Monster Magnet/Electric Citizen
October 23, 2018
Atlanta, GA
Masquerade (Heaven)
There are few things more awesome that watching a band grow up before your very eyes. Ever since first hearing and seeing Cinncinati’s Electric Citizen, I have been lucky enough to see them three times. The first time I saw them while on tour for their debut album I knew I was seeing a truly special band. Sometimes a band can make such a powerful first impression on me and I can tell when that band will grow into something unstoppable. With every passing show, Electric Citizen grew and grew but I knew that the best was still to come from this band.
When Electric Citizen recently pulled into Atlanta as direct support for Monster Magnet, I watched them captivate, win over, and own an audience leaving me more proud than a papa who just watched his kids win a spelling bee or hit a home run. The band came out and opened with “Heart Attack” from their latest album Helltown and I couldn’t have picked a better opener. It was powerful, it was strong, and it was a statement that said, “This is our stage right now so dig it or leave the hall.” “Hide it in the Night” followed and continued the flow of what would be a 45 minute journey of face melting proportions.
Lead vocalist Laura Dolan captivated the audience and let me tell you, a Monster Magnet audience isn’t an easy audience to win over. With her magnetic and dramatic stage presence, Dolan leads the band the way Ozzy once lead Sabbath back in 1971 or so. “Ripper” was without a doubt the highlight of the set for me and this one seemed to hype up the crowd but it was the closing number “Light Years Beyond” from the debut Sateen album that brought the house down and sent a mass of folks running to the merch booth. Electric Citizen put on an electrifying performance that easily could put them at headlining status. It left me wondering if even Monster Magnet could top this dynamically exciting set.
It blows my mind that it had been 20 years since I had seen Monster Magnet. The last time they were scheduled to play in Atlanta a few years ago, the band cancelled day of the show because leader Dave Wyndorf was sick so there was a buzz about whether or not the show would go on. Well not only the show go on but it went on with a kick off of stratospheric proportions. Wyndorf and company hit the stage with “Dopes to Infinity” and the crow went fucking nuts.
Monster Magnet is without a doubt the prime definition of a cult band. While the venue may not have been packed, every fucking person in that place knew every fucking lyric to every fucking song. With a set list that played out like a mix tape of their career, Monster Magnet pulled out a high energy, face melting psych rock performance which had everyone singing along with a classic like “Negasonic Teenage Warhead” to the title track of the new album, “Mindfucker” and all in between.
“Space Lord”, while even thought it may seem predictable, is hands down the perfect pre-encore set closer. The audience packed in tight, thrusting fists while Dave Wyndorf performed at the same caliber that he did 20 years ago. Dave and co were soaking up every ounce of energy from the audience like a sponge and they delivered easily one of the best shows of 2018. In this genre, there are leaders and there are followers and Monster Magnet are indeed one of the long standing leaders of their genre. If they keep churning out music of this quality and live shows of this caliber, Monster Magnet will go on to influence a whole new generation.
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