The Mars Volta

So it was Tuesday and I was ridiculously excited because not only did The Mars Volta's album, "The Bedlam in Goliath" come out, but they were playing at Soma here in San Diego that night. Luckily we were able to get a photo credential. 

When I got there around 7PM, the line was wrapped completely behind the building. After walking past all the fans that had been their since early that morning, I had to hassle my way into actually getting in. Apparently the paper was supposed to have purchased a ticket and they would allow me to have a photo pass. Whatever. I just think they wanted to save face because they were sold out and didn't want to show they did have a few tickets left. 

Anyway, the show was insane. I got to shoot the first 10 minutes of their two and a half hour set. Needless to say its two days later and my ears are still ringing. 

Omar Rodriguez-Lopez is the mastermind behind the music. He is the composer and lead guitarist. I loved the way this shot turned out in black and white. I bumped up the contrast a bit and it just seemed to "pop."

The new drummer Thomas Pridgen is too good. He comes from a gospel background, be he could one of the best drummers out there. After their second song, "Viscera Eyes," he ripped off a two minute drum solo with Omar and Cedric just smiling and the crowd going crazy. This guy was a beast for two and a half hours. If I were to play like him, I couldn't last 30 seconds.

I liked this shot because of the silhouette and the light through the drums. I think it looks better because all you see are Pridgen's dreds.

I loved the faces that keyboardist Isaiah "Ikey" Owens was making. 

And of course there is lead vocalist and other half of the brain's of The Mars Volta, Cedric Bixlar Zavala. His voice was really good live. With the way he belts out all the falsetto note on TMV's albums, I did not know how well it would sound live. I should eat my words because he sounded too good. He definitely puts on a show, jumping and swinging the microphone and stand, climbing on the double-stacks, trying to mess up Omar's guitar solo's, and throwing Pridgen's symbols around like they were toys.

Cedric moves too quick to catch him in a really nice frame dancing or running around. The lights for the first few songs were somewhat conservative so it was pretty difficult to stop the action. I did what I could, and this shot was taken when I had moved to the right of the stage in order to watch the rest of the show after my ten minutes was up.

All in all it was an awesome show. Its taken me since Tuesday night to find time to write in my blog. Classes and work haven't given me time. I was so happy that I could get to cover my favorite band for The Daily Aztec. The Mars Volta are definitely a band that you have to see live. I cannot really describe with photos or words what it is like. I wish I had more time than just ten minutes. It was basically one song and then the 5 minutes of ambience/breakdown of the song. I wish I was upfront when they played faced paced intense songs. I think my favorite from the night was "Roulette Dares (The Haunt Of)" from "Deloused in the Comatorium" or "Goliath" from "The Bedlam in Goliath."

Can't wait to see them again. The new album is great.