LUCIDMEDIA

A night of rock inclusive of Queens, Mugison and Rocket Launcher

Written by Lisa M. Knapp Thursday, 15 May 2008 03:48

My seat was not bad; I was in the first balcony about 5 rows back, and across from the friend who I originally planned on going with.  I looked where he was sitting, and no one else was in the row with him so I went to join him.  The opening act, most people were seated, but as soon as Queens came on stage, everyone stood up, everyone in every other row and section accept the one we were sitting in.  The rows and seats were filling up, and we had to shift around a bit, then down the row, but that finally stopped after the first song.  We had the perfect section, everyone sitting and just taking in the music.



The show started with a brilliant opening band, Mugison.  There couldn’t have been a better opening act.  Normally Mugison consists of only one man, Örn Elías Guðmundsson, an Icelandic musician and singer who performs using a guitar and computer, but last night it was him along with 4 others, a drummer, bass and guitar players, and a keyboardist. Metaphorically speaking, they started a fire, that’s how intense their performance was.  The musical type is difficult to pin point as one specific type, it was more of an eclectic and collective blend of electronic, punk, metal and country.  It was a sound like I have never heard, they were intensely brilliant. They got the audience pumped and ready for Queens.  After Mugison, there was an intermission that just seemed to take forever considering all everyone around wanted to do was hear Queens rock out.

            When the intermission was up everyone made their back to their seats.  The Queens performance was jam packed with entertainment.  There were three beautiful chandelier lanterns that looked almost like spider webs hanging above the band; the light effect that the chandeliers gave off was stunning.  In the background was a wall of small lights that looked like a beautiful starry night.  The lighting person, whoever he or she was, probably a computer but regardless, they did an amazing job of an intense light show, filled with various colours that moved to the beat of the music.  They rocked out pretty much every song from the new album, Era Vulgaris, including a few of my favourites, 3’s and 7’s, and Misfit Love, both amazing.  They even some of their older songs from previous albums.  Over all it was an unbelievable show.  They rocked the roof off of Copps Coliseum, I didn’t see one disappointed patron walk out of there.  Every single person that left that show had the biggest grin on and probably is still talking about how good of a time they had that night.  Personally, I decided to continue the night of rock, as did a few others I bumped into.  We all decided to go to the after party at Absinthe, where Mugison was playing their second show of the night.  They announced this at the end of their performance.    


            So we made my way to Absinthe, to let the excitement of the rock and roll vibe continue on its whirlwind of a night. Upon arrival we grabbed a beverage and sat down reminiscing on the amazing concert, when the opening act went on.  The opening act was a local home formed band called Rocket Launcher, this bunch is old school and choose to do rock and roll the old way.  They have been together for three to four years, and have always had the same members, a group of 4 friends who love putting on a good show for their local fans.  These hard core rockers choose to take their time when it comes to putting themselves out there. They have a comfortable following of dedicated fans that somehow just happen to find out when and where they are playing. Through the grapevine of rumours, fans just know when and where.  This is the way to do it with this superb group, because they don’t have an album, Myspace, website or anything, they are simply a group of dedicated guys who like to rock.  It’s like a drug for them, an addiction that is hard to stop because they love it that much.  I have seen them perform about 4 times now, but this particular show they were the epidemy of perfection.  These guys put on an unbelievable performance.  They were so on the ball and connected to one another; their performance couldn’t have been anymore perfect than it came out.


            After Rocket Launcher, Mugison played for the second time of the night, and for the second time, blew me away.  The one man band is actually doing his tour as a band rather than on his own introducing the new album that they all worked on together, Mugiboogie, an intense new approach to a new genre off music, which I still have to come up with a name for!  In a smaller venue the vibe this band gave out was completely different than in a larger venue.  They seemed like they felt more at home.  My friend who I sat with at the Queens show mentioned to me that he was speaking to one of the members after the show who said that Hamilton was very much like Iceland, where they are from, and that there are many small bars and clubs like the ones in Hamilton.

            Over all the night was unreal and unforgettable.  I will be sure to keep everyone posted on where and when both Rocket Launcher and Mugison are playing in the area again so everyone can come out and enjoy a night of rock and roll bliss.

Check out Mugison’s myspace at www.myspace.com/mugison, and of course the Queens site at www.qotsa.com.