The Mighty Machine Head re-joined their tour supporting the made-for-TV “Monkees of Metal”, Dethklok, for a hometown show at Oakland’s Fox Theater. The local crowd turned out in full-force to support the homecoming and included several members of the local metal community including band members from D.R.I., Exodus and Death Angel (and probably many more that were not spied).
This was the first show back for Machine Head after missing several gigs as frontman Robb Flynn recovered from hernia surgery. Looking none the worse for wear but with vocals an octave higher than normal (not really), Flynn showed no signs of the guy that last appeared online in a post-surgery video that had him walking like he had just taken a swift kick in the ‘nads. Maybe having something to prove, Rob didn’t hold back … one may say that he even went balls-out (pun intended) to deliver more than what the fans have come to expect from Machine Head.
While the crowd had certainly been supportive of the opening acts, when Machine Head hit the stage the pit went nuts and the bodies started flying … some finding their way over the barrier … many u-turning to land back in the fray. The look on the faces of those that lined up early to secure a spot up front? A painful mixture of ecstasy, fury and constipation as they got the stuffing squeezed out of them by the pressing mob.
Phil Demmel (lead guitar) and Adam Duce (bass) looked like they used the break from the tour to hit the weights together but clearly also spent some of the time keeping their chops up. With a new live album out (Machine F**king Head Live!
With the supporting slot, time was limited and the band wasted little time as they blasted through their six song set … the longest break being a relatively well executed moment of silence for Suicide Silence’s Mitch Lucker to which they dedicated “Halo.”
Setlist:
- This Is the End
- Imperium
- Beautiful Mourning
- Aesthetics of Hate
- Locust
- Halo
Supporting acts: The Black Dahlia Murder, All That Remains
© 2012 Alan Snodgrass | www.digitaldiversion.net. Please do not use without express permission. If you like what you see, leave a comment below and subscribe so you can be notified of new posts. You can also become a fan on Facebook.