I attended a concert on Tuesday, one features The Mars Volta (no openers) at the historic Cain’s Ballroom. I have let the concert simmer a bit before commenting on it, but feel the time is now right.
First let me say I am glad I went. These cats definitely dance to the beat of a different drummer and there is some true talent there…the drummer is amazing. That being said, I do not believe I will be attending any future concerts.
I am not a big fan of cacophony. You know, like the end bit of ‘A Day in the Life’. It just grates on me. Mars Volta thrives on this. The majority of the concert was like one huge jam session and there was a lot of stuff I didn’t really care for. The experimental nature of the Volta’s sound is tolerable for a short period of time, but they played for two and a half hours. After the first hour I was bored. It all started to sound like the same song.
Everyone else had a good time, though, and rightfully so. They’re all big fans. I was on the fence. I can now say, confidently, that I am not a fan. Good luck to ya’ll, but it just ain’t my cup of tea.
Rhys Martin is an author and photographer from Tulsa, Oklahoma. His love of travel was awakened in 2009 when he sold all of his possessions and left the country. For ten months, he lived out of a backpack and explored southeast Asia and Europe. When he returned home, it was with fresh eyes for his home state.
As he drove the back roads of Oklahoma, Rhys discovered the significance of historic Route 66 to the greater American story. He has traveled all 2,448 miles of the Mother Road and continues to seek out the quiet Main Streets of the Midwest.
Rhys's travel writing and photography has been featured in numerous publications, including Tulsa People Magazine, This Land Press, Route 66 Magazine, Nimrod Journal, The Oklahoman and Tulsa World. He also wrote the book Lost Restaurants of Tulsa, which features the stories of nearly 50 iconic eating establishments from the city's past.
Rhys is the President of the Oklahoma Route 66 Association and serves on multiple boards and commissions related to the Mother Road and its upcoming Centennial in 2026. He loves to connect with people and share his experiences.
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