MusicTAP's Concert Girl, Shari Rowe along with guest, Craig Rydzeski , attended a record release party thrown for Mardo at LA's popular Viper Room. The late evening set took place on February 7.
Mardo's album, self-titled Mardo, is a blend of new millennium cool and 70's decadent big rock sound. The Viper Room, already infamous, serves as the ideal place for the party.
Mardo is soon to be heard on tour with MTV's Rock am Ring taking the stage with the likes of Marilyn Manson, R.E.M., Prodigy, Green Day, Incubus, Iron Maiden, Velvet Revolver, and others. Looks like Mardo is doing something right. But it's all about dues payin' and Mardo is playing with all pockets out.
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Photo by Craig Rydzeski |
When a band like Mardo comes into town, LA that is, and throws a record release party for their February 8th issue of Mardo (the album) at a place like the Viper Room, well, things can be quite interesting. Mix equal parts energy, excitement, and ballsy rock that embodies the heart of the 70s with 3 talented rock n roll musicians and the results are clearly electric.
The heart of The Viper Room is a womb. It is a tight, claustrophobic arena of dimmed lights, providing warmth from the cold February air outside on Sunset Strip. I call this place a womb simply because it has the expectant feeling of newness, of creative forces at work. That is what was found before the show as we conversed with a friendly band and that is what was in evidence as Mardo burned the evening away with a fiery show that showed a band in flux, one that is anticipating growth and experience from every beat of the drum and every strum of the guitar.
The brothers, in their pre-show form, spoke openly about their hometown, their childhood and of their penchant for untainted rock and roll. The fact that they grew up in a small community and farm town in Fresno provided the impetus that would place them on this very stage as well as propel them into a large summer tour for MTV. Not bad for brothers.
As the show began, Mardo pounded out a strong opening song with "Anyone But Me", a tune that put the crowd into a great mood. The atmosphere charged and band and fans jacked into each other. The rock n roll brothers with sidekick, Rob Small, whose has the look of 70s glam, distantly emulating The Sensational Alex Harvey's guitar player from the 70s complete with daubed cheeks. Rob's guitar solos were quite electric and provided spark for the brothers' backward reaching rock matrixing 70s big rock with new millennium fascination. As the approximately 45 minute set progressed, the band tore through songs found on the album including "Poor Paul", "I Want a New Drug", and a cover of "Papa Was a Rolling Stone", the latter done for their producer, Les Pierce.
Photo by Craig Rydzeski
The show would not have been complete without Robbie Mardo's drum solos. His pacing and talent showcased a 'finger on the pulse' rock style that brought back memories of times past and the lost art of drumming while Aron's bass guitar, piano, and vocals made the circuit complete.
Yes, the band's set, sandwiched between 2 other bands, was quite electric and provided a dose of true rock and roll for the believers and fans. They reached deeply into a bag of remembrance and added vital ingredients to produce a memorable show, injecting all in attendance with pure rock n roll adrenaline. If tonight's show was any indication, Mardo will entertain the summer MTV tour and leave their name etched into concert goers' brains while pulsing their brand of rock n roll into the electrical current of every one in attendance.
I'd like to finish with a "hats off" to the bartenders of the Viper Room, whose friendly demeanors made the entire experience that much more memorable.
Photo by Craig Rydzeski
