Mr. Bungle, the avant-garde musical maestros, delivered an unforgettable performance at the Toyosu Pit that defied categorization and left Tokyo in a state of sonic awe on Wednesday night.
The band was formed by Mike Patton, before joining Faith No More, along with his high school classmates in Eureka, California in 1985. After releasing a demo in 1986, they signed with Warner Bros. Records. Despite releasing three albums and having a cult following, the band went on hiatus around 2000. In 2019, they made a comeback as a thrash metal band, releasing the album The Raging Wrath of the Easter Bunny Demo in 2020. This album is a re-recording of their demo in 1986, and they have come to Japan to showcase it. Remarkably, this marks their first-ever visit to Japan as Mr. Bungle. In addition, Tokyo is the starting point of their live performances in 2024. The current lineup consists of the original members: Mike Patton (Faith No More, Fantômas) on lead vocals, Trey Spruance (Secret Chiefs 3) on lead guitar, and Trevor Dunn (Fantômas, Melvins) on bass, complemented by the powerful additions of guitarist Scott Ian (Anthrax, S.O.D.) and drummer Dave Lombardo (Slayer, Fantômas), forming a formidable quintet.
The show was scheduled to start at 7:00 PM, but we had to wait about 35 minutes before they hit the stage. It was not bad to spend the time with the audience. They were growing weary of waiting. It was fun to see that they were expressing their impatience and passing the time by shouting the band name and strange noises, clapping hands, and singing a chorus of Toto’s “Rosanna” to the music. I was in the photo pit and chatted with the enthusiastic fans in the front row. They were a lot of fun to be with, allowing me to take photos and exuding a deep love for the band.
The majority of the setlist was drawn from their 2020 album The Raging Wrath of the Easter Bunny Demo, complemented by a selection of cover songs, including Corrosion of Conformity‘s “Loss for Words” and Slayer‘s “Hell Awaits.” One remarkable aspect of the performance was the band’s skill to seamlessly transition from intense thrash to slow ballad, such as the rendition of Spandau Ballet’s “True,” creating a dynamic and entertaining atmosphere.
Mike Patton, a vocal virtuoso, demonstrated his ability to shape-shift between vocal styles that ranged from guttural roars to ethereal croons. His stage presence was magnetic, commanding attention with every move and lyrical delivery. He seemed to be in a good mood throughout the night. Trey Spruance’s guitar work, coupled with Scott Ian’s rhythmic prowess, created a symphony of distortion and melody. The dual guitar assault, supported by Trevor Dunn’s thunderous basslines, laid the foundation for the auditory onslaught that characterized the evening. The addition of Dave Lombardo on drums elevated the performance to new heights. His percussive mastery and fury added layers of complexity to each composition, creating a rhythmic tapestry that held the audience captive.
The highlight of the night was undoubtedly the big chorus of “Speak Japanese or Die!” instead of “Speak Spanish or Die,” which is Mr. Bungle version of S.O.D.’s signature song “Speak English or Die.” The audience got into a frenzy. It should not be forgotten to mention that there were also notable guests in Tokyo show. Makigami Koichi of Hikashu appeared as a vocalist. He was as powerful and crazy as Mike, and they had a vocal duel in the song “Methematics.” Ichiro Agata of Melt-Banana played a guitar solo on “World Up My Ass” (Circle Jerks cover), and the audience was thrilled with his fantastic noise.
They closed the main set with the furious “Sudden Death,” and came back to the stage after a short break. Encores were “I’m not in love” (10cc cover) and “Territory” (Sepultura cover). They ended the tight 80-minute set by throwing a lot of picks to the crowd. The fun was over in a flash. After the show, it was somewhat hilarious to see the floor littered with beer cans, whiskey bottles, broken eyeglasses, and jackets that had been abandoned by their owners, as if it was a throwback to the good old days. Maybe I’m a little tired of the modern world that expects us to be clean in everything we do. This opportunity to witness such a phenomenal performance was a stroke of luck. Be sure to check them out when they come to your area. Get lost and have fun!
Band:
Mike Patton – Vocals
Trey Spruance – Guitars
Trevor Dunn – Bass
Scott Ian – Guitars
Dave Lombardo – Drums
Set list:
Also sprach Zarathustra, op. 30 (Richard Strauss song, Portsmouth Sinfonia version) (Song played from the tape)
1. Grizzly Adams
2. Anarchy Up Your Anus
3. Bungle Grind
4. Eracist
5. Spreading the Thighs of Death
6. Loss for Words (Corrosion of Conformity cover)
7. Hypocrites / Habla español o muere (Switched to “Speak Japanese or Die” (intro in Japanese, chorus in English))
8. Methematics (with Makigami Koichi) (Vocal improvisation duet outro)
9. Hell Awaits (Slayer cover)
10. True (Spandau Ballet cover)
11. Cold War (Siege cover) (With “True” reprise)
12. Raping Your Mind
13. World Up My Ass (Circle Jerks cover) (Ichiro Agata of Melt Banana guitar solo intro)
14. My Ass Is on Fire (With Pepto Bismol tag)
15. Sudden Death
Encore:
16. I’m Not in Love (10cc cover)
17. Territory (Sepultura cover)
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Aki is a published and award-winning concert photographer based in Tokyo, Japan. Her musical preferences are deeply rooted in the 70s. However, she also loves to see and capture new bands. You can find her work in magazines, newspapers, online and galleries.
