Mars Volta
May 7, 2005

Wendy Caplin

Last night I experienced something strange and weird and wonderful. As some of you might know, Harlow had recorded a piece on the latest Mars Volta album. For the scores of you who are drawing a blank, they are an extremely popular and successful 'alternative' rock band. OmarRodriguez-Lopez, the guitar player, had been incubated on Harlow's music when he was still in utero. His father was a major Larry Harlow fan. Through a series of coincidences, they contacted Harlow and asked him to record w/them last summer and, to their amazement, he agreed.They treated him extremely well. Flew him first class and put him up at 5 star hotels and treated him to their strange brand of 'take one and whatever you play goes on the album'. The album is called "Francis the Mute" on Universal and is breaking sales records already based exclusively on cult adoration and word of mouth. And then they invited him to play with them at Roseland last night.

Earlier in the day I had covered Harlow's bicep and forearm in fake black tattoos. He figured that would go over since these kids are all covered w/the real thing. I even did one. So this was my first ever exposure to them. Harlow got me in backstage and we were given a great table upstairs directly overlooking the stage. And earplugs were passed out to everyone.

Now, I have to tell you that the frizz factor of the band members was enough to make me feel positively sleek. They were all pale and skinny and had vast helmets of dark frizzy, strangely teased up locks. The stars are Omar, guitarist and Cedric Bixler-Zabala, vocalist. There is a really strong percussion section keyboards, and a sax/flute/percussionist.

But the real show for me was the audience. The entire ballroom was one gigantic mosh pit. Thousands of kids all standing so close to each other that when one moved it started a wave. They knew every lyric of every song and sang along and often raised their arms in gestures that would leave a Christian Fundamentalist group in the wind. And occasionally someone would be hoisted up and 'swim' over their heads to the front where a guard would reach in and haul them out. There was no reclaiming their place again though. There would sometimes be small open circles where they could slam into each other. But otherwise it was one huge pulsating mass having a ball.

The music is LOUD. And rhythmic. And practically atonal. Which didn't seem to bother the audience. Cedric has an upper range that was so high that dogs in the Bronx were probably howling. He has an amazing stage persona. A deep commitment to weirdness and a strange and ultimate almost sexy way of thrusting himself around the stage. I was pretty mesmerized by it all. It made me really long to be 20 and high on drugs. Even though I couldn't understand a word that was sung. The sound was visceral. The musicians worked their asses off. And the audience was a show in itself. Especially when they all seemed to lean and create this human body wave. I personally would have had total claustrophobia.

Then about midway Harlow came on. He looked amazing. And for a half hour there was actually melody. He sounded awesome played some great solos and added some percussion and the audience loved him. It was a great and strange show all around. And one thing was for sure - the concession stands made no money off this crowd. These kids got on line in the afternoon so they could get as close to the stage as possible and once they were in, nobody moved.

It was great to be part of this experience. To be reminded of what it was like to be young and driven by wonderful music. And to know that weirdness and creativity rules!!!!!!!