I’d been trailing him for months by way of Oslo, Sri Lanka, Cairo, Edison. As each clue turned up another dead end, my mind obsessed over the question, “Where is Guy?”

I received word that Guy (that’s ghee, like the Indian clarified butter) had left 4 associates behind in New Jersey of all places. Reaching them was my best hope for getting the information I so desperately needed. I made phone calls, sent emails, hired carrier pigeons until, finally, they agreed to meet with me.

Per the agreement, I met their Gimp at Stuff Yer Face in scenic downtown New Brunswick. A large, haggard, bull of a man, he eyed me suspiciously from behind his pink Fish Bowl drink. Our eyes engaged in a brief power struggle. When he finally spoke, his words were curt and unintelligible. He stood up, patted me down for a gun or wire, then applied a blindfold.

When the blindfold was finally removed, we were in the Court Tavern (why did we have to meet at Stuff Yer Face?). Guy, Guy, Guy, and Guy were just starting a set in the back half of the main bar. They referred to themselves as Guy due to the fact that they all shared (stole?) Guy’s passport.

Their instrumentals were the kind of infectious jams that transmuted an unexpected contact high. I was mesmerized by Guy’s particular brand of psychedelic space surf punk. Their persistent vamping was peppered with subtle freak-outs, no doubt a direct result of their disordered minds.

The guys from Guy played comfortably in a variety of style conglomerations from art punk reminiscent of Sonic Youth to the brooding psychedelia of Radiohead to ferocious psychobilly ala Reverend Horton Heat. Throughout the set, I heard elements of Pink Floyd, Can, The White Stripes, Buddy Guy, Rob Zombie, and belly dance.

Leaping from genre to genre, and spiraling into psychedelic noise, Guy made a strong impression on my subconscious mind. Their sound is a refreshing shot in the arm, like smooth China White that twists your stomach, blurs your vision, and leaves you itching for more.

When the set ended, Guy asked, “So, what information do you need from Guy?”

I was astonished by the speed that the words flew from my mouth. “I need his recipe for quiche. I’m having a dinner party, and thought it would go swimmingly with potatoes-au-gratin.” They agreed, and promised to pass the message along to him if he could be reached.

Guy will be appearing at the Court Tavern again on Tuesday, May 20th at 10-ish. You can find out more at www.guytangiers.com.

Guy can be heard on WNBL - New Brunswick Life Radio. Click “Listen” at the top of the page to hear Guy and other great New Brunswick bands.