Monster Magnet at the Gramercy Theatre

Dave Wyndorf

Based out of Redbank, New Jersey, Dave Wyndorf first entered the rock world in the late 1970s and early 1980s as the lead singer of Shrapnel, a punk band that routinely worked the New York/New Jersey club circuit. When Shrapnel disbanded, Wyndorf learned to play guitar and began assembling a band with fellow New Jersey musicians. The band first adopted the names Dog of Mystery, Airport 75, Triple Bad Acid and King Fuzz before finally settling on Monster Magnet, taken from the name of a 1960s toy which Wyndorf enjoyed as a child. Monster Magnet's stoner rock was largely ignored in the late 1980s and early 1990s until the band hit with its fourth album, 1998's Powertrip, but soon afterwards the band was playing in medium-sized clubs again. Vocalist/guitarist Wyndorf is the only remaining original member; the band also presently consists of guitarists Garrett Sweeny and Phil Caivano, bassist Chris Kosnik, and drummer Bob Pantella. Monster Magnet released its 10th studio album, Mindfucker, on March 23, 2018.

Although Monster Magnet is based locally, its concerts are infrequent, so tonight's headlining gig at the Gramercy Theatre was a homecoming event. The band's muscular retro-rock sound drew from classic hard rock and space rock for a sludge metal set. The band dwelled in a muddy groove in "Dopes to Infinity" and "Look to Your Orb for the Warning," visited outer space with "Negasonic Teenage Warhead," and accelerated speed with "Twin Earth." Often recalling primal 1970s Detroit rock, the hammering set was driven by Wyndorf's unpolished vocals and the guitar team's fuzzy leads and crunching, heavy-bottomed riffs. Unapologetically, Monster Magnet's performance was purely rock for rock's sake.

Visit Monster Magnet at www.monstermagnet.net.