Il portale della musica Heavy Metal

Monster Magnet + Black Spiders - 11/13/2011 - Tavastia - Helsinki

After about an year, it’s again time for Monster Magnet to return to Finland, for a more special occasion since tonight the band is going to perform their ´95 record “Dope To Infinity”, the one that signed their success, in its entirety. Not a huge crowd, but enough to fill half of Tavastia, even though it’s not quite the same when the English act Black Spiders comes up on stage. I really didn’t know what to expect from them, as I hadn’t heard much of the band beforehand, but it was a really nice surprise. The guys on stage were so energetic that they managed to involve the crowd into their show almost from the get-go.
The rhythm and the restlessness of the guys on stage give a proper basis to the positive critics they have received so far, which made them play in many important stages even prior to the release of their debut “Sons of the North”. You can also see the irony in their approach through songs such as “KISS Tried to Kill Me” and “Just Like A Woman”, and that’s what one would expect from a rock band: energy, fun, and kick-ass music. The 5-piece made a really good impression, not only on me but on many in the audience, and resulted in a very entertaining show.
Finally the crowd started to gather more in front of the stage as the time for Monster Magnet was approaching. Even though Dave now is getting wider every year, apparently he still have his charm with the ladies, given that most of the fans in the front rows are young girls yelling at him. As announced, the first part of the show consist of “Dope To Infinity” (also the image projected on the backdrop with the album cover might be a SLIGHT hint of that), and through the semi-dark atmosphere, lighted only by the giant spirals showed behind Bob Pantella’s drums, we go back of 16 years. Ah, the time when I first saw these guys playing on TV! Of course in a different line-up and different shape.
It looks like Monster Magnet has lost lots of its old charm nowadays, but little it matters to the more hardcore fans, and who just came here to get back some good memories from the nineties. The guys on stage, except for the bass player, don’t look really much into it, even though still the stoner-ish setting gives still to the crowd that right feeling for this kind of show. After the hit “Negasonic Teenage Warhead” starts the encore, and concludes the album, it’s time for the most classic songs of the American band. Everyone of course is waiting for “Space Lord” and “Powertrip”, this time in reverse order compared to the previous gigs. Nonetheless powerful, and enough to ignite for the last few bits of this evening their fans.
I wasn’t expecting really an outstanding performance from the guys, and in fact it was a pretty ok show. Anyway it’s always nice to be able to see MM one more time. And even more so if you’ve never had the chance to. This said, the experience would have been far better 10-15 years back.

Photos:
Monster Magnet


Black Spiders


Report a cura di Marco Manzi