Mr. Bungle — led by legendary singer Mike Patton and showcasing original members Trey Spruance and Trevor Dunn, along with guitarist Scott Ian (Anthrax) and drummer Dave Lombardo (Misfits, ex-Slayer) — are currently embarked on their first eastern North American tour in 23 years.
The band returned to New York City on Friday night (September 8th), where they delivered an energetic performance at Terminal 5 in Hell’s Kitchen. This marked their second appearance in the city in recent years, having graced Brooklyn with their presence in early 2020 as part of a limited run of dates featuring their The Raging Wrath of the Easter Bunny Demo lineup.
The 19-song set kicked off with an explosive barrage of tracks hailing off their The Raging Wrath of the Easter Bunny Demo, a re-recording of their first self-released demo tape of the same name from 1986. The band ravaged the stage with heavy thrashers “Grizzly Adams,” “Sudden Death,” “Hypocrites / Habla Español O Muere” (their Stormtroopers of Death cover), and “Bungle Grind,” taking the audience back to the early days of the band.
Patton took to the stage wearing a black surgical face mask, adorned with a strategically placed zipper opening for effortless access to his powerful vocal spewing. The mask eventually came flying off and the band’s performance intensified as they unleashed a slew of cover tunes, igniting mosh pits across the floor with their renditions of “I’m Not in Love” (10cc), “Just Sit There” (Crumbsuckers), “Hell Awaits” (Slayer), “You Lose” (7Seconds), and “I Don’t Need Society” (D.R.I.), while they slowed things down for a moment with “True” (Spandau Ballet).
Spruance demonstrated guitar wizardry with his versatile and cutthroat playing, complemented by Dunn’s booming bass lines. The band sounded fierce live, magnified by Lombardo’s powerful thumping and Ian’s masterful guitar craftsmanship. The band leaned heavily on their The Raging Wrath of the Easter Bunny Demo material during their performance, adding songs “Eracist,” “Glutton for Punishment,” “Anarchy Up Your Anus,” “Methematics,” “Spreading the Thighs of Death,” and “Raping Your Mind” to the evening’s agenda.
Another standout moment of the evening was the band’s performance of “My Ass Is on Fire” off their 1991 self-titled debut studio album, which ignited an instant frenzy among the crowd. The rendition concluded with a playful nod as they briefly weaved in the Pepto-Bismol jingle, followed by a whimsical, flatulent-sounding guitar tone courtesy of guitarist Scott Ian. Following a brief break, Patton and company returned to the stage to close out the evening with a blissful cover of Timi Yuro’s “Satan Never Sleeps,” followed by a robust rendition of Sepultura’s “Territory.”
New York City’s own Battles — featuring guitarist/keyboardist Ian Williams (known for his work with Don Caballero and Storm & Stress) and John Stanier (Tomahawk, ex-Helmet) — opened the evening, filling Terminal 5 with their distinctive electronic-infused compositions. The setlist featured avant-garde gems such as “The Yabba,” “Summer Simmer / Ice Cream,” and “Atlas.”
Mr. Bungle’s fall tour continues through a September 15th show in Detroit. Get tickets here.
Photo Gallery: Mr. Bungle and Battles at Terminal 5 in New York City (click to expand and scroll through):
Mr. Bungle Setlist:
Grizzly Adams
Sudden Death
Hypocrites / Habla Español O Muere
Bungle Grind
I’m Not in Love (10cc cover)
Eracist
Glutton for Punishment
Just Sit There (Crumbsuckers cover)
Anarchy Up Your Anus
Methematics
Hell Awaits (Slayer cover)
True (Spandau Ballet cover)
You Lose (7Seconds cover)
Spreading the Thighs of Death
My Ass Is on Fire
I Don’t Need Society (D.R.I. cover)
Raping Your Mind
Encore:
Satan Never Sleeps (Timi Yuro cover)
Territory (Sepultura cover)
