Mudvayne @ The Electric Factory, Philadelphia, PA

by Scott Baccaccio

photos by: Marshall King
Static Noise
http://www.staticnoise.net

Not too long after a great set of the recently reunited Life of Agony boys, the Willie Nelson tune “On the Road again” played and it became apparent Mudvayne would be out soon.  Not so newcomers Bloodsimple (members of Downset and Vision of Disorder) and American Head Charge had done an excellent job of warming up the crowd before LOA’s set. But as soon as the Nelson tune ended the music hit, the lights came on, and Mudvayne was ready to go.

Opening with “Determined,” the first single from their new album “Lost and Found,” Mudvayne’s energy made you believe that the band as a whole was itching to get back out and play to the masses after being cramped in the studio writing and recording their brilliant new album.

The band had a little bit of a change in their appearances from the last photo shoot I had seen.   Lead Singer Chad had cut his hair, bassist Ryan and drummer Matt seem to have sprouted more hair than I remember.  Long gone are the days of face paint and alien garb as Mudvayne is about the music not hiding behind a persona.  Some of their fans got caught up in their appearance on the older tours and they decided to nix the get-ups.  Guitarist Greg rounded out the math metal quartet in what looked like a pair of WWII tank glasses.

Fans of older Mudvayne were not disappointed at all as the set quickly shifted from the newest effort to their second release “The End of all Things to Come” when they went right into the lead track of that album “Silenced.”  After which Chad announced that he didn’t want to forget those “Lethal Dosage” fans.  “-1” was next up, personally my favorite Mudvayne tune.  All in all it was a brilliant set.  All of the energy we have all come to know and love has remained with Mudvayne.

Chad’s comments in between songs were still on point and witty as I can remember.  Respect to our deployed troops was given at one point to a loud roar from the sold out Electric Factory.  In a 75 minute set, Mudvayne covered all the bases including all of their singles and crowd favorites plus the aforementioned songs.  Highlights of the set included “Not Falling,” “Nothing to Gain,” “Mercy/severity,” “Internal Primates Forever,” and my new favorite from “Lost and Found,” “Fall into Sleep.”

However nothing came close to the reaction given when Chad asked, “can you dig in?”  The crowd knew that the boys were about to leave the stage but not before their MTV2 award winning single was going to rock the ass of everyone in Philly that night.  Believe me no one was disappointed in that out come as “Dig” defiantly was a rock spectacle.  What’s next for Mudvayne?  Who knows but I know I can’t wait to see them on Ozzfest this summer I’ll tell you that.

**Check out more photos from the Mudvayne show!