For the first time in a decade, The Mars Volta graced the stage. Last night (September 22), the duo kicked off their tour at The Factory in Deep Ellum in Dallas, Texas. They’re currently touring in support of their latest LP, 2022’s self-titled, their first full-length since 2012’s Noctourniquet. 2012 was also the last time they toured, their last performance prior to last night was in July of 2012 at the HMV in London. Now the band is back on the road with new material while still performing the classics from their storied discography.
The Mars Volta debuted in 2003 and has sort of a phoenix rising out of the ashes story. Cedric Bixler-Zavala and Omar Rodriguez-Lopez first started working together as members of the punk group At The Drive-In. Their first band became a staple in the genre and they saw great success but the duo felt unfulfilled creativity. After the group dissolved Bixler-Zavala and Rodriguez-Lopez formed The Mars Volta, a new project that would allow them to dive deeper into the psychedelic prog-rock sound they always wanted to explore during their tenure with At The Drive-In. Now with decades in the scene and 7 albums under their belt, the band is back and better than ever and taking their brand new album on the road.
Their Dallas performance was full of throwbacks and firsts. Considering this is their first live show since the release of their 2022 album, they performed the songs “Blacklight Sun” and “Graveyard Love”. The rest of the night was filled with tracks from earlier albums with their 2003 debut, Deloused in the Comatorium taking up a majority of the night. Songs like “Roulette Dares”, “Drunkship of Lanterns”, and “Cicatriz ESP” were played for the first time since 2010. The band’s new material weren’t the only songs getting a live debut, “Vicarious Atonement” from their 2006 album Amputechture was also played for the first time live.
The Mars Volta is taking their show across North America with stops in almost all major cities. Get tickets and check out the full dates below along with the full setlist from last night’s show and footage from their performance below;
Setlist: https://www.setlist.fm/setlist/the-mars-volta/2022/the-factory-in-deep-ellum-dallas-tx-13b0516d.html
