MONSTER MAGNET
with
FAR and SECOND COMING
State Theater
St. Petersburg, FL 8-8-98

By Donn Jehs

Monster Magnet was the big draw for this concert which more or less doomed the opening acts to undesired oblivion by the crowd. It's not that Second Coming or Far were bad by any means, simply that they didn't put out the same kind of music which left the crowd hungrier than usual for the headliner. It didn't help that the sound system at the State Theater is not the best either. A band like Monster Magnet just overpowers the system -- something the other two bands couldn't accomplish.

The opening act is a band out of Seattle fronted by new vocalist, Travis Bracht (formerly of Peace and Silence), former Sweetwater guitarist, Dudley Taft and original members, Yanni "Johhny" Bacolas on bass and James Bergstrom on the drums. Don't get me wrong, but I think the band has been corrupted (by playing with Monster Magnet) into trying emulate their sound and appease the fans rather than doing their music the way they do on their album. Travis spent most of the evening shouting his vocals over the bands exuberant play and thus lost sight of what they do best. I say this because after their performance they handed out a sample tape. When I got home it was hard to believe I was listening to the same band! A full review of their new release "Second Coming" will follow in the next issue where they will get their due. They did play about half a dozen cuts off their album and "Confessional" and "Soft" came off reasonably well before the vocals started to just get louder and louder.

Guitarist Taft is an excellent addition. he has a firm hand on the guitar and carried much of the sound on his back. Away from the influence of the headbanging Magnet fans I suspect they put on a much better show.

The next band, "Far" has a new and different sound that came off a bit better with the Magnet fans. Or it may be the fact that lead singer. Jonah Matranga, chided the crowd and reminded them that though their music may be different, good music is good music. Far's music is good, but Jonah's vocals are, to put it bluntly, flat as hell and often off-key. The band behind him was tight and the lyrics deserved better.

The opening song "Wear It So Well" has an excellent instrumental intro with the bass of John Gutenberger shining. The soft vocal style in the opening just emphasized the flatness and was actually improved by his shouting the lyrics. "Mother Mary" had terrific licks but the title cut off their new album, "Water & Solution" may be the best effort and even Jonah's lyrics fell into place. Jonah writes some compelling lyrics and the musical quality of the songs can't be denied. The band played all but two of the songs off the album of which the standout was "Man Overboard." This is one place where the soft to hard vocals switch came off well and played well to the crowd. This song has terrific switches in pace and sound -- almost tribal at times.

The final number "Bury White" helped improve my impression of the band's talent. The crowd by now was more than ready for Monster Magnet's appearance and had obviosly saved all their energy and most of their applause for them. While the set change was being made a huge screen behind the band showed videos, for the most part buxom, topless women dancing. This kept the majority of the hormone- imbalanced young guys happy. Howard Stern would have loved it.

The video changed with the opening song "Atomic Clock" to a skull blowing up in slo-motion in an endless loop. With three guitars and bass there is enough power coming through the speakers to blow up YOUR skull. With each song the video changed. One time a loop of James Caan being killed in The Godfather, another time a snippet of James Bond or The bomb scene from Dr Strangelove. It usually worked, not distracting from the music. "Snakedance" followed and then the title song from "Powertrip." There is no denying the power trip these guys are on. They can flat-out play and numerous solos came from Ed Mundel and new addition, Phil Caivano on guitar. Dave Wyndorf was in fine voice, moving from smooth to ear shattering screams with ease.

"Nod Scene" and "Dopes" followed for the faithful and then "Crop Circle" from the new album as the band bounced from old to new and back. "Zodiac Lung" and "Bummer" followed before the band went ape as did the crowd when "Negasonic" blew out of the speakers and I witnessed my first flaming guitar. The smell of lighter fluid and other substances permeated the place.

The set ended with "Space Lord" the first single release from "Powertrip." The encore upped the ante with "Tractor" which contains an awesome guitar riff that soars to the stratosphere and could only be outdone by the last number, "Kick Out The Jams." The fans wanted hard driving 'monster' rock and Dave and the boys delivered like the post office wishes it could. If you ever need to define 'going postal' just take in a Magnet concert.

Citing a total dissatisfaction with rock radio and the loathsome end of the corporate side of the industry, Monster Magnet lead vocalist Dave Wyndorf set out to Las Vegas to garner much of their latest album's influence and in the end created a truly remarkable musical concept which wreaks with attitude and rocks defiantly in the form of the massive "Powertrip." From the album, listeners will immediately delve into the tortured psyche of a man completely driven to unleash all of the internal demons lurking inside his mind, having emanated from society's relentlessly impulsive desire for vice and corruption. Such themes are explored in a most lyrically poignant fashion exploiting America's appetite for money, sex, power and scandal while powerful, mind-numbing guitar riffs serve as the decisive backdrop in exonerating the 'magnet's rallying cry for the return of real rock and roll!

Artist: Far
Album: Water and Solutions
Label: Epic
Reveiwed by Donn Jehs

This album has a well-honed sound from the band but suffers because Jonah can't deliver the vocals to match his lyrics. Highlights on the album are "Mother Mary" Man Overboard" and "Bury White." The lyrics and music are worthwhile and maybe the vocals will grow on you. I just don't have the time to wait.