Margarita Witch Cult have a great look. With their long hair, skinny flared jeans and tight t-shirts, they look like they've just been beamed in from the '70s. The opening instrumental track is '90s stoner rock like tonight's headliners meets 'Sky Valley' era Kyuss. 'Scream Bloody Murder' is dirty yet punchy biker rock. The triple vocals blend together really well and the harmonies add a Torche like melody to the material. 'Annihilation' is straight ahead Mötörhead bludgeon. 'The Witchfinder Comes' again features strong vocals and comes across like a stoner rock Alice In Chains. 'Crawl Home To Your Cofffin' is '70s heavy rock which sounds like Uncle Acid & The Deadbeats meets Graveyard. They are very tight and professional. It took me a minute or so to work out what the cover of 'White Wedding' was because it sounds just like Black Sabbath but, like everything they play, it's great.
Monster Magnet are marking their 35th anniversary, and tonight promises to be a celebration of that. They open with the rock solid, descending riff of 'Dopes To Infinity'. It has such a great groove and Dave Wyndorf sounds in great voice but I do wonder if he's straining slightly (he later complains of feeling ill so it could be a result of this). They follow this up with the dynamic drug-crazed rock of 'Tractor'. 'Superjudge' is eastern tinged heavy psych rock, again with a mammoth groove, and the wig out towards the end is superb. You forget how many great riffs they have written, and the band sound spectacular playing them. 'Look To Your Orb For The Warning' features another one. 'Negasonic Teenage Warhead' is an absolute anthem. The last time I saw Dave live (about fifteen years ago), he was a lean, mean rock 'n' roll sexgod but looks more like a cuddly grandad these days, not unlike retired wrestler Mick Foley. The mellow 'Zodiac Lung' is a touch of light relief in contrast to all the huge riffs we are bombarded with. The monster riff tornado of 'Twin Earth' is an incredible surprise. 'Bummer' expertly mixes commercial rock with heavy doom. The closing 'Powertrip' sounds thunderous. They are scheduled to play a further two songs during the encore but end the show here because Dave isn't well enough to continue, meaning we don't get 'Crop Circle' or 'Space Lord'. This is a shame but doesn't affect anyone's enjoyment because what they do play is wonderful.
Epilogue: A few weeks later the band end up cancelling the remainder of the European tour due to Dave's illness. I'm thankful that I still got to see them and hopeful that Dave recovers soon.
Monster Magnet *****
Margarita Witch Cult ****
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