The Mars Volta at Troxy

The Mars Volta

Teri Gender Bender

Troxy, 18 June 2023

It's crazy to think I haven't seen The Mars Volta live since 2009, when I went absolutely crazy for them and saw them three times in one year including a super intimate gig (only 300 people!) at the ICA. Even though they released two more albums after that, I didn't venture to see them in the couple of years before they split up but I have continued to support the band's two members Cedric Bixler-Zavala and Omar Rodriguez-Lopez in their other projects, At The Drive-In and Antemasque, seeing them live numerous times (as I've written about on this blog) so the last 14 years haven't been completely Volta-free at least.

At The Drive-In at Brixton Academy

At The Drive-In
Death From Above
Le Butcherettes
Brixton Academy, 9 March 2018

The last time I saw At The Drive-In it was six years ago on their reunion tour back in 2012. I can't believe it was that long ago, in fact when this show, once again at Brixton Academy, was announced I initially decided not to go because it felt like it hadn't been that long since I saw them. But fate intervened when two for one tickets popped up close to the date and it felt like I was meant to give the boys another visit.

Antemasque at the Electric Ballroom

Antemasque
Le Butcherettes
Electric Ballroom, 15 October 2014

When it was announced that Le Butcherettes were supporting tonight I was thrilled because I've wanted to see them live for ages, ever since I heard their debut album Sin Sin Sin three years ago. Not that it was too much of a surprise given that Antemasque's Omar Rodriguez-Lopez not only played bass for the band for a short while and formed another, Bosian Rainbows, with Le Butcherettes front woman, Teresa Suárez aka Teri Gender Bender, but the pair are apparently also a couple. That said, even if there wasn't a personal connection between the two bands, judging by tonight's performance they were a more than worthy choice and Teri has to be one of the most incredible frontwomen I've seen in ages.