Mutemath Live Review

Gruelling anticipation filled the Astor Theatre in Perth on Tuesday 19th March as hundreds of music lovers waited for American band Mutemath who were about to kick off their Australian tour. In the retro theatre a contagious atmosphere of trendy hipsters, larrikin laughing and enthusiastic people was apparent as the crowd swelled from support act Big Scary to the headliners. Killer lead lines, hard hitting beats and layer upon layer of synth parts was about to stun onlookers for a two hour set of wow factor alternative rock sound.

The lights dimmed as smoke and orange light filled the large stage, the crowd roared with eagerness as the four band members appeared from the back of the room percussion loudly in tow. Led by bouncers through the crowd, they made their way to their positions on stage. Drummer Darren King, a God send mad beast of a drummer sat on his stool and gaffa taped his headphones to his head to prepare for the onslaught he was about to inflict on his white drum kit.

Opening on hit number “Odd Soul” there was no doubt that this set was about to blow people’s minds. Show pony and lead singer Paul Meany loves the crowd smiled with his broad mouth from ear to ear upon singing his opening lyrics “I was once a soul, now I’m on my own.” Meany’s vocals streamed so easily into the high ceiling theatre complimentary to the choppy groove of the song. The stage was adorned with multiple organs, synthesisers, loopers, pedals and amps all adding to the grunt of a band that locks in together with clarity.

Into Prytania a shrill of joy expelled from the crowd as they bopped lively to the well known ditty. Spunky lead guitarist, Todd Gummerman, offered a glassy exterior enouciated through guitar pedal effects and clean backing vocal parts.

The beauty of Mutemath is just as the song is expected to end, through a hit or a pause, the song continues into another level of energy and effects. Shocked and excited by the depth of the amazingly constructed number the crowd is drawn into the parallel universe of Mutemath and zombified.

The screeching guitar initiated favourite “Blood Pressure” the room sung along to like an anthem. King’s drum hits were hard and consistent, exhalations of wow was felt from person to person, guitar licks were solid and electrifying, wailing high and causing people’s hearts to skip a beat in excitement.

“Spotlight” known for its appearance in The Twilight Movie Saga had people clapping above their heads and Meany riding his mic stand, dancing spastically and charismatically delivering his decisive lyrics. Roy Mitchell-Cárdenas, bass player, dressed in a pink muscle shirt and parading long brown locks reaching the tip of his cream Fender, delivered a dark depth and necessity of bass which was well felt in this popular melody.

Four songs into the show and many could already walk away more than satisfied by the profoundness of this New Orleans group. Meany welcomed everyone to the show and expressed his gratitude for being back in Australia after touring on the Groovin The Moo line up in 2012. A random comment of hope “I wanna let you know that tonight everything is going to be ok. No matter how your week has been,” left peeps connecting with the front man.

Song after song continued with extended instrumental solos, King breaking drum sticks as he drummed with his eyes closed and completely zoned into another realm, throwing the mangled sticks into crowd and initiating a fight between devoted followers. Gummerman’s strong fingers generated smooth rich driven chords and lead lines. Meany added layer after layer of synth or organ parts as he gallivanted around the large selection of instruments. A constant solid mix oozed out of the company.

Announced prior to their arrival, an assortment of new music was to be exhibited for the Australian fans. “We’ve been back at home, hard at work” said Meany, “as well as becoming new fathers.”

Playing new music like “Where We Once Were” a light mystical keys/synth driven number built into a full drum beat had Meany dancing and connecting with the crowd through his eclectic personality. King and Mitchell-Cárdenas banded together in the middle of the new song expose to play a big bass drum and percussion solo, ending with King standing on top of his tom drum and playing his kit with force.

At the early experimental stage of their next album they decided to do something unprecedented and jam on stage together with a raw idea. They are hoping that by end of the tour they may have a song to add to the album. The mass of people seemed pumped by the idea. It started with King dropping a beat, some loop parts layered above, and then guitar and bass were added gradually, with Meany playing synth and tentative vocal parts above.

The intensity and insanity continued to peak with “Chaos”, “Allies”, “Clipping”, new song “Hit Parade”, “Break The Same” and “Quarantine”. Meany continued to impress the throng as veins popped from his neck through belting vocals and when he mounted his organ head first, twice! Then to make the exhilaration climax he rode an inflatable black mattress above the moshpit while still performing. King moved to stand on top of the organ with his snare launching into another percussion interlude featuring Meany and Mitchell-Cárdenas. Gummerman complimented it by creating effects from his guitar pedals.

Mutemath left the stage at this point, leaving the crowd bursting for an encore. Feet stomped on the wooden floor building a robust army noise egging on the enemy. Graciously they reappeared thanking everyone for coming and their crew. Before launching into the final mash up of songs, Meany told a sympathetic story about the last time he came to Perth and kicked a girl in the face giving her a bloody nose. He was grateful she came back again and was very grateful for her “tolerant boyfriend.”

King started the muddle by pouring water over himself and his kit. Every time he hit, a fountain of water expelled high metres above him. Adding to the perfect mess an electronic mini guitar which expelled weird electrified signals was passed out to the crowd to coat the amaze-balls sound already spilling into the void. Just when it was expected that the encore was concluding, the band launched into song “Typical.” The mob howled with pleasure with a grand choice to close the show with people moshing to the chorus, Meany walking into the middle of the crowd to dance and thanks his new found friends. At the close of the song all four members bowed with appreciation for their fans. What was a beyond explanation experience, drew people to fall deeper in love with the majesty of music, Mutemath pretty much had them at hello.