The Mars Volta

Deep frozen Deep phreeze said

"TMV's first release was mindblowing -- I liked that EP a LOT. Then there was De-Loused --- even better.

But then they started doing live tours --- they can't play live worth crap. Take the mediocre guitarist from ATDI with the bad singer, take away the caution and care they used in ATDI to sound precise, and throw them into late-60s Pink Floyd jam sessions. That's a Mars Volta concert. Nothing special really."

which means i have contradicted that post in mine above this. I am shocked at that but then again in the show i saw there were about 2000 supplicants who raised the roof in awe whilst there were 20 or so disgruntled concert goers who left during the long Cassandra Gemmini.

After speaking to fans before and after it was clear that there were different types of fans at the concert.

1.  At the Drive in Fans, Of course with no ATDI to listen to then TMV is the next best thing. For some it was an easy transition but for others they could not adjust to the fact that ATDI no longer exist, and were resentful. (i felt similar when i saw Trevor Horn replace Anderson in Yes, but eventually got over it)

2. Alternative radio listeners who were aware of ATDI and/or had heard the two (that were in rotation to support the tour) Mars Volta singles on the radio. While most were awestruck it was obvious during the longer sections that they were not used to this. The whole audience stood in a seated venue and during the quiet sections they still stood and only fatigue sent them to their seats only for them to jump up the moment the pace changed, Youngsters certainly lack patience.

What alternative band would you see seated? For my part i yearned to sit because TMV are a headphone band, one where you can sit back and take it all in (Like Yes, Sigur Ros etc).

3. Alternative listeners who had heard a little prog and were tentatively open to being  converted. I stood next to a group in the bar who had heard of Pink Floyd from their dads collection or from FM radio etc. They had not heard of the bands on this site. They were very keen to find out more. Obviously TMV are a gateway band into prog.

4 Prog lovers like myself who let it be said were in the minority.

maybe there other sub groups but really TMV are unusual in prog because they have brought a ready made audience with them from ATDI days. Some are happy and others are disgruntled.

Others like me who have come fromthe prog angle are very happy to see such a new and eciting marriage of alternative punkish sounds with traditional prog moods.

Then of course there are the prog diehards who refuse to accept this bratish set of upstarts.

Add your own take on this