Hold onto your hats Indy, because The Mars Volta just about teared the roof off the Egyptian Room tonight. As someone who has never heard one of their songs ever until this morning I was practically wide-eye the entire show watching with cartoon large eyes dazed in disbelief. Here's a quick hit of what you need to know about these musical madmen, their triumphant return, and why you should be at a future tour throwing down with them. Back in 2001, after the epic post-hardcore band At the Drive-In called it quits, guitarist Omar Rodríguez-López and vocalist Cedric Bixler-Zavala channeled their grief and creativity into something entirely new. The Mars Volta was born, a sonic monster fusing Latin fury, punk rock rebellion, and enough experimental weirdness to make David Bowie (and myself) raise an eyebrow. Their debut album, "De-Loused in the Comatorium," was a mind-melting masterpiece, a explosion of complex compositions and raw emotion that grabbed the world by the throat. Albums like "Frances the Mute" and "Amputechture" followed, solidifying their place as the undisputed kings of progressive rock. After a hiatus that left fans feeling like they were lost in a sonic wasteland, The Mars Volta is back with a vengeance, and their die-hard disciples are rejoicing like it's the apocalypse (but the good kind, with strange unique music). Their current tour is a victory lap across North America, culminating in a legendary performance at Bonnaroo coming up next weekend. Get ready for a deep dive into their journey, from their El Paso hardcore roots to becoming global rockstars, all wrapped up with themes of love, loss, addiction, and the unwavering human spirit.

So back tonight, to put it as simple as I can, it was one of the weirdest shows I've ever seen.

Teri Gender Bender started things off with an intense performance that set the tone for the night with the song “Vicarious Atonement” with almost a fully dark Egyptian Room which left me and wondering where they were going to go from there. Then The remainder of Mars Volta took over, and it got well, just a tad crazy. “Roulette Dares (The Haunt Of),” was their second song and that is when Omar's guitar work was mind-bending, and Cedric's vocals were like a banshee on a acid trip (not that I would ever know what that is like tbh). They played a mix of classic hits and new songs, and it all sounded beyond the norm in the best way possible. I was challenged for sure, but what made the night really unforgettable were the strange moments. The music felt like it was coming from another dimension. There were bizarre visuals and unexpected sounds that made everyone feel like they were in a dream. The band's stage antics were unpredictable and just plain weird, adding to the surreal vibe. Overall, it was more than just a concert—it was an experience. If you weren't there, you missed out on something truly strange and unforgettable.