Boots for Beginners - Deloused Years
The Mars Volta
Live in Vienna, Austria
April 03rd, 2003
Flex
A more raw performance and recording compared to other shows of the era. The Mars Volta here are still clearly in the transition from Tremulant to De-Loused. Four months before their infamous Electric Ballroom set The Mars Volta performed a ragged performance in Vienna. The audio is a little rougher, but you will get one of the best renditions of This Apparatus ever captured. The Tremulant era energy is still present in this one and would vanish by the Summer.
The Mars Volta
Live in Toronto, Canada
May 13th, 2003
Air Canada Centre
You might be surprised to learn that even as an opening band the Volta could put on an unforgettable performance like this gig in Toronto where they opened for the Chili Peppers. I personally love the short lived pre-drunkship jam they groove to on this one. This is a more bite-sized performance coming in only at 33 minutes.
The Mars Volta
Live in Austin, Texas
October 03rd, 2003
Emo's
Awesome audio quality and a full concert video to boot. The monster Cicatriz has taken form and would continue to evolve and grow until it was finally retired at the end of the De-Loused touring era. A few months past the full De-Loused album runs and we are seeing how the band is evolving into something far beyond what the studio album presented. This was also Marcel’s first show where apparently he had to almost literally be pushed on stage.
The Mars Volta
Live in Tokyo, Japan
January 07th, 2004
Shibuya-AX
A ripping performance with fantastic audio quality. The Mars Volta always seemed to bring their absolute best to Japan and this show is a perfect example of that. 2004 was a band brimming with confidence and security which makes sense considering they had been perfecting these songs for multiple years now. Shows like this one here strongly support the argument one could make that 2004 was the best live year for The Mars Volta.
The Mars Volta
Live in Tokyo, Japan
February 08th, 2005
Liquid Room
Another excellent performance in Japan, about year later than the last. This is the last Cicatriz ESP with Jon Theodore and one of the earliest (if not the first) live performances of Cygnus…. Vismund Cygnus. We also get a cracking rendition of the fan favorite ‘Helicopter Jam’ during Take the Veil Cerpin Taxt. This show is an excellent capstone to the De-Loused era, a proper closing remark on how much they evolved in a very brief period of time. This gig can be a little rough at times as there are a few curious mistakes, but hearing their recovery makes it all the more special.