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The Mars Volta live (manchester)

1 vote
? by jordizen
Was anyone else stupid and unfortunate enough to go and see the mars volta perform in manchetser last night?

It really was crap. I arrived at about 8:55 to find that they were already in the middle of a 15 minute song that nobody in the room was interested in (because it was largely atmospheric self-indulgence) and nobody had ever heard. Who thew fuck starts a set like that?!
I don't know why i expected a band like tmv to play an hour set like most other bands: i don't even know why i thought they might be good live.

80% of the show was quite literally a soundcheck. Absolute bollocks! I left at 10 as did many others. I feel sorry for those that stuck another hour.

jordizen | 13 Mar '05, 11:05 | Send note | Report this | Reply

Re: The Mars Volta live (manchester)

if you've heard the album then maybe you'd know what they're like, i'm seeing them tonight..can't wait, think they come on at 8 so i won't miss anything
jerobe | 13 Mar '05, 11:18 | Send note | Report this | Reply

Re: The Mars Volta live (manchester)

i missed out on the birmingham show and went to see agent blue instead, quite glad i did really. Nobody ive spoke to has really said they blew them away, just comments like "it was ace yeah but i wouldnt go again. and these interlude bits were boring".

a mate of mine went to see them in manchester last night too, said he couldnt get it into and the set wasnt accesible. hes a big mars volta fan too. another told me somethin about cedric storming offstage, but i dont know the truth in that.
lowandbehold | 13 Mar '05, 11:23 | Send note | Report this | Reply

Re: The Mars Volta live (manchester)

ive seen them twice before, not on this tour though. first time they were clearly battered on something or other, and it was a total shambles, but it made for good watching coz they are inventive musicians, and they can carry it off. but there is that sense of watching a band in rehearsals...... second time was a little more coherant, they even played a couple of (shock horror) songs of the first album in their entirity with no virtuoso noodling at all! but yeh all in all, its a strange thing the volta live... you either love it or hate it. personally i love it.
nappy_coin | 13 Mar '05, 11:42 | Send note | Report this | Reply

Re: The Mars Volta live (manchester)

I find it funny that anyone feels they have a right to complain about 'boring improvisation' at a Mars Volta show. To claim that you weren't expecting them to improvise for a good hour is so naieve it's untrue...surely their live shows are so renowned (in both a negative and a positive light) that you'd know what to expect.
loveless | 13 Mar '05, 12:40 | Send note | Report this | Reply

Re: The Mars Volta live (manchester)

I`m going to see them tonight as well.Enjoy!
rockinalice | 13 Mar '05, 14:49 | Send note | Report this | Reply

Re: The Mars Volta live (manchester)

I'm off to the Brixton show tonight and am planning to get there for about quarter to seven because I'm not tooo bothered about the support. What time do people think they will hit the stage?
smallpox_champion | 13 Mar '05, 13:12 | Send note | Report this | Reply

Re: The Mars Volta live (manchester)

Is there actually any support? I initially thought it was some random hip hop act but I now have the impression that there's no support. I'd expect them to start between eight and nine...isn't quarter to seven a wee bit early?
loveless | 13 Mar '05, 14:07 | Send note | Report this | Reply

Re: The Mars Volta live (manchester)

From what i've read about TMV they can be a bit hit 'n' miss live. I've seen them once at the Wedgewood Rooms in Portsmouth, 1st date over here after De-Loused came out. They played it in it's entireity and it was even better than the record.....it was jaw-droppingly amazing! Even my cynical friend was completewly blown away by them. Then i've read other things about their shows where they seem a bit too wanky & disinterested in performing.
Kleeb | 13 Mar '05, 14:46 | Send note | Report this | Reply

Re: The Mars Volta live (manchester)

yeah, thta Wedge show was just extraordinary. i think the improv bits were actually very intersting and made you feel even more euphoric when the melodic bits come in...then again the longest solo didn't go beyond about ten minutes, hehe...
thommo | 13 Mar '05, 14:51 | Send note | Report this | Reply

Re: The Mars Volta live (manchester)

Yeah maybe, but I'm really paranoid about missing things so I always get to places early.
smallpox_champion | 13 Mar '05, 15:54 | Send note | Report this | Reply

Re: The Mars Volta live (manchester)

I think they hit the stage at 8pm + theres a dj between 7&8pm
rockinalice | 13 Mar '05, 14:54 | Send note | Report this | Reply

Re: The Mars Volta live (manchester)

I think they hit the stage at 8pm + theres a dj between 7&8pm
rockinalice | 13 Mar '05, 14:54 | Send note | Report this | Reply

Re: The Mars Volta live (manchester)

I'd heard they were hit and miss live too. I guess in the back of my mind i was pretty much expecting them to play Frances... in it's entirety. That would have been pretty amazing
jordizen | 13 Mar '05, 15:30 | Send note | Report this | Reply

Re: The Mars Volta live (manchester)

seen them 3 times: 2 good, 1 pretty bad (it was at a festival, not the best place to see them)
of course they improvise.
its what they do.
alcxxk | 13 Mar '05, 16:18 | Send note | Report this | Reply

Re: The Mars Volta live (manchester)

My word.
I was at manchester last night. It was awesome. I had so much fun. Best gig I've been to in ages. Of course they're going to improvise. Did you expect a set list like the album? They're pretentious twats. Brilliant.
Ask_Frank | 13 Mar '05, 17:57 | Send note | Report this | Reply

Re: The Mars Volta live (manchester)

Was at Barrowlands gig.
No support.

I wouldn't have been suprised if Cedric didn't even realise there was an audience even there. Other than that they were awesome.
the_patient | 13 Mar '05, 22:22 | Send note | Report this | Reply

Re: The Mars Volta live (manchester)

I had a whale of a time. They played something off every album, they played almost everything I wanted to hear and the atmosphere was great where I was.

one_wheeler | 14 Mar '08, 15:29 | Send note | Report this | Reply


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