I've seen them a few times live, most recently a few weeks ago, and they are definitely one of the best live bands around. If you aren't a fan of a chaotic live show (their punk rock influence/background) then you will never be a fan of their live shows...because they don't stand around and focus on perfection. Imperfections are what make a live show memorable and truly great. If you want lifeless perfection then you're better off attending a Dream Theater concert.
dude i went to their concerts and i saw all their equipment, sound board, audio programs the works. I love Mars volta as much as the next guy but they definitely fuck with his voice live too.
I hate when people give thumbs down to insightful comments. I totally agree and although I love DT and MV, I think they could both benefit from better singers. Drumming is top-notch, though ;-)
I understand the mix feelings that people have between Theodore and Pridgen. I loved Theodore. He was one of the drummers that helped influence my drumming for the better. And I will forever be in debt to him for that, but at the same time, in my opinion, I feel like Theodore's time was up with TMV.
oh shit shit shit shit shit!! i can't wait at all for the new album. its gonna be soooo bad ass. Thomas Pridgen is definately one of the best things to ever happen to this band.
Although it was a bummer to see Theodore leave, I am excited for Pridgen and can't wait for the new album to see what Pridgen has to bring to the table. We can't keep comparing him to Theodore because they are both completely different people and completely different drummers. I feel like it adds to TMV's progression and new sound.
I don't know that I've ever heard or seen a drummer with more energy as Pridgen. Theodore was a really good drummer but this guy belongs in this band for sure.
Hey, this is impressive. Great cohesion between the musicians. The Bass and Drums are as one. Cedric's got one of the greatest voices in Rock today. And Omar's Guitar is spectacular. Good sound for a live recording, too. (BTW, Pridgen's a great addition to the band. Enough with the neophobia.)
Have you been collecting bootlegs of their shows over the years? You wouldn't be saying that if you listened to or attended some of their shows from their most recent tour in support of The Bedlam In Goliath. Echoplex - Great Amsterdam - Great Milan - Great Berlin - Great Dallas - Great St. Louis - Great I've just listed a few shows from this tour. Look into them.
How many times have you seen Thomas Pridgen perform with the band? How many songs have you heard off of Bedlam? Have you heard the other projects Pridgen has been a part of? Clearly you haven't heard enough of Pridgen to say he lacks a "groove" because he has the ability to lock in on a rhythm or use his jazz background to add to the percussion.
You also have to consider how long Jon played with TMV. They didn't really start gelling together and get really tight until late 2003/early 2004, and that's because they started in 2001. Give Pridgen some time.
Now that omar is playing on the guitar (new neck, pick-ups and pick gaurd) that he played on when At the Drive-in was around i think they can totally do atleast one show.
Dang,arguments all over this piece.... Just have fun.I admire these guys.they're playing good music,and exposing a whole new generation to music that they never would have heard otherwise.
Dude . Excelent Audio And Video Quality . What Camera Are You Using ? AMAZING SONG . Though , It Lacks Of Adrian Terraza's Solo At The End Along With Thomas Solo .
no the audio is horribly done, if you seen the dvd that comes with their new cd, you would see that it does sound good live. Plus ive seen them live and they are amazing Omar and Pridgen are machines they never get tired
When I said "cultures" I was implying traditional music from other countries, perhaps in their native language. I'm not arguing against Led Zeppelin being a good band (even though they have been accused of stealing some of their material from blues guitarists), just that there is a whole musical world out there for you to discover. You shouldn't limit yourself to a single genre. The Mars Volta has built up a very solid fanbase over the years that include Jimmy Page and Robert Plant.
I don't think it's about who uses double pedals or who is more technical, what it comes down 2is the Music. It's also about makin' the artist feel comfortable bout doin what he or she is doin, so what ever thomas is doin fits for the music, and what ever Jon did fit for the music at that time. But keep in mind, none of us are paying thomas so maybe when we get enuf musical vocab, or money then we can give input, but 4me...have a coke an a smile, kick back, an enjoy what u wish u could do. I am
Loved TMV ever since Tremulant. EP was great, De-Loused was good, real refreshing given the time, Frances untopable, Amputecture was good but my least fav, seems kinda thrown together, maybe cuz de loused and frances had a central theme, so was really worried about this release esp. since jon is gone. They delivered, possibly my new fav.
I agree. I have four songs from Bedlam and Thomas is amazing. Hate to say it but he is almost to much. I really enjoyed Blake Flemings transitions, but he doesn't have the chops. Still very excited about the album and Thomas.
I loved the dynamics that jon had, Thomas is damn amazing and probably has more skill. theyre both very good drummers but im a dynamics man hehe. thomas's bass beats were very groovin, still volta sure know how to pick their drummers. props volta drummers
I'll always enjoy Theodore's energy, skills, and creativity within himself but it seems as if he just "fell out" with TMV. I am very excited with the arrival of Pridgen and respect him greatly as a drummer. Of course, we can not compare him and judge him to Theodore because he has a completely different flavor to add to TMV's songs.
It seemed as if TMV's progression was getting more advanced and needed more execution with certain fills and beats and Theodore just kept giving similar ideas that compared to songs as early as Tremulant. Like I said before, this is only my opinion and what I have noticed all the way back from Tremulant to Amputechture.
not his voice at least.. and zeppelin was WAY more than just blues rock.. they set the bedrock for metal.. they included page.. in my eyes the greatest guitarest ever.. bonham.. my idol.. in my eyes the greatest drummer ever.. jones.. he was extremely multi-talented.. and plant .. who most say had one of the greatest rock and roll voices ever... together they wrote the greatest song ever.
I agree. but actually this one isn't as bad as some of the other ones I've heard, i.e, Cygnus, Roulette Dares etc. For a lot of singers - especially with such a wide vocal range as Cedric's- its hard to maintain vocal integrity on a big fucking tour..
well, if by "fuck with his voice" you mean "add chorus, delay, reverb, occasionally phaser, flanger and ring modulation to his voice," then you would be correct. BUT, those do not shift the pitch of his voice. You can tell it's his real voice because of the honest mistakes he makes, which are an okay thing, since he's a human being too.
Cedric's live voice is a lot different than what goes on the cds. His voice is still powerful but not exactly pleasant but the musics not about that eh? And now I know why I had trouble following the drumming on "Bedlam." O geez.
the rest of my comment.. i've never even heard of this bad until a guitar center catalog had a biography of thomas the drummer...i dont think they'll have that big of an impact when they're done.
Well it's not like he decided to break off from the song and do solos..that's the song. In my opinion he really added to Jon's parts during the live shows. The drums have a much fuller sound now. Thomas will help the band because he can actually play the stuff that Omar and Cedric want; It's no knock on Jon, but he just didn't have the skill or knowledge to execute what the band was looking for.
I think Thomas will be great for the band...besides Jon was unhappy with the band and the direction the music was going after De-Loused. I like the idea of the band going in more of a Mahavishnu Orchestra/King Crimson direction in terms of percussion rather than Bonham like with Zeppelin.
yes. thank u. james labrie is a good singer. a much much better choice than dominici. but im sad to say he was at his best before the food poisoning incident. granted he does has very good moments and performances still. like the score dvd. i think they could maybe benefit from a better singer. both this band and dream theater have very very good musicians though.
I wish Cedric wouldn't do the falsetto in the chorus live. Sounds good mixed with the deeper tone on the recorded version, but it doesn't sound good solo.
Dude, I love Thomas WAAAAAY more than portnoy...Portnoy lives in 1991 and plays lame music.... Good never the less... recognition is deserved... doesnt mean I like his style
I would have to disagree the guitar player in my band has a jetking and it looks nothing like that. either way it looks the same and they could do one show and make everyone happy.
its nice to come to a video were finaly, everyone seems to think the same way i do, that pridgen is better than theodore. Theodore was far more conventional and limited. About the singing, its impossible to capture his voice, for real. Ive been to 3 TMV shows, and his voice was just fantastic, and ive seen many many videos here on youtube(some from the same concerts, such as the UCI concert two weeks ago) even on professional quality cameras, and it SIGNIFIGANTLY downplays his voice
You don't have to understand the language to appreciate the music and the talent musicians around the world have. Not knowing what the vocalist is saying doesn't prevent you from hearing their tone, the mood they're trying to set, or the feeling that comes from their words. Not understanding the language can almost be an advantage as it allows you to focus less on words and more on the music itself.
i dont understand much other language.. just some spanish.... and zeppelin only stole a few bass lines but completely changed everything else. dazed and confused... u forget.. page also wrote MANY other riffs for other bands including the rolling stones while he was a session artist.. they also wrote MANY other GREAT songs by themselves
i didnt mean theore sucks, or even that he isnt mind bogglingingly good, all i said was that comparatively, pridgen has a more original, abstract style. Theodore was absolutely amazing, but as TMV is becoming more progressive and experimental than ever before, pridgen is a better match for their sound. and yes, theodore does play more like one would in a regular band(coventional), but TMV so out there now, that his style of drumming just wouldn't work as perfectly as Pridgens
There is way more good music available other than classic rock, that includes artists from different genres, cultures, and languages (past and present). Jazz for example takes just as much skill, if not more, than blues rock...which is what Led Zeppelin was. I really like Led Zeppelin, but I'm not stupid enough to limit my musical tastes. The singer writes the lyrics and vocal melodies for The Mars Volta. He had a similar role in At The Drive-In. He also plays drums in side projects. No gifts?
![The Mars Volta [Live] 2004-01-24 - Sydney, Australia - Sydney Showground - Big Day Out](/img/1.gif)
I've seen them a few times live, most recently a few weeks ago, and they are definitely one of the best live bands around. If you aren't a fan of a chaotic live show (their punk rock influence/background) then you will never be a fan of their live shows...because they don't stand around and focus on perfection. Imperfections are what make a live show memorable and truly great. If you want lifeless perfection then you're better off attending a Dream Theater concert.
Best band on earth . Can not wait for the new album!!
nice work! great quality vid, and the vocals amazingly clear. thanks. i can't get enough of bedlam - utter stroke of genius.
theodore was an utter legend, and pridgen seems to just be carrying that on. both incredible, two of the best around.
This video quality and sound quality are great. THis just makes me want to see them more.
Increible!!!
Amazing!!!
the new drummer is cool!!!!
waiting january!!
whoa dude.... cedric's live vocals are amazing in this video. ive never heard such a great capturing of his live voice.
dude i went to their concerts and i saw all their equipment, sound board, audio programs the works. I love Mars volta as much as the next guy but they definitely fuck with his voice live too.
easily my favorite drummer, pridgen is amazing!!
i love how people say pridgen can't hold a beat, listen to these tracks, these beats are hard as hell in some spots, and he doesn't miss one note.
AWESOME performance &
Good Viedo Sound=
:O
I hate when people give thumbs down to insightful comments. I totally agree and although I love DT and MV, I think they could both benefit from better singers. Drumming is top-notch, though ;-)
lucky bastard... this is some good quality footage.
I loved Jon...but Thomas is just something else. Unbelievable.
amazing quality thanx a lot for this
TMV are on fire in this video!
I understand the mix feelings that people have between Theodore and Pridgen. I loved Theodore. He was one of the drummers that helped influence my drumming for the better. And I will forever be in debt to him for that, but at the same time, in my opinion, I feel like Theodore's time was up with TMV.
the 2 front cymbals Thomas are using, sounds like a 19' a custom to the right, and the one 2 the left is the 21' Armand zildjian ride
oh shit shit shit shit shit!!
i can't wait at all for the new album. its gonna be soooo bad ass. Thomas Pridgen is definately one of the best things to ever happen to this band.
pridgen has such a crazy style, he has a lot of neal peart reminiscent ideas but infuses a lot of metal with it
Although it was a bummer to see Theodore leave, I am excited for Pridgen and can't wait for the new album to see what Pridgen has to bring to the table. We can't keep comparing him to Theodore because they are both completely different people and completely different drummers. I feel like it adds to TMV's progression and new sound.
thank you.. someone who agrees with me
that's called talent
great sound quality man.
I don't know that I've ever heard or seen a drummer with more energy as Pridgen. Theodore was a really good drummer but this guy belongs in this band for sure.
Hey, this is impressive. Great cohesion between the musicians. The Bass and Drums are as one. Cedric's got one of the greatest voices in Rock today. And Omar's Guitar is spectacular. Good sound for a live recording, too. (BTW, Pridgen's a great addition to the band. Enough with the neophobia.)
i like this song alot more live
Have you been collecting bootlegs of their shows over the years? You wouldn't be saying that if you listened to or attended some of their shows from their most recent tour in support of The Bedlam In Goliath.
Echoplex - Great
Amsterdam - Great
Milan - Great
Berlin - Great
Dallas - Great
St. Louis - Great
I've just listed a few shows from this tour. Look into them.
How many times have you seen Thomas Pridgen perform with the band? How many songs have you heard off of Bedlam? Have you heard the other projects Pridgen has been a part of?
Clearly you haven't heard enough of Pridgen to say he lacks a "groove" because he has the ability to lock in on a rhythm or use his jazz background to add to the percussion.
You also have to consider how long Jon played with TMV. They didn't really start gelling together and get really tight until late 2003/early 2004, and that's because they started in 2001. Give Pridgen some time.
i think they found their new drummer...guy sounds great
Thanks for uploading!!! Pridgen ftw.
damn i wish i was wher you were mister man!!!
this song is fucking amazing
Priden's right foot is insane.
ese batero la rompe! aguante the mars volta!
Thomas is incredible. Stop living in the past.....
Now that omar is playing on the guitar (new neck, pick-ups and pick gaurd) that he played on when At the Drive-in was around i think they can totally do atleast one show.
Dang,arguments all over this piece....
Just have fun.I admire these guys.they're playing good music,and exposing a whole new generation to music that they never would have heard otherwise.
i can not fucking wait to see them! in less that 18 hours i will be front row center at the TLA!
Dude . Excelent Audio And Video Quality . What Camera Are You Using ?
AMAZING SONG . Though , It Lacks Of Adrian Terraza's Solo At The End Along With Thomas Solo .
no the audio is horribly done, if you seen the dvd that comes with their new cd, you would see that it does sound good live. Plus ive seen them live and they are amazing Omar and Pridgen are machines they never get tired
yeah thats what wiki said but when i saw them live his cymbals looked soo thick
Que buen video. Quisiera ser quien lo filmó
amen!!!
holy shit that guys voice can change hella.
is this a soundboard rip? if so, someone needs to supply me will the full show!
and he watches most of the concert through his camera...
wow.
That intro fuckin goes...
what are those two front cymbals pridgen is using??
this is the first time i really heard the guys is a monster
well
i think the new sound is as good as the old one
When I said "cultures" I was implying traditional music from other countries, perhaps in their native language. I'm not arguing against Led Zeppelin being a good band (even though they have been accused of stealing some of their material from blues guitarists), just that there is a whole musical world out there for you to discover. You shouldn't limit yourself to a single genre. The Mars Volta has built up a very solid fanbase over the years that include Jimmy Page and Robert Plant.
I don't think it's about who uses double pedals or who is more technical, what it comes down 2is the Music. It's also about makin' the artist feel comfortable bout doin what he or she is doin, so what ever thomas is doin fits for the music, and what ever Jon did fit for the music at that time. But keep in mind, none of us are paying thomas so maybe when we get enuf musical vocab, or money then we can give input, but 4me...have a coke an a smile, kick back, an enjoy what u wish u could do. I am
Anybody know what guitar Omars playin? I like it but I don't recognize it.
and what am I posing as?
Loved TMV ever since Tremulant. EP was great, De-Loused was good, real refreshing given the time, Frances untopable, Amputecture was good but my least fav, seems kinda thrown together, maybe cuz de loused and frances had a central theme, so was really worried about this release esp. since jon is gone. They delivered, possibly my new fav.
how were u so close??? damn good stuff
@obdandzigzag its mostly falsetto, so a falsetto singer would say its easy
2:12 and onwards Cedric simply rips that mic.
hahah i agree... like Dickinson .. poor people lmao
i dont think pridgen will ever be able to surpass the intro solo from the studio version
not entirely sure, but i'd bet that they're zildjian a customs. since he's endorsed by zildjian anyway.
I agree. I have four songs from Bedlam and Thomas is amazing. Hate to say it but he is almost to much. I really enjoyed Blake Flemings transitions, but he doesn't have the chops. Still very excited about the album and Thomas.
I loved the dynamics that jon had, Thomas is damn amazing and probably has more skill. theyre both very good drummers but im a dynamics man hehe. thomas's bass beats were very groovin, still volta sure know how to pick their drummers. props volta drummers
I'll always enjoy Theodore's energy, skills, and creativity within himself but it seems as if he just "fell out" with TMV. I am very excited with the arrival of Pridgen and respect him greatly as a drummer. Of course, we can not compare him and judge him to Theodore because he has a completely different flavor to add to TMV's songs.
Good fucking shit man fucking right.
It seemed as if TMV's progression was getting more advanced and needed more execution with certain fills and beats and Theodore just kept giving similar ideas that compared to songs as early as Tremulant. Like I said before, this is only my opinion and what I have noticed all the way back from Tremulant to Amputechture.
Thomas Pridgen FTW
it doesn't make up for it, the sax is just missing, i hope you noticed that fill is in the record, right under the sax.
not his voice at least.. and zeppelin was WAY more than just blues rock.. they set the bedrock for metal.. they included page.. in my eyes the greatest guitarest ever.. bonham.. my idol.. in my eyes the greatest drummer ever.. jones.. he was extremely multi-talented.. and plant .. who most say had one of the greatest rock and roll voices ever...
together they wrote the greatest song ever.
what does that even mean?
ha... bed lamb in goliath
if it was ONLY falsetto, it wouldnt be so hard for him.
Id like to see Pridgen and zach hill together
I agree. but actually this one isn't as bad as some of the other ones I've heard, i.e, Cygnus, Roulette Dares etc. For a lot of singers - especially with such a wide vocal range as Cedric's- its hard to maintain vocal integrity on a big fucking tour..
well, if by "fuck with his voice" you mean "add chorus, delay, reverb, occasionally phaser, flanger and ring modulation to his voice," then you would be correct. BUT, those do not shift the pitch of his voice. You can tell it's his real voice because of the honest mistakes he makes, which are an okay thing, since he's a human being too.
Cedric's live voice is a lot different than what goes on the cds. His voice is still powerful but not exactly pleasant but the musics not about that eh?
And now I know why I had trouble following the drumming on "Bedlam." O geez.
they're probably 20in+. they get thick as hell haha.
the rest of my comment..
i've never even heard of this bad until a guitar center catalog had a biography of thomas the drummer...i dont think they'll have that big of an impact when they're done.
Well it's not like he decided to break off from the song and do solos..that's the song. In my opinion he really added to Jon's parts during the live shows. The drums have a much fuller sound now. Thomas will help the band because he can actually play the stuff that Omar and Cedric want; It's no knock on Jon, but he just didn't have the skill or knowledge to execute what the band was looking for.
I think Thomas will be great for the band...besides Jon was unhappy with the band and the direction the music was going after De-Loused. I like the idea of the band going in more of a Mahavishnu Orchestra/King Crimson direction in terms of percussion rather than Bonham like with Zeppelin.
howw shitttttt must jon theadore feeel that they found a replacement for himm that MAY be jsut a TAAAAAD better then himselff!?!?!
never the less.. he cant touch the latin acid style that theo used.
@obdandzigzag Doesn't mean it doesn't sound terrible live
yes. thank u. james labrie is a good singer. a much much better choice than dominici. but im sad to say he was at his best before the food poisoning incident. granted he does has very good moments and performances still. like the score dvd.
i think they could maybe benefit from a better singer. both this band and dream theater have very very good musicians though.
well every drummer is different, u cant expect 2 different drummers from 2 different backgrounds to sound the same
I wish Cedric wouldn't do the falsetto in the chorus live. Sounds good mixed with the deeper tone on the recorded version, but it doesn't sound good solo.
:*
Dude, I love Thomas WAAAAAY more than portnoy...Portnoy lives in 1991 and plays lame music.... Good never the less... recognition is deserved... doesnt mean I like his style
:O am i the only person hoo thinks cedric got a hair cut...?
I would have to disagree the guitar player in my band has a jetking and it looks nothing like that. either way it looks the same and they could do one show and make everyone happy.
its nice to come to a video were finaly, everyone seems to think the same way i do, that pridgen is better than theodore. Theodore was far more conventional and limited.
About the singing, its impossible to capture his voice, for real. Ive been to 3 TMV shows, and his voice was just fantastic, and ive seen many many videos here on youtube(some from the same concerts, such as the UCI concert two weeks ago) even on professional quality cameras, and it SIGNIFIGANTLY downplays his voice
You don't have to understand the language to appreciate the music and the talent musicians around the world have. Not knowing what the vocalist is saying doesn't prevent you from hearing their tone, the mood they're trying to set, or the feeling that comes from their words. Not understanding the language can almost be an advantage as it allows you to focus less on words and more on the music itself.
why are you reading through 2 year old comments?
its bedlam, not bed lamb
i dont understand much other language.. just some spanish.... and zeppelin only stole a few bass lines but completely changed everything else. dazed and confused... u forget.. page also wrote MANY other riffs for other bands including the rolling stones while he was a session artist.. they also wrote MANY other GREAT songs by themselves
sad for me yet i dont come up with immature names like whalewhalewhale.. honestly
join the club
i didnt mean theore sucks, or even that he isnt mind bogglingingly good, all i said was that comparatively, pridgen has a more original, abstract style. Theodore was absolutely amazing, but as TMV is becoming more progressive and experimental than ever before, pridgen is a better match for their sound. and yes, theodore does play more like one would in a regular band(coventional), but TMV so out there now, that his style of drumming just wouldn't work as perfectly as Pridgens
There is way more good music available other than classic rock, that includes artists from different genres, cultures, and languages (past and present). Jazz for example takes just as much skill, if not more, than blues rock...which is what Led Zeppelin was. I really like Led Zeppelin, but I'm not stupid enough to limit my musical tastes.
The singer writes the lyrics and vocal melodies for The Mars Volta. He had a similar role in At The Drive-In. He also plays drums in side projects. No gifts?