Review: The Mars Volta

Most great concerts leave fans wanting more.  That's not the case with the Mars Volta.  The band's performance Monday at the Midland Theater was like a thrilling roller coaster ride.  It was so outlandishly intense that its conclusion came as a welcome relief.

That the Mars Volta is so magnificent on stage might surprise the uninitiated.  After all, their five studio albums contain sprawling opuses with titles like "Meccamputechture" and "Halo of Nembutals."   Their primary vocalist shrieks like a cat trapped in a helium factory and their backdrop Monday consisted of giant black light posters.  These ridiculous elements are improbably transformed into assets when the band performs. Like a rabid Pink Floyd, an unhinged Led Zeppelin or the logical extension of Jimi Hendrix's psychedelic explorations, the Mars Volta offers a staggeringly monumental live show.

The Midland's lofty ceiling and ornate decor provided an ideal setting for the Mars Volta's rococo attack.  With about 1,200 people in attendance, however, the room was only half full. 

Much of the Mars Volta's unforgivingly discordant hour-and-forty-minute concert was impenetrable, but a few selections offered points of entry.  These included "The Widow," one of the band's few concessions to conventional song structure, and an almost danceable version of "Teflon."  The fierce blues-based "Goliath" and an epic reading of "Ilyena," complemented by keyboardist Ikey Owens' imaginative flourishes, were also tuneful highlights of an otherwise violently dissonant display.

An extended modal meltdown reminiscent of the late work of John Coltrane offered some respite.  Guitarist Omar Rodriguez-Lopez' hushed droning provided a few minutes of relative rest from the show's earsplitting volume.  The night could have benefited from a few more such moments.  So unrelenting was the assault that the material began to sound alike.  Yet the band remains unapologetic. 

Vocalist Cedric Bixler-Zavala dedicated "Eunuch Provocateur," a vicious celebration of noise, to the group's early adopters who supported "the two f**kups who quit that last band."  It was a reference to the acrimonious breakup of At the Drive-In, the acclaimed punk-based band that he and Rodriguez-Lopez departed in 2001.

And make no mistake- the Mars Volta is primarily a vehicle for Rodriguez-Lopez' sensational guitar work.  While he rarely takes traditional guitar solos and he eschews gratuitous flash , his technical mastery of his instrument is the band's focal point.  Vocalist Bixler-Zavala doesn't deliver lyrics so much as he duets with Rodriguez-Lopez's guitar.  His otherworldly voice remains startling, but his physical antics were no less impressive.  His unnatural body contortions resembled a demented calisthenics exhibition.  Of the sturdy supporting cast of five, frenetic drummer Thomas Pridgen was the most impressive.  His powerful work shook the Midland.

It's a bludgeoning that only the most dedicated of fans would want to receive every day.  After a period of recovery, however, most members of Monday's audience will eagerly anticipate the next opportunity to get in line for the Mars Volta's thrill ride.

| Bill Brownlee, Special to The Star

Comments

[Scott]

Good show, although I never felt as though I got into the show, sometimes that has more to do with myself than the band. Sometimes a concert grabs you and other times it doesnt, but I did enjoy the music. I know people around me were into it, all hell was breaking lose up front center stage. I wish it had hit 2 hours and the band leaving with no encore was some what disappointing. I think this show would have been better served at the Uptown. I saw them last year at the Beaumont, that place was way to small, but the energy was much tighter. Don't get me wrong the Midland is a haughtly sweet venue but maybe a little big right now for Volta. I think everything would have come together much better at the Uptown. Did anyone get a set list, curious how much was played off De-Loused. By the way, thanks for the stick Thomas!

[Michael]

Just thought I'd pass this on:

Megadeth, Warbringer and Suicide Silence

Dec. 5th at the Beaumont (!?!?)

[mankvill]

Setlist for the show?

[Ronnie]

I caught them in St Louis last week and it was incredible. Big time music fans should take note. This is a band you need to put into the, "Gotta see them before I die", category.
Mankvill, Pitch.com has their setlist.

[Bubba]

WAY to go, Bill! Good review - I was at MARS VOLTA and my only complaint is they were a bit too loud. Other than that, I (for one) feel it was a nice 'consolation' gig for NOT getting to catch AEROSMITH this year. I've accepted it by now.

[Nathan A. SA, TX]

I saw them in San Antonio on the 19th...our set went like this...probably not much different from the rest of the tour.

1. Son Et Lumiere
2. Inertiatic ESP
3. Goliath
4. Cotopaxi
5. Roulette Dares
6. Viscera Eyes
7. Halo Of Nembutals
8. Eunuch Provocateur
9. Ilyena
10. Teflon
11. Drunkship Of Lanterns
12. Luciforms
13. The Widow
14. Wax Simulacra

Highlights: *Cedric walking into the crowd during Goliath (it was a seated venue so I'm sure he was trying to add some life to the crowd). *The band sounded great from my vantage point. •At one point Cedric asked folks to put down the cameras and cell-phones as to be more in the moment. •We got a picture with Omar as he left the venue.

Lowlights: •Our venue was all seated and the ushers were quick to keep people in their rows (I don't slam dance, but I know it made for a stiffer show) •I was expecting a longer set. •Cedric only went into the crowd once.

All in all, an inspiring performance. Sign me up for the next time they come to or around Sam Antonio.

[Scott]

They removed all the seats on the floor which was nice, I hate seats at a concert, seems like a very boring way to listen to live music.