Concert Review: Earthless – Galatos February 24, 2019

The California heavy psych-rockers shook Auckland’s Galatos to its foundation on a very loud Sunday night.

In his 13th Floor interview, Earthless guitarist Isaiah Mitchell promised that he and his bandmates would bring “an onslaught”, and that’s just what they did.

The trio pummeled the eardrums of the assembled fans for 70 minutes, then came back and gave them another seeing to for eight more.

Actually, the volume level seemed ideal, as did the venue. Galatos felt like the perfect size for the band and the show was actually quite comfortable with plenty of room up front for those who needed to let loose with a bit of moshing, which they did near the end, while those who wanted to hang back and zone out, could still see and hear everything.

Mitchell proved to be a guitar monster on stage, at times recalling all the six-string greats…Hendrix, Page, Iommi, Zappa, Van Halen, and Montrose…while simultaneously sounding completely original. After the show, one fan stated that he had never heard anyone shred for the full duration of a concert.

While drummer Mario Rubalcaba and bass player Mike Eginton were less flamboyant, they were equally impressive, laying down a solid rhythm section to give Mitchell the required platform from which to lift off.

And fly he did.

Now I know why they are called Earthless.

Marty Duda

Click on any image to view a photo gallery by Chris Zwaagdyk, including openers Ounce: