A beautiful night in Montreal, but there was a mass gathered shoulder to shoulder indoors in what had to be an oversold MTelus. Seriously, it was packed. Or maybe everyone just wanted to be close cause Mr. Bungle fans can be intense.
The night started with veterans Battles, who came out looking like your dad’s Weezer cover band. If you weren’t familiar with the band, you were probably surprised by the funky experimental pop that they played. It was a fun set that had most dancing and set the tone well, but it was clear that the crowd was primed for the main act.
Going to college in the 90s, Mr Bungle was the first band I can remember where fans had a cult-like mentality. If you didn’t like them, you just didn’t get it cause you just weren’t sophisticated enough. An avant-garde experimental sound reminiscent of Frank Zappa decades earlier. A precursor to post OK Computer Radiohead.
If that stuff was your jam, then you may have been disappointed. After a nearly two-decade hiatus, the band reunited with the addition of Anthrax’s Scott Ian and Slayer’s Dave Lombardo to rerecord their rarely heard 1986 trash metal album “The Raging Wrath of the Easter Bunny,” and this night would be all about that album.
As the lights dimmed and the crowd’s anticipation reached a fever pitch, the band hit the stage to thunderous applause. The band, led by Mike Patton, immediately launched into a sonic assault that got everyone moving.
Mike Patton’s vocal range is nothing short of astonishing, and he showcased it brilliantly throughout the night. From guttural growls to soaring operatic vocals, he kept the audience mesmerized and guessing at every turn. His stage presence was equally captivating as he moved with the fluidity of a seasoned showman.
The band’s musicianship was equally impressive. Trey Spruance’s guitar work was virtuosic, delivering intricate solos and heavy riffs with equal finesse. Trevor Dunn’s bass provided a thunderous backbone to the music, while drummer Dave Lombardo kept the rhythm tight and dynamic.
Apart from playing the newly rerecorded trash metal album in its entirety, the band also splattered the setlist with no less than 7 covers. The tributes ranged from 80s balladry with 10cc’s “Not In Love” and Spandau Ballet’s “True” to metal classics like Sepultura’s “Territory” and ‘Hell Awaits” by Lombardo’s main squeeze Slayer.
The one throwback to their 90s heyday was “My Ass Is on Fire,” which was outro’d by the Pepto Bismol jingle, which matches the tongue and cheek aura of that era (as well as anal fixation). A lot of people showed their 90s bias by erupting to the performance.
The energy in the room was electric from start to finish, with the crowd’s enthusiasm matching the band’s intensity. Mosh pits erupted during heavy moments, and moments of quiet reflection were met with rapt attention. It was clear that Mr. Bungle had connected left the Montreal audience, if not with a fiery anus.
Review – Richard Brunette
Photos – Steve Gerrard
