Mr. Bungle at Toyosu PIT
Mr. Bungle brought the raging wrath to Tokyo.
Mr. Bungle at Toyosu PIT, Tokyo, Japan on 28th February 2024
There is no shortage of terrific concerts here in Tokyo but the Mr. Bungle show in Toyosu was one of the absolute best gigs in recent years.
The American avant-garde eclectic metal band Mr. Bungle performed a high-energy show full of terrific music delivered by a quintet of excellent musicians. This genre-bending melting pot of a band has few if any, barriers or limits. They seem to go wherever their creativity takes them and we thank them for it. It is perhaps experimental organised chaos. Call the music what you like, it is bloody awesome.
Founding members Mike Patton (vocals), Trey Spruance (guitar) and Trevor Dunn (bass) keep working on the zigzagging musical path they started to pave in 1985. In recent years, they have been joined by guitarist Scott Ian (of Anthrax fame) and drummer Dave Lombardo (original Slayer drummer). Not too shabby additions, I’d say.
When they after nearly four decades finally made it to Tokyo, they delivered like it was nobody’s business. They were on fire! Vocalist Mike Patton, perhaps best known as the frontman of Faith No More, is an incredible vocalist and performer. With Mr. Bungle, he has no limits. He is the captain leading his fellow bandmates from the front. This evening he led them to victory with a ridiculously fantastic show.
Since exiting Slayer, Dave Lombardo has been busy with many projects and bands, including Misfits and Suicidal Tendencies. He is a beast behind the drumkit and he has brought influences from his various bands to Mr. Bungle to take this up a few levels. Scott Ian’s performance reminded me how much I love him as an artist. Always switched on, Scott is metal through and through.
As if Mr. Bungle on top form was not enough, they treated us to two special guests: guitarist Ichiro Agata from noise rockers Melt-Banana put in a spirited performance on the Circle Jerks cover “World Up My Ass” and on “Methematics”, vocalist Koichi Makigami did a brilliant vocal improv duel with Mike Patton.
The splendid Tokyo show combined the best of Mr. Bungle’s original music – such as “Anarchy Up Your Anus”, “Bungle Grind”, “Eracist”, “Raping Your Mind”, “Spreading the Thighs of Death”, “My Ass Is on Fire” and “Sudden Death” – with an eclectic mix of exquisite covers such as “Loss for Words” (Corrosion of Conformity), “Hell Awaits” (Slayer), “True” (Spandau Ballet), “I’m Not in Love” (10cc) and “Territory” (Sepultura).
What a band! What a show! This was insanely brilliant and very enjoyable.
