Monster Magnet at The Ritz, Manchester
What other way would you spend a Sunday night?
On Sunday, Monster Magnet brought their 35th anniversary tour to The Ritz in Manchester. All different walks of life populated the standing area and balcony, a testament to the band's cross-generational appeal.
The night began with support band Margarita Witch Cult, from Birmingham. They played a visceral set with a Black Sabbath influence shining through their music. Songs like ‘The Witchfinder Comes’, ‘Death Lurks at Every Turn’, and ‘Sacrifice’ did a fantastic job of heating up the crowd for Monster Magnet.
When they came on, the band did not hold back as they blazed through ‘Dopes to Infinity’, ‘Tractor’, ‘Superjudge’, and ‘Negasonic Teenage Warhead’ which had the crowd soaking up the energy. People were moshing, and jumping, one person even busted out serious dance moves.
Phil Caivano looked like he was having the time of his life behind the guitar as Dave Wyndorf held down his frontman duties and created psychedelic noises from his effects board next to the drum kit.
More introspective cuts like ‘Look To Your Orb For The Warning’ and the instrumental jam ‘Ego, The Living Planet’, helped highlight what a creative force the band has been throughout their career.
Veteran fans of the band will appreciate the inclusion of the ‘Spine of God’; however, people less knowledgeable of the band’s back catalogue might have felt it dragged on a bit too long.
The crowd did learn that Wyndorf wasn’t feeling well during the set. This might explain why fans were treated to this version of Spine of God and only got to hear ‘Powertrip’ during the encore.
A Sunday night celebrating the music of Monster Magnet is never a bad way to spend your evening. Still the absence of ‘Space Lord’ to wrap up the set, left the show ending on a bittersweet note.
Liam Donohoe