Mars Volta Big Day Out Review

Hey, here is a review I got emailed:

The Mars Volta setup time seemed to drag onwards and onwards until they were a good 20 minutes late on stage. The disgruntled fans hurled abuse and other more physical objects at guitar tech's and the like as they hurriedly set up the huge amount of equipment needed for the now 8 piece band.

The sound crew finally walked off stage Spanish sounding, freetime horn and synth music played from the PA, and lead by keyboardist Isaiah Ikey Owens made their way on stage. The introductory theme died away and the band blasted into CYGNUS....VISMOND CYGNUS without needing so much as a count in for members to get their cues. Guitarist Omar Rodriguez Lopez may have in those opening bars put on the most amazing display of guitar acrobatics Australian audiences have ever come to witness.

Cygnus came to a grinding halt mominarily as Cedric Bixler-Zavala screamed "WHO DO YOU TRUST?!" and seemingly 30,000 others asked the same question with him. The song shortly diverged away into some amazing improv, that sometimes could only be described as telepathic. Call and responses and accenting between Omar and drummer Jon Theodore were nothing short of stunning and one wonders how that kind of music can possibly come un-rehearsed. Without stopping, The Volta continued into a few songs off deloused, and Frances including roulette dares and the widow.

One thing most fans complained of after the show was the lack of respect some of the Volta fans had. Understandable they are a very popular band, but as true fans would know, Cedric and Omar are not fans of the western rituals of "moshing" and "surging" and therefore had it not been night and so hard to see, would have been quite disgusted at the acts of some of the more violent fans. Also personally I was angry at the comments called by a particularly drunk shirtless, middle aged man during the Volta's setup time, which included the likes of "Hurry up and play you wog cunts" and "go back to Mexico you wankers". His comments seemed quite Ironic seeing as he had only just finished telling me they were his favorite band.

Overall an absolutely amazing and stunning show, most incredible blend of virtuosic playing and brilliant songwriting, ruined for me by an angry fanbase.

Nick Franklin, Coffs Harbour, Australia