It’s been a long, long wait to see this band. Oh, I’ve seen Mike Patton in all the guises Faith No More, Tomahawk and Fantômas, but Mr Bungle has always eluded me. This incarnation of Mr. Bungle is the best, featuring Mike Patton, Scott Ian (Anthrax), Trevor Dunn (Melvins, Tomahawk), Dave Lombardo (Slayer) and Trey Spruance (Faith No More). So as super groups go, this is a doozy. Their album The Raging Wrath of The Easter Bunny is probably the most accessible, a fine blend of Anthrax crossover thrash and Mike Patton’s crazy nonsense.
The set opens with Won’t You Be My Neighbor (Fred Rogers cover) as the band enter the stage. The crowd goes wild, reserving the loudest roar for the maestro Patton, looking like a mad locust with his hair fashioned into antenna. The intro fades and the unmistakable guitar of Scott Ian kicks and the first track Grizzly Adams bounces into action.
Patton’s vocals are sharp and the combination of Ian and Dunn’s guitars and Lombardo’s drums sound like S.O.D reincarnated. This is maintained through Anarchy Up Your Anus and Bungle Grind. Patton slows it right down with a pretty good version of 10cc’s I’m Not in Love to the delight of the crowd who sing their hearts out.
Eracist is up next followed by Spreading the Thighs of Death, my favourite track from the album and which reminds me of the best crossover bands of the 80s and 90s, but that is probably because they have some of the best crossover musicians from the 80s and 90s. Just to prove a point they go straight into a fantastic cover of the Cro-Mags classic Malfunction. This band make it sound fresher and more relevant as ever.
The set thrashes along with Hypocrites / Hablo Espanol o Muere (Speak Spanish or Die) very reminiscent of SOD’s Speak English Or Die followed by Glutton For Punishment.
Another mad cover of Hopelessly Devoted to You by John Farrar get a massive cheer and huge grins all round. But those grins get even bigger as the opening cords of Slayer’s Hell Awaits fill the room. This is a massive highlight for everyone intermixed as it is with Seals & Crofts’ Summer Breeze. After a bit of banter and dad joke competition, the night carries on with Raping Your Mind and My Ass Is on Fire, after which we are treated to a blistering version of the Circle Jerks World Up Me Ass and main set closer Sudden Death. After a short interlude, another highlight for me is a cover of Sepultura’s Territory with the lyrics changed a little to chant “beans on toast” (you had to be there) A bastardised version of Eric Carmen’s All by Myself sees the lyrics changed to "Go Fuck Yourself" As the stages empties and we start to file out of the venue it’s hard to miss the smiles and massive grins on everyone’s faces. It was a long wait but of all the incarnations Mike Patton has put together, this is, in my opinion, by far his best.
Review by John Caffrey
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