The Mars Volta

[dunkrag]

Anyone else looking forward to seeing The Mars Volta in either Manchester or Brixton on March?

Just picked up the new single and really looking forward to the new album due in a couple of weeks.

Took me 10mins to work out if I should have been spinning the 7" at 33.3 or 45 rpm though :D.

Really like the new single though.

[DM]

Sounds like the ******* spawn of Alvin and the chipmunks and Billy Corgan.

[douglasb]

Check out them covering The Sugarcubes "Birthday" on the exclusive link:

Amazon (http://www.thedvdforums.com/affiliatelink.php?localaffiliateid=8&url=http://www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/ASIN/B00118TIFS/thedvdforums-21)

[uk_mez]

Got tickets for Brixton, looking forward to it though I'm not really sure what to expect. Only own DITC so might pick this/the others up before the gig, how do they compare?

[Jon]

Looking forward to the album - they can be a stunning band with the discipline of the studio - but I think I'll give the tour a miss this time around. I caught them in Glasgow on the Frances The Mute tour, and while I was aware they were prone to a bit of improvisation, I didn't expect a good 75% of the "set" to consist of ineptly-played freeform wannabe-jazz & looped feedback.

When they condescended to play their actual compositions, they were blindingly good - but there were perhaps 4 recognisable songs in a 2-hour set. The attitude of the band was uncommunicative, hostile & arrogant, and about a quarter of the audience just walked out.

That said, I'm still slightly tempted to go again, in the hope they've learned a bit of discipline (or at least a few jazz scales) - but I know I'd just come out feeling frustrated & ripped off again.

If you haven't seen them live before - excercise extreme caution!

[dunkrag]

Well, I'm going tonight in Glasgow. Don't really know what to expect - I'll let you know how it goes!

[Jon]

Well, I'm going tonight in Glasgow. Don't really know what to expect - I'll let you know how it goes!
Have a good one - I'm now finding myself slightly disappointed that I'm not going!

Only slightly, mind. ;)

[dunkrag]

Well I'm back.

Soooo glad I saw them. Subtle, understated. Not how I would describe them. :D:

I actually left before the end - I left them 34 min into the current track and they had been playing for a good 140 mins at that point - it was just a little too much for me (and I was stone cold sober) I couldn't tell you what the track was, although I think it had elements of Miranda in it.

I think they played L' Via L' Viaquez, Wax Simulacra, Cygnus, Inertiatic ESP, Viscera Eyes, Aberinkula, Metatron, Goliath, although not in that order and I could be totally mistaken.

I'd definitely see them again, although not one of them spoke a word to the audience the entire time. Omar's guitar playing though - stunning. As was the drummer, whoever he was. World class musicianship in fact - just a little....bonkers.

[Bish]

I love the albums but wouldn't rush out to see them live unless I was at a festival. I've seen a few live bootlegs and never got to the end of any of them in one sitting.

[dunkrag]

Set list from last night. Seemed like I thought they had played a couple of songs that they didn't. :nuts:

Roulette
Viscera eyes
Wax
Goliath
Oroboros
Tetra
Agadez
Cygnus
Aberinkula
Drunkship Of Lanterns
Ilyena
Meccaamputetchure

Just shy of 3 hours.

edit: they need to get a couple of their tracks onto the next Guitar Hero! :nuts: