Hey, I was at this show. It was my first show at Rams Head Live, too, believe it or not. The venue isn't half bad. The acoustics could be better, but everything is shiny and new. The layout of the club is pretty good, I'd say. The bars are nice, and you can't go wrong with the Fordham beers for the most part. The attendant and the selection of colognes in the men's restroom is a classy touch. Access to/from the attached parking garage via elevator was sweet.
The smell of smoke (both tobacco and pot) in the audience was stifling though. I've been spoiled by DC's smoking ban, I guess. Does Rams Head Live go smoke-free in two weeks like most Maryland bars and restaurants? Can't wait for that. There was less smoking after Cedric (the lead singer) asked the audience to refrain from smoking, but, half an hour later, a lot of smokers were lighting up again. I'm surprised Rams Head Live didn't acquiesce to the band's desire and make the show smoke-free from the start, but I guess that's the difference between the 9:30 Club and other venues.
I loved the first hour of Mars Volta's performance, but then I started to tire of one 10-minute song after another. By the two-hour mark, I was checking my watch a lot and hoping for it to end already, but the show's picked up nicely toward the end and they finished strong. Some songs in the middle just went on too long. Overall, it was a really good show, but I think they would be better if they kept it under two hours by tightening up some songs.
I was a huge fan of Deloused and saw them at the 9:30 Club way back in 2003, but I haven't really listened to their newer albums as much. Nevertheless, I was looking forward to seeing them again, and I'm glad I did.
