Live Review: Monster Magnet - London
Review and photography by Paul Hutchings
It’s been over 30 years since Dave Wyndorf, John McBain and Tim Cronin formed Monster Magnet. The New Jersey outfit’s breakthrough album came in 1998 when they released Powertrip, an album crammed to the rafters with sonic space anthems. Monster Magnet are infrequent visitors to the UK and with a meagre three dates spread across the UK this time (Glasgow and Leeds the other venues) it was off to London to catch the band play that seminal album in full.
A traditional bill with one support meant that Bridgend’s Those Damn Crows were afforded a good 45 minutes to showcase both their music and their show. It’s been an impressive rise for the five-piece hard rock outfit. I first saw them at Hard Rock Hell in Pwllheli several years ago. They have moved on substantially since then and have matured into a competent, entertaining band. With their first album Murder And The Motive providing the bulk of the set, the Welshmen set about pushing their strong melodies and thick chunky riffs on an audience that grew more receptive as the evening warmed up. Opening with Who Did It, Those Damn Crows pushed hard, vocalist Shane Greenhall a bundle of energy who rarely stops moving. His later forays into the upper balcony and frequent visits to the barrier indicative of a man who was clearly given too many smarties as a child. Greenhall was flanked by guitarists Ian Thomas and David Winchurch and bassist Lloyd Wood, all blond hair and classic rock shapes, it’s easy to see why the band have become popular in the resurgent UK classic rock scene. Their music is catchy, stuffed full of hooks and grooves that you can easily sing along with. A couple of tasters from forthcoming album Point of No Return (out on Feb 7th) were warmly received, as was Someone Someday with clever snippets of Pinball Wizard and Live and Let Die weaved into it. As they hit their final number, Rock and Roll Ain’t Dead the venue had filled and those who had previously been chatting were now focused on the stage. They may not be the most original but their modern approach to hard rock combined with an admirable work ethic is reaping deserved rewards. Tight, professional and with a charm that only the Welsh can bring, I can’t see anything but continued elevation in their rock and roll journey.
Monster Magnet on the other hand may be heading towards the twilight of their career, have been in the premier league of stoner rock outfits for many years but there is still plenty of fuel in the tank now. Only Wyndorf remains from the original band, but the current line-up has been locked together for several years, with the last recruit Chris Kosnick firmly embedded since 2013. Focus was inevitably centred on Wyndorf, and his centre stage pose, complete with devilish red spotlight and blowing electric fan adding to the imagery. Whilst the band has ten albums to their name, the last being Mindfucker in 2018, this night was all about that fourth album and sure enough, we got Powertrip in full. Unsurprisingly, given this is Monster Magnet, the running order didn’t follow that on the album but that didn’t worry the faithful who were now packed into the stalls.
The first salvo of Atomic Clock, Crop Circles and Tractor are as good an opening trio as you could wish for, the front rows all flailing arms, shaking heads and mouthing the lyrics with gusto. The first of many incendiary pits opened as the riffs fell from the sky. With three guitars onstage, all types of heavy unfolded early and the riff of Tractor sparked early mayhem at the front. Wyndorf dominates the centre stage, and whilst he is still a big man, he has slimmed down substantially in recent years. Flanked by guitarists Phil Caivano and Garrett Sweeny, Wyndorf was able focuses on his singing, adding rhythm guitar where necessary for additional muscle. Meanwhile Caivano and Sweeny throw solos around for fun.
With Powertrip containing not a single dud track, the experience became almost evangelical at points. The emotion of Baby Götterdämmerung segued into a raucouslyyet deliciously sludgy Bummer, the audience in raptures, the beat steadied by drummer Bob Pantella and Kosnick. The closing salvo of Powertrip and a massive Space Lord incited more frenzied floor action before the encores provided the band with an opportunity to close with a quartet of non-Powertrip tracks. Dopes of Infinity was surprisingly sacrificed from the previous night’s set list and replaced by Twin Earth from Superjudge, whilst the cover of Robert Calvert’s The Right Stuff sat comfortably in the setlist. Concluding the evening in fine style, Monster Magnet pulverised the gathered worshippers with Look To Your Orb For The Warning and then the soaring Negasonic Teenage Warhead, the anthemic nature of the song providing the Forum with one more opportunity to jump and mosh, which they took with all their might.
Wyndorf may already be eligible for that free bus pass but there is no sign of Monster Magnet heading for the pipe and slippers yet. Long may that continue.
Photo credits: Paul Hutchings
