It’s been a good few days since I’ve returned from seeing The Mars Volta (TMV) and I’m still not sure if I really enjoyed myself or not. Witnessing this band live for the first time, and having no idea what to expect of them, is a truly bewildering and surreal experience. The band don’t exactly define the word ‘conventional’; playing in a venue that is primarily a theatre, not having a support band and coming on stage at an early hour are pretty ballsy moves. But the band does have a highly loyal fan base that would gladly enter a mine field to watch them play.

Even if I’m still not sure if I would see TMV again I have no doubt that I will return to the Roundhouse one day. It is indeed a spectacular venue; the calming atmosphere and first floor barbeque area are already calling me back. The gathering around the Aberdeen Angus burger and nacho dispensing area is not the standard London prog/metal crowd; the normal age group of late teens/early twenties, has been replaced with a large amount of thirty somethings.

But anyway, I stop typing up what I had for dinner last Wednesday, back to the show. The band came on stage from all angles, generating a venue-shaking cheer. They started off with either a song that I wasn’t familiar with (only owning ¾ albums) or some kind of improvisation; I felt this way most of the night. A few of the sounds that were produced came from the new album, The Bedlam in Goliath, such as: Amberinkula, Goliath and Wax Simulacra. They of course had to play something from De-loused in the Comatorium (highly acclaimed debut), which was Drunkship of Lanterns.

In all honesty, I’m not 100% sure on how many songs they played. For the entire two hours, not once did the music stop.
Imagine the entire show represented a city, and each song is a destination. Well the only way to get too destinations in this city is through many long and mesmerizing back alleys. Now, as great as mesmerizing things are, you can honestly hear/see too much of them. I came to the show wanting to hear the well crafted and bizarre songs that I love TMV for. But roughly 60-70% of the material played seemed to be improvised. Songs were even stretched too thrice their original length.

Many fans reacted well to the lengthy songs, but I fear this was just a way of sucking up to the band. There is no doubt in my mind that the eight piece band is overloaded with talent, but I think that the crowd adoration may have gone to their heads. The show seemed more like an event solely made for the band to flex and show off their musical muscles. The fact that there were 3000 odd fans there was just a happy coincidence. I was indeed amazed at some of the guitar and saxophone solos that took place in the improvisations, but I would rather they played some more material from the albums.

I’m still not sure if I would see the band again, I enjoyed the show, but I’m not sure I could part with eight pints worth of cash, knowing of what I would be seeing/hearing.

Seeing The Mars Volta makes you appreciate straight forward lives shows, but not in a bad way. Not like Kingdom of the Crystal Skull makes you appreciate Temple of Doom more. These shows are for die hard fans only.