Monster Magnet

23 November 2012

Electric Ballroom, London

 

This was the third year running Monster Magnet had played London on the Friday of this late November weekend.  Two years ago at this same venue they appeared in support of their last studio album Mastermind, whilst last year they ran through 1995’s Dopes To Infinity at the Koko down the road.  This year’s set revisited the band’s 1991 debut album, Spine Of God and was also billed as “plus all the hits”, which proved somewhat off the mark, but more of that later.

 

As is traditional at Monster Magnet shows, a large white backdrop with the band’s bull-god logo hung behind the band with psychedelic lava-lamp like images projected on to it.  However, what was immediately noticeably different from the past two performances was the increased level of lighting on the band.  Issues with prescription drugs post a 2006 OD caused Wyndorf, in his own words, to “blow up like a f**king pumpkin”.  As a result he seemed more comfortable lurking in the shadows at the last two shows, but having lost a considerable amount of weight Wyndorf’s old rock swagger appears to be returning with plenty of interaction with the crowd and throwing a few shapes.

 

The main set recalled Spine Of God in the same order as the album and right from Pill Shovel Monster Magnet benefitted from an excellent sound mix.  The opening guitar chords of Medicine brought a cheer from the crowd and other highlights included a spine tingling rendition of Zodiac Lung and a majestic Spine Of God complete with the chorus from American Pie mid song.  Snake Dance raised the pace whilst album closer Ozium was stretched out with a long jam section.

 

Returning for the encore the billing may have hinted at hits, but Monster Magnet kept the set back no later than 1991 with a selection of songs from the two EP’s released either side of Spine Of God.   The chords of Lord 13 from Tab rang out on acoustic guitars with Wyndorf taking centre stage without his guitar to sing it’s tripped out lyrics.  Murder from the band’s self-titled debut EP followed before it was back to Tab for the instrumental Long Hair.

 

Tractor was probably best known by the majority of this crowd from its re-recorded version on the band’s most commercially successful album Powertrip and received the most energetic crowd response of the evening.  Finally Freak Shop USA brought a hugely enjoyable set to a close.

 

Tantalizingly if this is to be an annual event, next year see’s the 20th Anniversary of Superjudge and the 15th Anniversary of Powertrip.

 

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Monster Magnet setlist:

Pill Shovel / Medicine / Nod Scene / Black Mastermind / Zodiac Lung / Spine of God / Snake Dance / Sin's a Good Man's Brother / Ozium / Lord 13 / Murder / Longhair / Tractor / Freak Shop USA

 

 

LINKS:

http://www.zodiaclung.com/