The last time I saw them was at least 25 years ago. How different can it be?
The first time I saw them was in someone’s basement 1996ish. I saw them every time they played in my city after that until 2001 because of well, life. So this is what I’m used to with a MM show: $10 tickets bought at an indie record store; small, smelly venue with a sticky floor and bathrooms that kept you from drinking anything all day because you really didn’t want to use them; sweaty toque-wearing bros (because they wanted to be overheated I guess?) crashing around trying to recreate the mosh pits they saw on tv and bashing into me during Tundra/Desert, Cowboy Dan and Cockroach Jam; amazing melodic transitions between songs, feeling like you’re witnessing art as it happens while the music flows through you; Isaac asking what to play next but responding “we already recorded that one” when someone makes a request - Eric (in his spam t-shirt) was more diplomatic and somewhat apologetic; Isaac telling you at the end of the night how he failed math while he figured out how much change to give you each and every time you bought a cd from him; going home wondering if Isaac could use a cough drop after singing beach front property; and in the following days friends that were newer fans asking if it bugged you how popular MM was getting - “Um… no, I’m happy that they’re finding the success they deserve.”
I’m guessing it’s not like that anymore. What kind of crowd can I expect? Do they have crazy stage sets and costumes like stadium concerts? Are the toque bros still wearing toques because now they need to keep their receding hairlines warm and cosy? Will I be bashed by them? Thanks for reading.