The Mars Volta 4/05/2005

Not even an unreasonable number of frat boys with baseball hats askew, and clueless gringos in straw sombreros (because, ya’know it’s Cinco de Mayo, and like, man, the band is like Mexican or something) could diminish the thrilling bombastic power of the Mars Volta. It was like looking into the future of a Latino America where culture is not so much absorbed as it is joyfully subverted into a 70’s prog-rock spanglish wail that functions as an addition instrument in an already ultra-tight and genre-pushing band.

The first twenty-five minutes were pure unstoppable sound, with guitar and vocals layered over a percussion section three-men deep, that allowed the phenomenal drummer to break the mold of the typical rock drummer. The mind-reeled, unsure if the whole concert was going to be that way, and there was barely time to take a deep breath before they roared off again.

The highlight was the Mexican goth-girls pseudo-salsaing to the latin-feel breakdowns of "L'Via L'Viaquez," while one of the Fania All-Stars (El Judio Maravilloso, Larry Harlow) jammed jazz style on the electric piano, showing off that sábor they have and that all their nay-sayers are never gonna get. The Mars Volta were an exhausting aural delight for those who want to be challenged (some might say assaulted) by their music.

---