The Mars Volta in Baltimore

[matilda]

Did anyone happen to see the show last night in Baltimore. The Mars Volta is my favorite new thing that a friend has shared with me. I wasn't able to go....lost a bit of sleep over it. How was it?

[Julian, Alleged Computer F**kface]

If the Mars Volta did play, as you claim, I'm sure it was awful since the band is a histrionic shitheap. You're a jar of vile puke for liking them. Drop dead. Welcome to 930.com.

[pj]

such an appropriate welcome to the forum.
 
 

Originally posted by Julian, faux celeb-porn CONNOISSEUR:
  If the Mars Volta did play, as you claim, I'm sure it was awful since the band is a histrionic shitheap. You're a jar of vile puke for liking them. Drop dead. Welcome to 930.com.

[amnesiac]

They might still be onstage...

[Bartelby]

Originally posted by matildabp:
  Did anyone happen to see the show last night in Baltimore. The Mars Volta is my favorite new thing that a friend has shared with me. I wasn't able to go....lost a bit of sleep over it. How was it?

Really nice, huh?  Well, don't expect anyone here to appreciate that Mars Volta opened for System of a Down at the Arena last night...most of the forum regulars no longer go to concerts except for the Pixies...and there was a major surge in Paxil prescriptions when Guided by Voices performed their last tour...ask your parents who those last two groups are...and welcome to the forum.  There are maybe two people who will be kind to you - used to be three - but one left for the woods...

[Julian, Alleged Computer F**kface]

Mars Volta AND System Of A Down? Same building? Justification for terrorism if ever there was. Why couldn't someone fly a plane into that?

[HoyaSaxa03]

is anyone else surprised that mars volta became so big in the mainstream?
 
 i'm not really a fan, but their music is pretty inaccessible to the average radio listener ...
 i can think of many other bands of a similar ilk that are much more accessible and "mainstream friendly" than mars volta
 
 i mean, why them and not some other crazy prog-ish psych group? is it their "at the drive-in" pedigree? were they that big to begin with?
 
 any thoughts?

[ggw]

Originally posted by HoyaParanoia:
  is anyone else surprised that mars volta became so big in the mainstream?
 
 i'm not really a fan, but their music is pretty inaccessible to the average radio listener ...
 i can think of many other bands of a similar ilk that are much more accessible and "mainstream friendly" than mars volta
 
 i mean, why them and not some other crazy prog-ish psych group? is it their "at the drive-in" pedigree? were they that big to begin with?
 
 any thoughts?

I saw the Mars Volta show at the 9:30 in 2003.
 
 One of the best shows I've seen.

[HoyaSaxa03]

Originally posted by ggwâ?¢:
 I saw the Mars Volta show at the 9:30 in 2003. One of the best shows I've seen.

cool, so why do you think they hit the radio and MTV with such a huge force?  do you agree that they're relatively inaccessible when compared to other "modern rock" or "alt-metal" groups?
 
 this isn't meant to rip on the band, i'm honestly just curious to hear some opinions

[BookerT]

afros

[ggw]

Originally posted by HoyaParanoia:
   

Originally posted by ggwâ?¢:
 I saw the Mars Volta show at the 9:30 in 2003. One of the best shows I've seen.

cool, so why do you think they hit the radio and MTV with such a huge force?  do you agree that they're relatively inaccessible when compared to other "modern rock" or "alt-metal" groups?
 
 this isn't meant to rip on the band, i'm honestly just curious to hear some opinions [/b]

I wasn't aware that they had made a big impact on commercial radio and MTV.  
 
 What I noticed about the show in 2003 was that a large number of people had traveled to DC for this show.  I had flaked on getting a ticket and talked to a lot of people while looking for an extra, including a van-load of kids from North Carolina, several dudes from New York and New Jersy and many from Pennsylvania.  Most of these people were catching multiple shows on the tour.  It didn't seem like the band was hugely popular, just that they had a very dedicated fanbase.
 
 I would agree with you that their music is pretty inaccessible to the casual music listener.

[amnesiac]

Originally posted by HoyaParanoia:
   

Originally posted by ggwâ?¢:
 I saw the Mars Volta show at the 9:30 in 2003. One of the best shows I've seen.

cool, so why do you think they hit the radio and MTV with such a huge force?  do you agree that they're relatively inaccessible when compared to other "modern rock" or "alt-metal" groups?
 
 this isn't meant to rip on the band, i'm honestly just curious to hear some opinions [/b]

I don't recall any of their songs from the first album being on the radio or MTV. I know there's one from the new album, and it's supposedly the most accessible.
 
 I would guess their popularity has everything to do with ATDI. They were about to get real big when they broke up. If it wasn't for ATDI, I doubt anyone would care for Mars Volta or Sparta as much.

[HoyaSaxa03]

Originally posted by ggwâ?¢:
 I wasn't aware that they had made a big impact on commercial radio and MTV.  
 

i don't have the complete stats on it, but their latest LP peaked at #4 on the billboard top 200 chart ... pretty damn solid ... their single "the widow" hit #7 on modern rock tracks
 
 first LP hit #39 on billboard
 
 amnesiac, i'm guessing you're right about the ATDI history fueling their success ... but were ATDI really that big to begin with?

[HoyaSaxa03]

Originally posted by amnesiac:
 I would guess their popularity has everything to do with ATDI. They were about to get real big when they broke up.

ah, i missed that secon sentence ... yeah, i guess you're right, they had a big buzz built up

[BookerT]

i'm telling you, it's the afros. also, they may be "inaccessible," but that's their whole draw. people think they are being avant-garde by listening to it. good marketing, much thanks to the afros. they are the radiohead of prog-metal, or whatever they play.