University English instructor Spenser Simrill seems awfully serious for somebody who spent two straight weeks with the craziest band to come out of Athens.

He thoughtfully assesses the influence of Greek myth, linguistic origins and gender theory when explaining Of Montreal’s revealing, yet untouchable, stage presence.

Instructor Spenser Simrill spent two weeks observing the dizzying lifestyle of one of Athens’ most popular modern bands. Photo by Michael Harris

Simrill followed the elusive band as they toured northern Europe in late January and emerged with a 45-minute documentary entitled “Of Montreal: Family Nouveau,” which premiered at the Chicago International Music and Movies Festival in March.

The movie reveals both surprising humanity and strong relationships in a band that puts on a frenzied circus of disguise every time it performs. Lead singer Kevin Barnes has performed in a wedding dress, in animal costumes and in no clothes at all.

“The weird thing about artists is that sometimes the people who are the most comfortable on stage are the most reserved and private in person,” Simrill said.

Simrill was initially invited to sell T-shirts for the band before starting the spring semester teaching abroad in Cortona.

“My kid brother was also studying in Cortona. He also had a plane ticket, so I said, ‘Well, why don’t you get him to sell the T-shirts, and I run a couple of cameras and make a documentary of the tour?’” Simrill said.

Simrill knew members of Of Montreal through mutual friends, and the band quickly became comfortable with his constant presence.

“I just wanted them to feel as comfortable as possible, and so that just basically involved just being there, but not really there,” Simrill said. “I couldn’t participate in any of the interactions because that would ruin the movie, so I was just sort of there just send out positive energy.”

The 12-day tour traveled to 11 cities, taking one night off in Glasgow to celebrate the 250th anniversary of Scotland’s national poet, Robert Burns.

“These guys are rock stars, and they’re living the dream, but it’s work,” Simrill said. “You’re traveling, sometimes you’re going 10 hours to 10

hours on his bus that has no shower, you can’t take a shit on the bus, you have to stop at these weird places, [and] there’s ferry rides, so there’s not very much sleep.”

Barnes deepens the intimacy of the film by alternating between intellectual monologues and athletically pumping out push-ups. The rest of the band buzzes around his queenly rituals, quietly exhibiting their own personal blends of stage presence and solitude.

Barnes’ artistry stitches together an aesthetic that Simrill calls an “Apollonian/Dionysian duality.” Dionysus, as the Greek god of wine, chaos and community historically contrasts Apollo, the god of light, order and individuality.

“True art is when you have a fusion of those opposites,” Simrill said. “And from an artistic standpoint, their art is musical, it is theatrical, it’s visual. I think their music really achieves an awesome fusion of that synthesis, not only in content, but also in form.”

Simrill plans to premiere “Family Nouveau” at the AthFest FilmFest in June and promises viewers a surprise event at the screening that will complement the film’s special mix of family bonds and zany antics.