FAITH NO MORE BLASTS WEBSTER HALL INTO OBLIVION

I’ve been telling people for 25 years that Faith No More put on one of the best shows I’ve ever seen. I was laughed at when I told everyone I could, that Faith No More, blew both Metallica and Guns N’ Roses off the stage. Fast forward many years later and a thousand shows and FNM proved last night, they still are one of the best live bands in the world.

Opening up the night to a nearly full house was Le Butcherettes, who played some weird tunes that fit in with the whole theme of the night. Entering a nearly pitch black stage dressed as a demonic Red Riding Hood – front-woman, Teri Gender Bender, was hard to keep your eyes off of as she slithered and wailed her way through the 45 minute set of punk/noise rock.

Le Butcherettes

Le Butcherettes

Le Butcherettes

Le Butcherettes

Le Butcherettes

After a brief intermission and watching the many stage hands set up the lavish and beautiful set, Faith No More took the stage to thunderous applause and immediately slammed into “Motherfucker,” their first single of the new record. Wasting no time they immediately blasted into “Land Of Sunshine,” a personal favorite of mine that made me want to crowd-surf and mosh like a good portion of folks were doing.

Faith No More

The guys really got locked in the groove with “Caffeine” and everybody’s favorite “Epic,” both of which had my insides shaking from Billy Gould’s earth shattering bass work combined with Mike Bordin’s mastery behind the kit. I retreated to the balcony soon after, where I took in the rest of the show and was blown away with how tight the band was on the whole and how good Mike Patton sounded. I made the mistake of reading a few scathing reviews of their Detroit show and how he was supposedly unable to hit the higher notes, and was lethargic onstage. I call bullshit there, as not only did he hit the high notes, he blasted us into oblivion with them.

Faith No More

Although the set clocked in just over 90 minutes, it was a full aural and visual experience. I heard more than a few “What the fuck is happening’s,” and at times wondered the same thing. Was this real life – with the stage full of flowers and the band all dressed in white, like some fucking Willy Wonka scene? At times FNM seemed dreamlike and on a level of consciousness that only the band could fully understand, but the dream was real, Faith No More is back and they ain’t fucking around. Faith No More plays again tonight at Webster Hall, which is sold out, but if you’re like me – you’re scoping through Stub-Hub or a seedier asshole-scalper, to see the show tonight.