Fantomas is a band for music lovers-and major Mr. Bungle fans. Even if you have never heard of Fantomas, chances are you know of its members: vocalist/keyboardist Mike Patton (Mr. Bungle, Faith No More, Tomahawk), drummer Dave Lombardo (Slayer, Grip Inc.), guitarist Buzz Osbourne (The Melvins) and bassist Trevor Dunn (Mr. Bungle).
I had no expectations when I showed up at the Marquee Theatre for the March 26 show. The last Fantomas album was one 74-minute track, but I knew they wouldn't play just that.
I walked in and was surprised to see all of the instruments at the front of the stage, side-by-side. Lombardo's massive drum kit was close so the crowd could watch him, but it was turned so he would face Patton at the other end of the stage. Osbourne and Dunn filled out the center.
The first 20 minutes of the performance, I had the feeling I was watching musical visionaries jam. The group seemed as if it was creating the music on the spot-looking to each other for cues and clearing feeling "in" the music.
Patton actually used his left hand to conduct the rest of the band at times. I know I had heard the songs before, but I was mesmerized. I could almost see the gears turning in their brains and an occasional light bulb pop up above Patton's or Osbourne's head.
However, the word visionary was removed from my thoughts when Patton, clad in an Iron Chef T-shirt, began making chicken noises. Watching him cluck and scream while contorting himself and frequently attempting to hide by crouching behind his keyboards was quite amusing, but certainly lowered my opinion of his genuine musical creativity.
While you get the feeling the Fantomas are trying to be progressive and are consciously trying to break musical boundaries, I can't help but wonder if it's purely accidental due to Patton's slanted mental state.
Lombardo was the most intriguing to watch for musical purposes. He used tin foil, a gong and (my personal favorite) a violin bow across the edge of a variety of cymbals to create unique and appropriate sounds. Of course, he made good use of the rest of his more typical drum set, but the highlight still had to have been the bow on the cymbals.
Overall, it was a good show. There was complexity, creative fusion of styles and chicken noises. For the most part, a Fantomas show is very similar to that of a Mr. Bungle show, only with varying degrees of heavier music. To enjoy this band you must either love Mr. Bungle or enjoy watching a possibly cracked out Mike Patton.
That being said, this show still rates at three stars. Why? A star for the creativity of Lombardo, one for Patton's quirkiness and a third for Osbourne. Dunn does not get a star, because it appears as though he, unlike the others, has not grown from his previous work. He was good, but hasn't progressed since Mr. Bungle.
I'm brutal like that.
Reach the reporter at chelsea.ide@asu.edu.
