemnly with their eyes shut to the dimly lit Mission District street. Only the stomp of their feet back up the melodic chant, “Capital I, cap-i-tal I. Capital I, cap-i-tal I.” While the spectacle might seem almost cultish, it is just the Dead Hensons preparing for their set, practicing one of their favorite Sesame Street songs, “Capital I.”

The band’s live show includes a number of other classic Muppet and Sesame Street songs, everything from Kermit the Frog’s famous “Rainbow Connection” complete with tap-shoe solos by Karinanne Jones, the group’s drummer and washboard player, to Sesame Street’s “The Ladybug Picnic.” Genres deviate from rock and roll, to jazz, to soul, to hillbilly and more. If Jim Henson’s creatures sing it, so do the Dead Hensons.

The newer Brian Henson Muppets and Sesame Street songs, are another story though, “The modern version just doesn’t have the same feel,” says singer and spoon player Erica Johnson. Fortunately, the older shows and movies have provided a plethora of songs to choose from.

With thousands of different options, the band tries to select “the ones that are most kick ass,” says guitarist and banjo player Scarold P. Victim. Band members suggest songs they remember from childhood or particularly enjoyed from recently viewed tapes of the old shows, then they decide whether or not it rocks enough to be put on the Dead Hensons’ set list.

Like many American children, the members grew up watching both The Muppet Show, Sesame Street and The Muppet Movie. About a year and a half ago, Ryan Beebe, now 24, decided to take a step back into his childhood and start a Muppet cover band. He asked a couple of friends, and soon, the Dead Hensons were born.

The result was a smiling group of childish adults with a base drum full of stuffed animals and heads full of caffeine and liquor. The rocking songs manage to hook audiences with catchy beats and easy to remember songs. Because the children’s songs were written to be easy to learn and sing along to, even the less-remembered tunes are easy to sing along to, with lyrics as literally as simple as counting to ten.

Older men dressed in all leather, chubby computer nerds, college-aged hipsters are some of the many different types of people found dancing until their sides hurt at The Dead Hensons’ shows.

The strangely successful combination of innocent childhood memories and drunken rock and roll fun has enabled the band to book shows with some of the most unique groups in the country. Their first concert was as an opening act for Captured! By Robots, a one-man band with robots play drums, horns and other instruments. Other line-ups involved the hardcore polka band Polkacide, Power Ranger themed P Lander Z, and Schwarzenegger mockers Arnoldcore.

Even their fans can be strange, when the 8 piece band went on its first tour to L.A., audience members showed up wearing full Muppet costumes. “It’s cool that people got excited, and it was a little freakish. But it got us excited and in the mood,” says Johnson.

Wednesday, November 5th, 2008 @ 3:19 pm music
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