apparently Omar was one time asked why he never smiled on stage, and he said "bc I am concentrating man, this shit is hard to play"

“I don’t think you guys are ready for that…but your kids are gonna love it.”

the fact that your first look was a live version, you must be a masochist haha. Edit: this is one of my favourite bands, but if this was my introduction I don't know if I would have become this big a fan. The album version, with good headphones, plenty of listens - that's how they get you.

A live performance where they're even more manic than their recordings is a hard mode introduction to the mars volta.

Mars Volta are god-tier weirdos. Love their energy and craftsmanship.

He's probably traumatized after this live version, but I think he should listen to the studio version. Way less chaos, and actually very catchy.

One does not simply learn a Mars Volta song…

The drummer, Thomas Pridgen, is an absolute beast on this performance

Here to agree with everyone else: listen to the album! De-loused is incredible, an absolute masterpiece.

Kinda impressed they were able to recreate this song live… Mars Volta is a better band to listen to with headphone on high quality stereo system with your abuelita performing some Santeria in the house, while your on Acid.

"These dudes WROTE this stuff" That's how I feel when I listen to them, every time. They're leagues ahead of anything I'd ever think of writing. They're insane.

I think the most underrated part of this was the bass. Lot of talent there

First time I listened to TMV my brain melted and fell through my ears. I eventually picked it up and put it back and never looked back. One of the best groups of our generation, if not the best

Deloused in the Comatorium is the album this song is from. Although it's less chaotic than the live version, I still love both! TMV really brings out every single drop of energy they got on their performances

In 2004, I bought this album at FYE on CD based just on the album cover art. I legit had never heard of this band. Holy shit what a fortuitous decision.

I saw them in Melbourne and there were no breaks between the songs so the whole concert was like a one hour and 45 minute song. The drummer (same one as in this clip) was like an Olympic athlete.

The Mars Volta is basically if music had ADHD and it's amazing, I love it

Also their bassist is Juan Alderete who was in Racer X with Paul Gilbert. Dude is a savage on bass. All fingers.

Omar seems like the most gentle person and yet he’s one of the meanest guitar players ever. Mean is a perfect way to describe his playing. So chaotic and he’s in total control.

The Mars Volta is my favorite band and the been since 2003. I finally got to see them live for the first time this past October. It was life changing. This video was amazing and it brought back that feeling of discovering them for the first time. Your honest reactions to their music brought such a wild smile to my face. And i actually teared up a couple times during this because of the sheer joy of watching them play and watching your face melt. This was so great! Thanks for putting this out there. I really needed this today.

The Frances the Mute album is a masterpiece and I’m so happy to see you subject yourself to this with an open mind.

The best part of this video is watching your absolute bewilderment. It's funny, because this live performance is probably 1000x more difficult to follow than the studio version. On the record, the song is in A minor, and it's probably only 3-4 actual chords for the most part. Much easier to follow too, but TPridge had a style they enjoyed during this era because it made their music so much more chaotic and overwhelming. The Jon Theodore era had a lot more straightforward bombastic groove, and this song is from their first album which he played on. Their first 4 albums are incredible works of art, but it's just cruel to send a Tpridge live performance of this and watch you try to make sense of it (in the funniest way possible)

I couldn’t believe it when I saw the song you were doing. You HAVE to give that whole album, Deloused in the Comatorium, a listen. Its one of my favorite, most unique, albums of all time.

Please react to more Volta! They are absolute mad geniuses

I think a great way to get into them is to set aside an hour and listen to Frances the mute front to back. Jumping cold into this is challenging for sure. Truly amazing band.

I always found myself near ikey(keyboards) during their shows. That man was a true artist. One of my favorite live bands.

Just saw them live for the first time at The Moore theater in Seattle, it was the single best concert I've ever been too, including the 7 different Tool shows I've seen. So glad they pulled it together long enough to put some new material out and hit the road again after such a long hiatus.

Man, the studio version of their songs sound pretty clear, trust me hahah Try with “Cicatriz Esp” maybe their best song

I love early The Mars Volta (where this is from) but even knowing the songs by heart their live performances can be really tough to follow. I can only imagine how you felt trying to decipher this cold without having ever heard the song before. By the way, the album version of this song is absolutely masterful, and significantly shorter too. I’d encourage you to give a listen even if just to clear some of the confusion you might be feeling.

One of my favorite bands of all time! My brother’s seen them live 3 times in TX! Omar Rodriguez is a fantastic guitarist!

First you covered Opeth now Mars Volta! Sweet to see a guitarist with knowledge break down songs from artists I’ve always wanted break downs of that don’t get enough attention. Keep it going man, love your videos.

Thomas Pridgeon is a beast of a drummer

This was a phenomenal watch! I loved watching your face look so confused during this. I listened to Mars Volta back when these albums were coming out, and the fact that you chose a live version to try this with... it's incredible! Their songs are already structured nonsense.. the live version are even more so. This is the video that got me to sub.

Watching someone getting his or her first impression of a The Mars Volta live show is simply the best. Ever since I saw them for the first time, right after they released De-loused, I've been hooked. They're incredible. And I agree: Thomas Pridgen is one hell of a drummer. All of their drummers are major league.

Eriatarka is such a great song. I think maybe you should have started with the album versions haha.

Saw them live twice and their performances were wildly different. In one they were subdued, in the other I couldnt understand how they were playing their songs with all the running and jumping and throwing things. It was crazy impressive they held it together without hurting themselves or passing out.

This live performance is such delightful chaos. Kudos to you for even trying to keep up…listen all the albums and any live material you can find. This band was insanely talented.

I literally only clicked on this video to see this guys reaction cause if he'd never heard of them, and this was his discovery song, I knew it was going to melt his brain. Hats off to the bedrock holding up the monsters, that are Mr Pridgen and Mr Rodriguez-Lopez, Mr Juan Alderete and Mr Isaiah Owens (RIP Ikey).

My introduction to The Mars Volta was from a guy I worked with. He described them thusly... Imagine if you took Rush, Pink Floyd, Led Zeppelin, King Crimson, and Hawkwind in a room and, at the count of three, each band started play a different song. That's how he described it. He brought in a disc the next day (Dr-Loused in the Comatorium) and, I don't know what I expected, but it wasn't what I heard. Lol.

Saw them play this in '03 w/ Jon Theodore on drums, and was genuinely concerned that Cedric was going to asphyxiate on his mic cable or fall off the stage 😳

I normally don’t watch these but this was fantastic. It’s always nice to see someone new experience tmv. They changed my life, I know that much. I love this band more than I can say.

I am so stoked you did this and so happy that the recommender did not send you inertiatic ESP and sent this instead. One of the best live performances by them. I saw them live in 2022 and it was fucking great!

As a staunch lover of the Volta, I loved every moment of this and could not stop smiling

You should listren to the studio version, easier to follow. Do yourself a BIG BIG favor and listen to their album "Deloused in the Comatorium" from start to finish. A MASTERPIECE

Met the singer and guitarist once. A long time ago now. Remember the guitarist picking up my right handed guitar with ease. Great song.

So upon second viewing and watching your expressions, emotions and attempt to break down the break down, I think @ 16:35 I got from you what I was hoping for. If that all makes sense. Your stunned silence along with the audience for the remainder of the track almost made me emotional. Your statement about taking music to seriously is exactly the problem I developed after about 10 years of playing. And because of that the last 20+ years of playing have been less than free. I feel more free on every instrument I play except for guitar. My hands want to make it make sense for everyone but my mind just wants to flow. Looking at the audience, none of that mattered. Not worrying about what other musicians or listeners think is tough and in the long run is keeping the fingers from flying. I hope this really did get to you as it appeared. Very cool stuff and if you liked this at all, you need to look back to At the Drive In. These guys are amazing and have been since before the Volta. Great job to your members for opening you up with groups like this. Ohhh, CHICANO BATMAN!

That’s the reaction I’ve been looking for my whole life after always trying to show The Mars Volta to different friends throughout life. Thank you, I am free of The Mars Volta now 🥲 *Soul dissipates into eternity*✨

Definitely worth a few more listens. The rabbit hole goes deep with this band. Would love to see you react to some of the album cuts.

Yesss, my favorite band, do more of them!!

This is the greatest reaction video ever. Reminds of why I love Mars Volta. One of the single best shows I’ve ever seen in my life. Mind blowing how 6 musicians can be doing their own amazing things on the complete opposite ends of the spectrum, while somehow it still works together and then within a second they all return right back together in perfect harmony. Mind meltingly beautiful.

This is still probably my favorite band of all time, and even I can't really get into a lot of their live stuff. I hope you give them another shot!

2005 or so I purchased tickets for System of a Down and TMV was their opener. A couple of friends asked what Volta's music was like. I chuckled and emphatically stated "Frenetic." Ive only ever seen two shows from them but they are incredible high energy from 1st drop of the snare. Glad to see them reunite. Thanks for breaking them down, Michael.

I remember watching this live version back on Yahoo when it first came out...again and again...

this is my 4th favorite video on all of youtube. I want you to do this for every mars volta live performance, please, and thank you, sir! :D

Never watched any of your videos before. I’m a long time fan of The Volta and I love that they turned your brain to mush. They’re awesome

Yesterday KZfaq recommend me your react to Radiohead, it was amazing see Weird Fishes melting your face off, I thought "I want to see this guy reaction to the Volta". Today I got tickets to see Mars Volta in my city (I'm from Rio), my second Volta show after one decade and then I opened KZfaq and this video was here, great coincidence

Best line "What have we got ourselves into? " properly said. I just pre-ordered this album on vinyl 👍. Phenomenal album 🙌

you’re amazing, man. for real. LOVED this reaction! this is the best mars volta reaction video i’ve ever seen

I've never seen someone literally look in pain while listening to a song....now I have, thank you.

First off…This was an impossible task…would take anyone a solid dedicated week to even begin to dissect this. Others have said it, but Jon Theodore was/is/will always be the best drummer TMV had. He grounded the beautiful chaos and made it less frantic and rushed than what is really pretty evident here. I’ve seen them live in the beginning, middle, and now bookended last year. Cedric sounds better than ever these days. Omar has always been amazing. The synergy of the first three TMV albums and touring can’t be touched because of Theodore.

This is played completely different than it does on the album. Love it

That is Mars Volta in its full potential. Its the most unorthodox group I have ever heard but somehow they can make something beautiful out of this craziness

You should do a reaction to the entire Deloused in the Comatorium album...start to finish.

The mars volta albums are like one long song. It’s amazing. It’s all one big story kinda like Pink Floyd’s animals.

I'm 40 and this is the first time I've ever heard The Mars Volta..... To be honest, my brain already feels the way this song feels and I really can't afford to have anything else contributing to the delinquency of my own head. This is a bit of a fever dream to me.

I saw them perform this record on tour way back in the day. They played the whole thing start to finish non stop. Best concert I ever attended. Bonkers!

this was great to watch, ive been a TMV fan since '03, seen them over 10 times, & im loving your reactions cause that should be everyone's reaction, it is an onslaught, a beautiful destructive onslaught on the senses, rest in peace to Ikey! who really gave the band a feel different than most bands!

They are currently on tour right now. First time in like 10 years. Saw them in Atlanta in September. You need to see them live if you can. People were in tears.

Omar Rodriguez is a total wizard of music and everyone that plays with him

Their beautiful chaotic sound doesn’t translate live as well as on record. The whole first album is a masterpiece.

Mars Volta is like opening a Bordeaux, you have to open it and let it breath before pouring a glass. When you tackle Mars Volta, just wait for the song to play a little. There is a riff that is coming and its going to be incredible. But they hate the standard "rock" sound, so there is a lot of playing around with arpeggios before coming back to the riff, or a new riff. It is going to get good, it is going to ring around in your head for a while, and you're just going to want to listen to more of it. Just gotta let it breath.

Love the Juan Alderete days of Mars Volta, also happy to see that dude making such recovery ❤️

Man i wish there were more live performance reactions of this band, theyre pretty unbelievable (on cedrics good days lol)

I saw these guys live years ago at the house of blues in Boston and let me tell you, it was about 2 hrs of this energy level! INSANITY!!!

definitely don't sleep on that bassist. That's Juan Alderete. He's amazing, and he has his own youtube channel Pedals and Effects

“Let me just grab my guitar and follow along with this live Mars Volta track”… Me: good friggin luck! 😅

Love it! They can definitely be an onslaught live, being a jam band that constantly deviates from the recordings, which makes every performance unique but not always precise. This was kinda the era of some sloppy live performances and band turmoil, though, when Cedric would blow out his voice a lot. And while Pridgen is a beast on the kit, these Jon Theodore parts weren't really meant for his constant blasting. I saw TMV a few times live, and one show was a stinker. Last year's tour was tight, though.

Mike, always love your response to music that is out of your purview. I've loved these guys for twenty years, but I'm also a huge fan of Bitches Brew Miles Davis. With these guys I've always concentrated on the drums and often can feel the changes. For me , this is amazing, fun stuff! Thanks

That's what i love about mars volta so chaotic yet so poetic and diverse. You cannot duplicate this band at all

I think this bass player in this is Juan Alderete, was in Racer X with Paul Gilbert. Amazing bass player.

You are courageous, my friend!

I saw the Mars Volta live, it was like a religious experience. They don't just perform songs, they express from the ether.

I got to see them live. They are the epitome of genius. One of the best shows I ever have seen. My first concert was the Smiths ;)

Their latest album is absolutely amazing in a totally different way than the chaos of their old stuff is

Thomas Pridgen is an amazing drummer, but when he joined the band I feel like it changed the dynamic quite a bit. They were still great, but it definitely felt different. Their original drummer, Jon Theodore, seemed to fit the feel of the band perfectly. Cedric himself said in an interview that firing Jon was the dumbest thing they did.

My fave song of theirs and love when a song does what I'm not expecting.. I haven't seen this live version so thanks for covering it.

Yep, extremely stoked to see you do Volta!

Michael, you gotta listen to the entire album De-Loused in the Comatorium, at least once. It's absolutely worth the listen. The Rick Rubin production and sound design transport you to another world. My favorite track has always been Cicatriz ESP.

The Mars Volta were the band that really opened my mind to progressive/experimental rock. They have 2 all-time great albums, De-Loused in the Comatorium and Frances the Mute, in my opinion. I don't quite understand why but this music is actually calming for me 😂. Hopefully you can check out some At the Drive-In in the future.

Oh Michael, watching the "Shock and Awe" on your face was spectacular!!! Watching on my smart tv, just had to pause and comment on here!!! 😃😃😃😃magical!!! 🪄

Listen to it recorded, Deloused is in my top 5 records of the last 23 years.

I was lucky enough to see them in the Pridgen era, but Jon Theodore is still the GOAT in my eyes of all the Volta drummers.

The best band of 21st century so far... nobody can compare to them... Try Viscera Eyes and Wax Simulacra from the same concert or studio. You're reacting to the era where Thomas "the beast" Pridgen was the drummer... my favourite 😉

yes! you get it, man! this is so beautiful to watch!

My favorite facial expressions of all yozr videos :D this is so hilarious to watch you being overwhelmed 😂

I have such a love hate relationship with this group. My buddy who really loves them swears that they now play 1000 times more cohesively. De-loused in the Comatorium is still an absolute classic album though.

Definitely a record band. Their live performances are extremely hit or miss leaning heavily toward miss. Also, Jon Theodore seemed to help hold the songs together much better than Thomas Prigden. Jon and Juan Alderete formed a very solid foundation. With Prigden, Juan was the sole member left to anchor the songs.

Love your facial expressions throughout this whole onslaught

you gotta watch their interviews they base their songs off of movies and the sound of words in correlation rater than what is normally expected you cant expect anything normal from them. its why their one of my favorite bands

Flawless album!!!! Jon Theodore kills the drums on the album!