First time here for Mr Bungle. Sunday eve in Auckland city and a heavenly double-header brought those in the know together for a night of dark musical mayhem.
The experimental/thrash super-group comprising of metal heavyweights Mike Patton (Faith No More), Dave Lombardo (Slayer) and Scott Ian (Anthrax) picked the perfect touring counterpoint in the Godfathers of Grunge, the Melvins.
Anyone wearing a band themed black t-shirt was feeling at home amongst a sea of it and long hair, the Great Hall accommodating us and a sound system to handle two of the most gruntiest groups to venture these ways in recent years.
There seemed almost no time in respite. Just after the assigned doors open time of 8pm, Melvins tore into their set.
Gloriously dirty in sound, the trio proceeded to peel off a dozen selections from their almost 30 record back catalogue. Prolific in output, the Melvins set included four plays from their classic album Bullhead (1991).
At the helm, founder singer/guitarist Buzz Osborne must’ve been hot in his outrageous attire, sporting a robe that would smoke Klaus Schwab’s get-up for cool any day of the week.
A song-writing mega-force, Osborne’s energy hasn’t waned over years of performing, his trademark wild hairdo on show. He has the goods on guitar too with his adventurous fretwork.
Not to be outdone, donning a streamlined red and black splash suit, Steven Shane McDonald wrenched a variety of sounds from his bass, also lending a hand on lead vocal on a couple of numbers.
While long-term band member and drumming great Dale Crover (who appears on all the Melvins records) wasn’t touring (he hasn’t been for some time), lefty Coady Willis ably filled the drum seat.
Towards the back end of Melvins set, Mr Bungle bassist Trevor Dunn joined them for a two-pronged bass version of Boris the Spider. John Entwistle would have given them a nod of approval.
The band meshed cohesively, waving walls of dark sonic sound at times that would have had Phil Spector in awe. Their set was a real delight, and left us wanting more, but slightly sadly it was over seemingly as fast as it had begun. An encore was desperately wanted, but once those houselights come on. Damn!
Intermission and a chance to bump into a few familiar faces. The usual suspects were not gonna miss this one.
Mr Bungle announced their arrival with the strains of Portsmouth Sinfonia’s hilarious rendition of Also Sprach Zarathustra, segueing into vocalist Mike Patton having a dash on the house pipe organ.
My plus-one walking musical encyclopaedia Dhani Phillips noted that The Band’s Garth Hudson had had a go too when he was here.
To save all the online adjectives to describe the group, you’d say Mr Bungle are left-field from their associated groups. More so in the thrash realm since their reformation, they’re not adverse to sprinkling their music with surprises from afar.
There are some heavy artilleries in the group, and they brought the ruckus from the get go, tearing into Grizzly Adams.
The venerable metal-weights peeled off a succession of ultra-bpm numbers, the tempo shifting Spreading the Thighs of Death lifting the night to new levels.
Anthrax co-founder and lyricist Scott Ian, spotted easily with his trademark goatee, melded everything together with precision rhythm guitar work. His focus is second to-none. Working in tandem expertly with lead guitarist Trey Spruance, the Mr Bungle machine maintained urgency throughout.
A half dozen songs in and Patton invited a local guest onstage, transposing La Cucaracha/Speak Spanish or Die, to Speak Māori or Die – the warrior wielding his taiaha enthusiastically while the band wailed.
Mr Bungle went at it for the most part at a frenetic pace, not letting up until they swung against the grain for a sultry rendition of Spandau Ballet’s True. Then it was back to our regular schedule of bullshit, exclaimed Patton.
Slayer’s skins-man Dave Lombardo was in veritable beast mode, wielding some heavy-duty sticks. When things were going full-speed thrash/metal, such as Bungle Grind, Lombardo was as good as it gets.
At his side stage-left, bassist Trevor Dunn hung close and matched his moves.
There were moments of collective riffing that came at us like a sonic wall, Raping Your Mind sustained that high-octane level.
Patton up front commanded the stage, interacting constantly with Lombardo, also using a whistle for cues and an RT for a low-fi/gravel vocal sound.
Executing this music night after night takes super-endurance. One thinks these guys look after themselves more that you’d imagine.
With Patton announcing at the encore, you asked for it, the group debuted a mostly faithful version of Olivia Newton-John’s Hopelessly Devoted to You.
Patton can shift gears vocally and is diverse. Mr Bungle went back into familiar mode with yet another cover to close, Sepultura’s Territory.
What a night Mr Bungle! Imagine if Rock’n’roll took over? After that one, the world would be a better place we are absolutely sure!
Mike Beck
Melvins Setlist
Sesame Street Meat
It’s Shoved
Anaconda
Never Say You’re Sorry
The Bloated Pope
Hag Me
Your Blessed
A History of Bad Men
Honey Bucket
Revolve
Night Goat
Boris (with Trevor Dunn)
Mr. Bungle Setlist
Grizzly Adams
Anarchy Up Your Anus
Bungle Grind
Racist
Spreading The Thighs of Death
Loss For Words
Hypocrites/Speak Māori Or Die
Mathematics
Hell Awaits
True
You Lose
Raping Your Mind
Just Sit There
My Ass Is on Fire
Sudden Death
Encore
Hopelessly Devoted to You
Territory
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