Mono & Maserati @ Triple Rock Social Club

[Maserati]

[Maserati]

This Monday, while the attention of most Twin Cities venues (as well as the world at large) was on the Metrodome as Brett Favre and the Vikings cut down the Packers in Favre’s first face-off against his former team, a small group of friends and I were more than happy to do the seemingly unthinkable and forgo the night of football. What could possibly be more important than football?, you might ask. The answer: an visceral performance of post-rock and psychedelia from none other than the sonic wizards in Mono and the stellar Georgia-based quartet known as Maserati. In the end, the decision was well worth it; with the game commanding the attention the majority of the populace, the devoted fans who ventured out to the Triple Rock were treated to a intimate and dramatic presentation from two bands who are the cream of the crop.

[Maserati]

[Maserati]

[Maserati]

Maserati was the first band to perform, and when the foursome took to the stage the wash of reverberated guitars immediately turned the heads of everyone in the venue. With only two bands on the bill that night, both Maserati and Mono were lavished with attention from their crowd. The dichotomies within their performance were what made them an especially interesting band to watch; while the airy, entrancing guitar work is reminiscent of both post-rock luminaries such as Explosions in the Sky as well as more prog-minded bands such as Minus the Bear, the steadfast, pounding percussion of Jerry Fuchs added a punch to the sound like I’d not heard before. Though subdued at times, he was always the backbone of the jam, and on epics such as “12/16″ and “Show Me the Season” Fuchs roared and raged the songs into life as if he was a ringmaster awaking a beast from its slumber.

[Maserati]

[Maserati]

[Maserati]

[Maserati]

This was the band’s first visit to the Twin Cities since forming nearly a decade ago, and in the time spent off the road the band has been able to carefully craft a catalog that covers the gamut—from pounding, trancy rhythms to stargazing psychedelia to heady arena ready rockers. On Monday, the band immersed the Triple Rock in it all, and there was never any telling which way the confident quartet would venture next. In truth, the only way to say it succinctly is to say that Maserati has a show that isn’t watched, it’s experienced.

[Maserati]

[Maserati]

[Mono]

[Mono]

[Mono]

[Mono]

[Mono]

Drawing mostly from their recent Hymn To the Immortal Wind LP, Mono decided to keep the stage lights on throughout their highly impassioned, cinematic set orchestrated around soaring crescendos, sublime melodies, and blasting dissonance. It seemed to be an odd move at first, but it’s purpose was obvious: rather than becoming enveloped in the incredible aura the minstrels of Japanese post-rock projected, it brought the band’s tight connection to the forefront. Essentially, it was if a veil had been pulled away, removing a certain mysteriousness and displaying the band’s brilliant music for digestion in an almost elemental sort of way.

[Mono]

[Mono]

[Mono]

[Mono]

When they played softly, the silence that befell the room was demonstrative of the captivation among the audience. Despite his “punk” demeanor, guitarist Takaakira Goto employed a delicate and precise touch to pull a symphony of sound out from the neck of his sole beaten and duct taped guitar. Some new songs such as “Burial At Sea” and “Follow the Map” allowed the band to delve into an almost entirely classical vibe, and they looked to be truly enjoying breaking their fresh ones into a live interpretation, but I was very excited to see them willing to jam on the methodical dirge of “Yearning” as well as the mind-numbing, ear-splitting journey through the highs and lows of “Halo.”

[Mono]

[Mono]

[Mono]

It’s rare for instrumental bands of this caliber to come to town at all. When they allow you so close into their world that you can almost hear them breath, it’s a treat beyond compare. Totally worth missing the game of the century (at least as a Packers fan).

[Mono]

[Mono]

[Review and videos by Ryan Buege, photos by Adam Bubolz.]

Maserati Setlist
01. No More Sages
02. 12/16
03. We’ve Got the System to Fight the System
04. Show Me the Season
05. Inventions
06. untitled “Chug”
07. Monoliths

Mono Setlist
1. Ashes in the Snow
2. Burial At Sea
3. Follow The Map
4. Pure as Snow (Trails of the Winter Storm)
5. Yearning
6. Halo
7. Everlasting Light

[Maserati's setlist comes courtesy of Empty's Tapes]