“‘Kaboom’ is my favorite song in The [Unauthorized] Hunter S. Thompson Musical,” says George Salazar, currently starring as Michael in Joe Iconis’ musical Be More Chill Off-Broadway. “I woke up in the morning to a recording that I still have of Joe sitting at my keyboard singing it. ... I put my headphones in to listen to it and I just wept on the train.”
The song is one of the featured tracks on the duo’s new album Two-Player Game. Released July 27 by Ghostlight Records, the album is currently available via physical, streaming, and digital formats.Produced by Ian Kagey and Kurt Deutsch, the album includes songs such as “Broadway, Here I Come!” from Smash, “Michael in the Bathroom” and the titular “Two-Player Game” from Be More Chill, “Tiny Short Little Song,” and “The Answer.” The program was originally presented in concert at Feinstein’s/54 Below.
“In The Hunter S. Thompson musical, 'Kaboom' is this big group number; it's like this huge finale,” Iconis explains in the video above. “I love that the first time many people will hear that song is as a solo. They're getting the song at its most basic, most distilled version of the song.”
“It’s an amazing song about art and legacy and what we leave behind,” adds Salazar. “Just listen to those words; they're unbelievable. They’ll stick with you as they've done for me.”