Mushroomhead - The Changing of the guard is still happening

***3/4 

Keepin' up with the Mushroomhead sound 

Mushroomhead ***3/4 are fresh from their performance at the Bloodstock Festival, where they were received with open arms. The countless line-up changes have damaged the band a bit in recent years, but their live performances have not faltered, with the band producing memorable nights all around the World. But what people have to see is that it's a great time to be a Mushroomhead fan; for a start, you get the band going under the name Mushroomhead. But you also get loads of the past members in a band called the Ex-Faces, and Waylon Reavis'band A Killer’s Confession.

This is not to mention Jeff Hatrix (Jeffrey Nothing) solo albums, and there is way more. So if you like the music of the people involved with Mushroomhead over the years, then you have a lot to listen to. Coming out to the stage, to the theme of SpongeBob Squarepants. The band launches into action, in what is now the Mushroomhead live signature style, with water drums on either side of the stage 

The two current Mushroomhead vocalists Steve Rauckhorst, with cleaner vocals and Scott 'Strike' Beck the latter of whom joined the band for their album 'Call the Devil' and provides the harsher Industrial sounding vocals. They have a presence on stage that works well together, with almost a twin energy to them. They open with a song off their 'Call the Devil' album, 'Eye to Eye' which goes down well. The new masks look cool as always as Scott and Steve break through a flawless version of 'Fall in Line'. 

But for me when I think of Mushroomhead I think of three songs, which they play in a row 'Qwerty', 'Sun doesn't Rise' and 'Solitaire/Unraveling'. All sounding still great, I think 'Qwerty' works so well because it's kind of creepy. So when you see the band moving around the stage... you think of the band's great music video for it. Jackie LaPonza, who is one of the loveliest people you can meet, comes on for her moment with 'The Heresy'. She has been criticised by fans a lot, but she is doing what she does, and she does it that way. I think it's because people don't like change, and the female vocals are so different from the all male vocals of times of old. But for me it brings something different to the band, and she only comes on for a few songs. So it isn't really changing too much in Mushroomhead, just enhancing the band with a different energy. 

Other great moments in the set include 'Madness Within' and '12 Hundred', which go down very well. The show seems to go by in the blink of an eye, and the audience is left wanting more. I have to say I really enjoyed myself, but it wasn't a classic Mushroomhead show. Like, this won't be the one I talk about if someone asked me about the shows I have been to. But it did produce everything I love and enjoy about Mushroomhead, the catchy well put together songs. The water drums, the masks, the members switching places on stage- this is what you expect from a Mushroomhead show, and this is what we got. I will never stop going to see Mushroomhead, and I always look forward to them coming to town.  

Review and Photos by Dan Devour 

Mushroomhead - Setlist
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Spongbob Squarepants Theme Song (Intro - Played on Tape)
Eye to Eye
A Requiem for Tomorrow
Fall in Line
Our Apologies
Qwerty
Sun doesn't Rise
Solitaire/Unraveling
The Heresy
Madness Within
Seen it All
Prepackaged
When Doves Cry / Among the Crows
12 Hundred
Born of Desire / War Pigs

Check Out! the Video for 'Fall in Line' Below...