Midnight (PST) on Halloween 2020, at Eureka Main Library in Eureka, California, Mr. Bungle play their “The Night They Came Home” livestream gig. It’s a first for me, and I imagine the same for many others.
With COVID pretty much ripping the heart out of the live music industry, the livestream format is helping to bridge the gap between artists and audience. OK, it’s not something I will jump on at every given opportunity, but after Mr. Bungle’s thrash-tastic 35-year-old, recently released album “The Raging Wrath of the Easter Bunny Demo”, I’m caught in the headlights for this one.
There’s some entertaining documentary stuff and a wonderfully awkward stand-up comedy gig for Neil Hamburger, before Mr. Bungle launch into their livestream performance. As with the album, original members Mike Patton, Trey Spruance, and Trevor Dunn are joined by metal heroes Scott Ian and Dave Lombardo. Still pinching myself, here .. yep, Mike Patton, Scott Ian AND Dave Lombardo .. WOW!
Regardless of circumstances and the environment, Mr. Bungle thrash this show out like they would in front of a live audience. There’s a real energy involved with fantastic lighting and multi-camera direction. The sound quality, even through my minimal tech setup, is superb. Combine all of this with the quality of musicianship and those individual legendary statuses, it’s an extraordinarily satisfying viewing experience.
“Easter Bunny” material and a number of covers make up the set. In-between songs there are cuts to apparent audience members, which include cameos from the likes of Henry Rollins, Josh Homme and Buzz Osborne. All good fun and adding entertainment points to the production. Homage is paid to Eddie Van Halen with branded guitar amps and an encore of Van Halen’s ‘Loss of Control’, with Scott Ian playing an EVH signature “shark” guitar.
Tickets for “The Night They Came Home” were £11 and remained available for 72 hours via www.mrbungle.live. With exclusive commemorative merchandise available, I’m now just waiting on my first – perhaps not last – livestream gig t-shirt.
Review: Steve Johnston
Mr. Bungle – “The Night They Came Home” Setlist:
1. Won’t You Be My Neighbor (Mr. Rogers cover)
2. Anarchy Up Your Anus
3. Raping Your Mind
4. Bungle Grind
5. Methematics
6. Hell Awaits / Summer Breeze (Slayer / Seals & Croft medley/cover)
7. Eracist
8. World Up My Ass (Circle Jerks cover)
9. Glutton For Punishment
10. Hypocrites / Habla Español O Muere (Stormtroopers Of Death cover)
11. Spreading The Thighs Of Death
12. Loss For Words (Corrosion Of Conformity cover)
13. Sudden Death
14. Loss Of Control (Van Halen cover)
