MONDO COZMO & FLAGSHIP BLAST OFF AT BOWERY BALLROOM

“I’ve been waiting my whole fucking life to headline this club!” shouts Josh Ostrander, aka Mondo Cozmo, in the middle of his set at Bowery Ballroom Thursday night. I first saw Mondo Cozmo this summer at Gov Ball. They were performing during a period of time I hadn’t slotted myself to see anyone else and I had recently heard good things. Needless to say I was pleasantly surprised and I couldn’t pass up seeing him perform again as a new fan.

Josh Ostrander portrait

Opening the show that night was Charlotte, N.C. based rock band, Flagship. From Drake Margolnick’s silky vocals to Michael Finster’s energetic drumming it was a great start to the night.

Flagship

Josh came on stage that night carrying four Tecate cans still attached to the six-pack plastic rings and wearing his signature Rolling Stones denim jacket. Having been on vocal rest earlier in the day, you could tell Josh was ready to belt as loud as he could to the crowd.

Josh Ostrander portrait

Mondo Cozmo

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Mondo Cozmo opened up with “Chemical Dream,” drawing the crowd in to a set full of anthemic, epic rock music. As the set went on Josh’s energy elevated as he danced and swung his guitar around the stage, chugged a couple beers and smiled wide.

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Each night of this tour, Mondo Cozmo were playing a song by a band from the city that they were performing in. “This is for you New York,” Josh said as the band started playing the initial beats of the song and I instantly recognized it – “Someone Great,” by LCD Soundsystem.

Mondo Cozmo

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“This is what not giving up looks like,” Josh says as he prepares to play “Shine,” what I think is Mondo Cozmo’s most uplifting song. You can tell that throughout the whole set, that’s what Josh was thinking about – how much he has overcome and how far he’s gotten. There was a moment when he dropped to his knees right after playing “Plastic Soul” where everyone in the audience was applauding and he was humbly taking it all in.

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Mondo Cozmo ended the set with “Automatic” a crowd favorite from their debut album Plastic Soul and a drum jump by Josh. I think I can speak for the whole room when I say that I left with my body numb and my heart full from the good vibes put forth throughout that set.