30 Seconds to Mars, Mutemath, and Street Drum Corps

Street Drum Corps‘ short set sparked the crowd, maintained by a highly entertaining MUTEMATH set. Although good, 30 Seconds to Mars spent more time on showmanship than rocking out. Check out our review and photo galleries from the show.

On weekends I am usually stalking the clubs of various southern California cities checking out a variety of bands. The bands that I watch are typically smaller bands trying to build up local followings. Occasionally I get to catch a regional or national touring act that can draw a few hundred people to a Los Angeles show. Very rarely do I take the time to catch phenoms that are tearing up national radio and television. 30 Seconds to Mars fits in this final category, so I took a Friday night off from great shows in Los Angeles to stay local and check out the boys of 30STM at the Santa Barbara Bowl.

In all honesty, the opening bands for this gig were just as exciting to me as the thought of seeing 30 Seconds to Mars. After unceremoniously missing Coachella, I have decided to single out and see all of the bands I wanted to see at Coachella. Wish me luck! At any rate, the New Orleans boys of MUTEMATH opening any show isn’t a bad thing. This evening, however, begins early with the frantic energy of Street Drum Corps. Already acclaimed for their exciting, drum-heavy live performance, these LA boys did not disappoint.

I now get to include myself in the list of people that liked Street Drum Corps before they were on American Idol (May 19th, check your local listings). The band is no stranger to the big stage, as they have blown away audiences on a number of national tours including Projekt Revolution, The Warped Tour, and Taste of Chaos. The few thousand that show up to the bowl ridiculously early tonight (early by Rock and Roll standards at least) get a treat with a very short set from these punk rock revolutionaries.

Beginning with a drum intro, the three mainstays pound on an array of noisy objects with faces obscured by gasmasks and bandanas. The wacky, tribal, tattooed drumming could easily make a full set and keep things interesting. But for Street Drum Corps, the drumming is just a small facet of their creation. After the intro, the members leave the stage and return a few seconds later with a guitarist and bassist in tow to start their full punk rock set. In just 15 minutes, Street Drum Corps prove they are worthy of the attention they receive.

Lead singer Bobby Alt struts and pouts across the stage, stopping to drum when needed, though mates Adam Alt and Frank Zummo do the heavy lifting when it comes to percussion. Street Drum Corps are a highly enjoyable start to the evening, the only problem being that they played so early and had such a short set that many possible admirers missed it. Shame on you for not showing up at the rock show before 7pm!

As the fans continue to file in and fill up the general admission section, I sit in section J with a row to myself waiting until the photographers are shuttled back into the pit for MUTEMATH. While sitting I pull out my camera to go through the Street Drum Corps photos and write down notes. This will play an important role, so remember that little fact.

The set changes are quick at the bowl and before I know it I am back in the front as MUTEMATH takes the stage. Drummer Darren King appears first and ritualistically tapes his headphones onto his head, before sitting down and smashing out the opening beats with such force and conviction that his arms are flailing and his body rises from his seat over and over.

Paul Meany leads from behind the microphone, his soulful vocals more than making up for the fact that he doesn’t run around like a madman. He provides the perfect compliment to guitarist Greg Hill and bassist Roy Mitchell-Cardenas whether he is playing the keytar, the keyboard, the homemade Atari, or just the tambourine. All of the members perform with such an urgency and enthusiasm that they appear to be straining within their own skin. This energy spills out into the crowd, who easily pick up the chorus’ and sing along.

After three songs, the photographers are ushered away to watch and absorb from afar. I return to Section J, where I again pull out my camera to look through photos and take some notes on the rest of MUTEMATH’s performance, when a security man taps on my shoulder.

“I just need to see your pass,” he says as he eyes my camera. I show him the rad 30STM Press Pass sticker that is affixed to my shirt and he walks away. A short while later, the same security man returns to get a closer look at my pass. Thinking that he thinks I am not allowed to be in Section J, I show him my ticket as well. He walks off apologizing.

A few minutes later, he returns again, and whispers in my ear, “you’re going to have to leave with the camera.”

I am stunned. Am I getting kicked out?!

“Come with me,” he says.

I oblige and follow him to the head security guard.

The head security guard informs me that I am not allowed to take photos outside of the designated area.

“No problem,” I say, “I was just reviewing my photos, but I won’t take the camera out again.”

This appeases the head security guard and he allows me to return to my seat. I return to Section J, where my awesome pink-haired photo buddy Dawnley Burwell is sitting.

“Did you see that?!” she asks.

“No what?!”

While I was gone, lead man Meany performed his patented flip over his keyboard. I was sad.

Although I missed the live flip, I have been able to recreate the moment from fan videos on Youtube, so I can assume it was an exciting and charismatic moment in the set.

After I return, MUTEMATH’s set turns into chaos and destruction. All the members begin playing different instruments as Darren drags his drums to the center of the stage and pounds on them Street Drum Corps style from atop Paul’s keyboard. Meany and Roy pound on what’s left of the drum kit as Greg carries his effects board around, playing the different pedals like instruments. The set ends with the drums in pieces strewed across the stage and a white curtain drops to hide the wreckage.

Having Jared Leto as the front man of your band can’t hurt, but 30 Seconds to Mars has continually impressed with their marketing acumen and willingness to be at the forefront of emerging marketing strategies. They have been able to create and maintain a strong and loyal fan base through years of forward thinking.

The photographers are pushed back to behind the soundboard for the 30STM show as to not interfere with Jared’s interaction with the crowd. This is lame. All of the photographer’s stand with their giant lenses, just hoping that there is enough light to focus by. When the opening notes ring and Jared’s shadow can be seen through the white curtain, the photographers snap like mad.

The 30STM show is filled with extracurricular activities. From the intense lighting to the frequent guest performers (including a song with Street Drum Corps members, 2 songs with the Santa Barbara High School Drum Line, a song with the Santa Barbara High School Chorus, and the final song with everybody they could fit on stage) the show drags and drags. Their set lasts 90 minutes but more time is spent in between songs than anything else, and it gets old fast. Jared does not stay still for more than a few seconds, his pink mohawk blurring back and forth across the stage. The rest of the band spends most of the time lurking the darker areas of the stage, allowing the front man to entertain.

The stage goes dark at one point as the band finishes a song. After a few minutes there is squealing throughout the crowd as Jared comes with his entourage of trench coated assistants. He performs “The Kill” acoustically while sitting in the crowd. At the end of the song he fights his way through the crowd as the full band comes back to life, blasting out the final verse. Through all the pomp, this is the high moment of the night, seeing Jared Leto sway with the crowd of 30 something women as he fights his way back to the stage.

30 Seconds to Mars will maintain their huge fan base and continue to play to thousands of rabid fans, but the real stars of the night are MUTEMATH and Street Drum Corps, who will continue to grow and impress.

Check out the full sets of 30 Seconds to Mars, Street Drum Corps and MuteMath concert photos.