Dance, Improv, Nudity, Absurdity: Har Mar Superstar wows Underground Arts

Har Mar Superstar | photo by Ben Wong for WXPN | brotherlylost.com

With such an intoxicating voice, literally and figuratively, and lyrics to swoon the clothes off of any concert-goer (although it’s usually himself who winds up stripping), Har Mar Superstar brought an unforgettable performance to Philly this past Monday. Making his fourth stop as the headliner of his Best Summer Ever Tour with Texas rock band, Sweet Spirit, he showed Underground Arts his timeless dance moves, hilarious improvisation, and partial nudity.

Those unfamiliar with the Minneapolis-bred Har Mar Superstar (aka Sean Tillmann) will most likely be apprehensive to his brand of artistry. From his stage name, which originally came from Har Mar Mall in Roseville, MN, to his physical demeanor and pelvic-thrusting transgressions on stage, it’s easy to judge the book by it’s cover. He’s an entertainer all around. Whether it’s his musical prowess, or his onscreen cameos (Starsky and Hutch, Broad City, etc.), or his podcast Nocturnal Emotions, Har Mar Superstar’s talents can be found in many mediums. His newest album, Best Summer Ever, which was produced by Julian Casablancas of The Strokes, continues to show his multiplicity with an arrangement of songs that can each be matched to any era of music starting with the 50’s all the way to the early 90’s.

Even his wardrobe shouts retro, as he came out to the stage in an evocative varsity jacket and colorful striped spandex to perform “Anybody’s Game.” While he took most of those clothes off throughout the set and made out with random women in the front row, that’s what makes him so loveable, his pure fearlessness and originality. While his outfit changes and stage banter are the perks of the performance, it’s his voice and lyrical ability that truly stand out. Songs like “Tall Boy” showed off his writing side and playfulness while others such as “We Don’t Sleep” and “Restless Leg” utilized enough brass moments and catchy choruses that sounds as if he should have been the 6th member of The Jackson Five. His other hits like “Prisoner” and “Everywhere I’m Local” boasted romance, mixing Motown inspired love ballads with 90’s pop jingles. It’s as if Justin Timberlake and Mayer Hawthorne wrote the soundtrack to a 1960’s cop-drama.

The highlight of the night was when Har Mar ran off the stage with the mic and performed the entirety of his Prince-inspired love-ballad, “How Did I Get Through The Day” on top of the venue’s bar. After crawling around and dancing on the counter, the bartender handed him a shot of tequila to finish out the tune before returning to the stage.

Moments like these are why Har Mar Superstar flourishes in small room settings like Underground Arts. In 2015 he had a residency at Boot & Saddle where he performed two shows with just himself and a backing track. Now only one year later, this is the second time he’s played in Philly, the first being at MilkBoy in April, bringing an entire band to match the rich boldness of his music. As his sound and energy continues to grow it’s evident that the smaller venues are becoming too tight for the band members he brings and the audiences that follow him. That being said, that same intimacy is what makes his performances so unique. Even to the very end as he closed out the set with “Lady, You Shot Me,” a belching brass-heavy anthem from the album Bye Bye 17, he continued to cater to the environment and get everyone involved in his endearing absurdity that reminds fans that they’re not just paying to hear some great music, they’re paying to see him, and whatever he decides to do with their time.