Review: Monster Magnet
My introduction to Monster Magnet came when I was house-sharing with a bunch of stoners.
One of them, Jim (who I bumped into at this show for the first time in years), had Dopes To Infinity, their third album, on a constant loop in his smoke-filled room.
I was instantly hooked, but tuned out after their next album, the hugely successful Powertrip, for no particular reason.
Tonight was the first time I'd seen them live, and although none of the original members now accompany main head, Dave Wyndorf, I was looking forward to the full psychedelic experience.
First up were Seventh Void, the Brooklyn doom outfit featuring Type O Negative's Johnny Kelly and Kenny Hicky on vocals/guitar and drums respectively.
As a massive Type O fan it was great to see two of it's members up close and performing, and although I haven't (to my shame) yet heard their debut album, Heaven Is Gone, there were plenty of tributes to the recently deceased Type O frontman, Peter Steele, including a rendition of World Coming Down.
Coloured swirls of light and smoke marked the entrance of Monster Magnet and Nod Scene followed by Tractor. There was no shortage of the best of the best in what followed, and though it's safe to say most in attendance were fans of the older stuff, it didn't stop a rammed-out Millennium Music Hall hanging on Wyndorf's every word.
There was enough playing with sound and fiddling with switches to evoke drawn-out interludes of noise - the fans blowing Wyndorf's spotlit hair about as he toyed with his amp head made for great tongue-in-cheek entertainment - and the band as an outfit are as technically faultless as ever.
The highlight of my evening came in the shape of Look To Your Orb For The Warning, and there was enough reverb and muted feedback throughout to take everyone back to the band's heyday.
Space Lord closed their initial set, then it was another twenty minutes of MM perfection as the encore included Gods And Punks and, finally, the mighty Powertrip.
Leaving the venue was when I bumped into former housemate, Jim, who insisted that he had just had his face melted by one of his favourite bands. I think we all had.
Monster Magnet
Seventh Void
Napalm Records
Millennium Music Hall
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