TMV live 17/06/2023

[Sea Of Black Cans]

I went to watch TMV in Manchester on Saturday, and I was blown away by how good they were. I took my 8 year old son with me, it was his first gig and to his favourite band. He fell asleep after 4 songs unfortunately but loved what he did see.

My thoughts: The stand out performers of the night for me were Cedric, who's vocals were exceptional, I mean, really, really good. Better than they used to be. I used to consider his live singing a weak point but it was definitely the opposite of that on Saturday night. The keyboard player was also absolutely superb. His solo in L'Via L'Viaquez was utterly captivating and he was high in the mix. For my money, the most dextrous keyboard player they've ever had.

The bass player blended into the background, whereas Juan stood out as the best musician on stage when I saw them in 2009, with Dave Elitch, who for my money did a slightly better job than Philo.

I am a drummer myself and I had to have a word with myself to judge Philo on her performance, and not compare her to Jon too much. Her performance was great, accurate and tight, but if I was to compare her to Jon (which of course, I did) without the constant intensity or dynamic control of Jon. I could nit pick on ghost notes or phrasing but really it's just nerd talk from a self confessed Jon Theodore in Mars Volta fanboy. I thought some of the fills that Philo did were exceptionally good, and overall she wasn't out of place at all. A band is only as good as their drummer, and TMV were excellent on Saturday.

Omar did Omar. He isn't the greatest guitarist ever (that's Allan Holdsworth) but he is the driving force behind some of the greatest music I have ever heard. It was great to see him looking like he was really enjoying himself on stage.

The setlist was telling. Only 3 songs were from albums other than Deloused or FTM. I would have liked them to play Cassandra Gemini but I know that's a lot to ask. I would have loved to see Tetragrammaton, Viscera Eyes or Eunuch Provocateur. They know what side their bread is buttered. The two songs off their new album were weak in comparison to the rest of the set. It isn't an album that I like and if it wasn't the Mars Volta I would have dismissed it after less than one listen, and that, for me, is how I judge an album. I don't care who has made it, I just judge it on whether I like the music or not.

I'm not surprised they didn't play anything of their last 3 album pre hiatus, firstly, because I don't think Philo could do Thomas Pridgen's parts justice in the way she did Jon's, secondly because Octahedron and Noctourniquet are terrible albums. Again, they know what side their bread is buttered, and TMV albums were not as good after Jon left.

In all honesty I wasn't expecting a lot from Saturday night. My wife bought me tickets for my birthday without me knowing and I wasn't going to go at all, having been very dissappointed by the new album. However, I should have practiced what I often preach in leaving my expectations to one side, as I thoroughly enjoyed what I saw and heard on Saturday night from a band who I never thought I'd see again.

[EscorpionPerfumado]

Gotta say, this interpretation of their current live performances perfectly matches my own. Well said.