Just as If you’re a GWAR fan when word reaches your ear that Mac Sabbath is coming to town, there is only one acceptable option: fall in rank with the Mac Sabbath army. They played in Santa Fe this past Wednesday 11/16 before finishing the three-show set in Colorado and continuing on from there to California. Would those willing to make the mid-week trek to Meow Wolf and brave the 7,000 ft. frost of Santa Fe NM in early November be served up a gourmet stage show fit for the ages or would it turn out to be musical cold fries better left at the drive-thru?
LA-based Mac Sabbath was formed in 2014 as a parody tribute band of English heavy metal band Black Sabbath. While their music is reminiscent of that era, their appearance is not. Forgoing the mullets and muted tones of most heavy metal bands, tribute or otherwise, they instead opt to follow the stylish persuasions of ’80s and ’90s McDonaldland. A mash-up that no one expected or even knew they wanted. Those in search of innovation will walk away with one impression — “I’m Lovin It”
After a rousing warm-up set by TX-based Speedealer, the laser-eyed clowns and trademark Mac Sabbath curtain was erected on the Meow Wolf stage. A hush fell over the crowd as silhouettes and foam horns began appearing. Finally, the curtain dropped and Slayer MacCheeze, Catburglar, and Grimalice were revealed in all their non-trademark infringing glory. The musical precision was impressive from the get-go given the costuming. The guitarists essentially blind play during the entire performance although Slayer MacCheeze seems to have a slightly better view of his instrument than Grimalice. The shredding on both drums and guitars was impressive as they played Ronald Osbourne onto the stage.
What followed was an entertaining night of their best-known hits such as “Pair-a-Buns” (“Paranoid”) and “Sweet Beef” (“Sweet Leaf”) mixed with engaging crowd interactions rife with fast food puns and a few entertaining parlor tricks. The opportunities to laugh at the fast food industry’s expense were plentiful. Any student of lyrics would notice that although their appearances are clearly McDonald’s adjacent and comedic in nature, their songs are actually a scathing criticism of the fast food industry and our reliance upon it as a society. How deep you want to go down that rabbit hole is up to the viewer as the crowd banter was rather light by comparison. Case in point: Mac Sabbath told the crowd that the price for fame was touring with acts like “Cinnabon Jovi” and “Oreo Speedwagon”. This was just the tip of the Vanilla Iceberg.
In Mac Sabbath, you have a band that is self-aware. A band that critiques the world we live in but does so with a carnivalesque stage show. A band that isn’t afraid to go there but doesn’t take itself so seriously that it is immune from its own humor. A band that combines excellent musical mimicry with a spot-on impersonation of Ozzy Osbourne’s stage presence and maniacal laughter.
While any performance at the Meow Wolf venue is a unique experience, this one was especially so. Drive Thru Metal is the only genre where spatulas are played with as much gusto as electric guitars. Following their final rendition of “Frying Pan” (“Iron Man”) a pleased crowd made their exit from what is one of the most unique concert venues New Mexico or even the country itself has to offer. A final stop at the Mac Sabbath merchandise booth on the way out the door, where a new pop-up book and assorted apparel were on offer assured any potential buyer that “You’ll Enjoy the Difference”
Concerts at Meow Wolf are a great way to see one of the most unique art installations in the country at a discounted price and without the crowds. It is also the only place where a Mac Sabbath microphone malfunction can be chalked up to inter-dimensional portal interference. Mac Sabbath, with its celebration of the larger-than-life parody and the absurd, was a fitting act for this unique backdrop.
