Swimming In the Sea of Names
Swimming In the Sea of Names
| In theory, A Perfect Circle isn't really a new band. It's a group of
mostly veteran rockers who got together to make some really great music, and that's
exactly what they did. Mer De Noms (Virgin), their first release, is quite possibly the
best album in years, with it's mix of textures and pulsating rock compositions of
guitarist Billy Howerdel surrounding the ethereal lyrics of lead singer Maynard James
Keenan. One always wonders how such great recorded material will transfer to the live
performance. A Perfect Circle did not disappoint.
Keenan, with very long bleached white curls, took the crowd with him into his trance-like state and held them in his grasp for the duration of the show. Though very slight of build, he exuded a charisma that seemed almost unreal. Howerdel, who could almost pass for guitar legend Joe Satriani with his shaved head and intense playing style, did his compositions justice and displayed a virtuoso's gift with the guitar.
The only damper on the event was that it seemed as though the Palladium's ventilation system was not in service - it was extremely hot in the venue and many of the fans seemed very close to passing out even before A Perfect Circle hit the stage. The security force was doing their best to get water to the fans at the front of the crush and did a commendable job of pulling those people from the crowd that were starting to faint and helped them out. The combination of the heat and seeing a band as hot as A Perfect Circle was more than they could handle. |
It is
probably a great advantage that the members of A Perfect Circle, for the most part, have
vast experience playing in front of huge crowds. Most bands don't get the opportunity to
headline shows shortly after their first album is released. For Keenan, Howerdel, bassist
Paz Lenchantin, guitarist Troy Van Leeuwen and drum guru Josh Freese, they know how a
headliner is supposed to perform, and they completely dominated the sold out crowd at the
Hollywood Palladium. A band just isn't supposed to be this great with only one album's
worth of material behind them.
With
Keenan's white hair, lipstick and nail polish glowing under a black light that at times
provided the only stage lighting, A Perfect Circle moved with alacrity through their set.
Even though only one song, "Judith," has enjoyed really widespread airplay, the
fans were well acquainted with the music and a roar of delight went up at the beginning of
each song. Keenan and company controlled the throng and ruled the staged as a first class
rock band should, keeping each tune pretty close to the album version.