So... finally got a chance to see these guys live @ The Orange Peel in Asheville, NC. I've had to miss them every time they've been around the last few years and I'm kicking myself for missing them with other acts like Alice in Chains, Deftones, The Dillinger Escape Plan, Ghost etc. but at the very least, now I can finally say that I beheld the behemoth; MASTODON!
It was the band's last tour date before heading back home and then getting back in the studio to finish up recording their new album which I've seen them mention for Spring 2014, UGH such a wait!. They've already done some studio work and supposedly already written a lot of the music that will be on the album. With it being the last tour date and not too far from home for the band they had many family members and friends in the audience and backstage/stage side (I think Troy's wife was there with his son who was sporting a superman cape). Being the headlining band (opening bands were USX (U.S. Christmas), and ASG), they were able to play a fairly long set, performing about 20 songs.
Setlist:
1. Black Tongue
2. Crystal Skull
3. Dry Bone Valley
4. Thickening
5. Megalodon
6. Oblivion
7. The Hunter
8. Octopus Has No Friends
9. Stargasm
10. Blasteroid
11. Crack the Skye
12. All the Heavy Lifting
13. Spectrelight
14. Bedazzled Fingernails
15. Curl of the Burl
16. Iron Tusk
17. March of the Fire Ants
18. Blood and Thunder
19. The Sparrow
I was up front and got some cool photos and one video (before security gave me the throat slash sign after I suppose they became aware I was videoing). The video is "Oblivion"... be sure to check it out as Brent Hinds walks right up to me to deliver a face melting solo to us all! (@ about the 3:50 mark). Going to post about 10 photos here from the show (hope that's cool by everyone?) and a link to the video on youtube.
Video: Mastodon - Oblivion (Asheville, NC @ The Orange Peel 8/14/13):
https://youtu.be/9OI16OpoBtM