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Live Reviews : Mastodon & Twelve Foot Ninja @ Festival Hall, Melbourne 27/03/15

By on March 28, 2015

I couldn’t believe it had been four years since I last set foot in Festival Hall when I saw Rob Zombie there in 2011, which probably explains how I managed to get lost on the way there. Luckily I eventually found the migrating seas of black shirts and long hair, and was able to join the pilgrimage to the venue and through its doors. I certainly didn’t remember getting pat down by security last time I went there, but I did my best to make sure that experience was as uncomfortable for the guard as it was for me.

Melbourne avant-garde rockers Twelve Foot Ninja kicked off the festivities at the hall to a rather small crowd, but I guess that’s what happens when you announce your supports so late. Despite having heard the name many times, this was my first exposure to Twelve Foot Ninja and I was very much impressed. As the band strolled out on stage vocalist Kin gave a very Australian “How the fuck are ya?” to the cheers of the crowd, who were a small but obviously very dedicated and noisy bunch.

Much like the style of their music, the entire band was full of energy and bouncing around constantly on stage. While the more modern elements like the metalcore-esque breakdowns didn’t seem to appeal to the majority of Mastodon’s crowd, as the venue filled out the crowd reactions got stronger and when Kin took a break from his phenomenal vocals later in the set to ask how we were going again, the roar from the crowd was much more what Twelve Foot Ninja deserved. Highlights of the set were definitely ‘Coming For You’ and the little bit of ‘Milkshake’ by Kelis we got as they finished their set, that is how you leave a good lasting impression on a crowd, kudos Twelve Foot Ninja.

I’m not going to lie, I was edge to see how Mastodon’s new material was received, but that faded the moment the band walked out and went straight in to ‘Tread Lightly’, and the crowd went off like a fire in an ammunition factory. The front rows were a wave of banging heads and a passionate choir of people singing along, while behind them was a violent mosh framed with enthusiastic air-guitarists. It was a sight to behold that continued as the band began to move back through their releases with ‘Once More ‘Round The Sun’, followed by ‘Blasteroid’ and ‘Oblivion’.

The atmosphere in the venue was set perfectly by the impressive light displays that went on behind the band. I think I was the perfect level of intoxicated to appreciate it in a state of wonder during the long instrumental sections. This made up for a lack of crowd interaction, and yet Mastodon maintained a great level of showmanship just in the way they played. Whether it was Bill’s flair, Brent’s solos on his flying V or the sensual way Troy moves as he plays, Mastodon are downright spectacular to watch perform.

Every album got some love in the mammoth set list, and the band received plenty of love back from the crowd. The set closed on three classics, ‘Megladon’, ‘Crystal Skull’ and ‘Blood & Thunder’, wasting no time on some bullshit “walk off the stage then come back out once they cheer loud enough” encore. I will always respect bands who don’t waste time with that rubbish. Brann Dailor came out from behind his kit and microphone to say one last thank you and goodbye, and to give a pair of sticks to a guy at the front who air-drummed the entire set with him, proving there is no better rock God than a humble one. Fingers crossed they’ll keep their current track record and not make Australia wait too long before we get to see them again!

 

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