The Mars Volta @ First Ave

The show put on by Cedric Bixler-Zavala (lyrics/vocals) and Omar Rodriguez-Lopez (lead guitar, music composition) and the other members of the Mars Volta, on September 10, 2009 was one of the most thrilling verbal experiences of my life. The music constantly overwhelming with energy and emotion overtakes the listener with a rhythm sent straight into ones bones that cannot be denied. A good example of this would be the young man doing interpretive dancing on the side of the stage, who appeared to be so in tune with the music (and out of tune with the rest of the world) I had to assume he was on something strange drug.

The opening song, Son Et Lumiere, is a song so meaningful to me. I've had the lyrics taped to my wall for the past year, this was also the first Mars Volta song I ever heard and what drew me to fall in love with the unique sounds constructed with the synthesizer. The beautiful and unlikely mellow sounds entices the listener, and as it preludes the second song; “Intertiatic ESP“, it traps the listener in a whirl of intensified drums and fast hardcore melodies, in which Omar Rodriguez-Lopez did not disappoint, his speed and accuracy is truly an experience to behold.

Though they played a variety of songs off ALL of their albums, including an unlikely movement off the LP "Tremulant", the most distinct were the songs from their 2008 album, "The Bedlam In Goliath", an album that chronicles the experiences of Cedric Bixler-Zavala and Omar Rodriguez-Lopez had with an Ouija Board. With songs often depicting ill intentioned spirits requesting permission to 'possess' or 'enter into' the ones using the board. What was so distinct about these songs is Cedric Bixler-Zavala's dancing to these, the constant twitching, shaking of his wrists to his skull, and slithering on the ground like a snake communicate the horror of the album in an entirely new way.

The backdrop for the stage was a beautiful geometrical curve over clouds envisioned through a clear pyramid having a rose at the tip which shone light down to a bog with dried dead trees and marsh waters. The strangely beautiful background complimented the music well. The stage was set for a scene I wished would never end.