Mårten Hagström: MESSHUGAH's Experience Of Performing Without Their Vocalist Jens Kidman!

As previously reported, MESHUGGAH have been performing without their vocalist Jens Kidman (HERE is what he had to say about this). Jens caught that nasty flu that has been floating around and so far has been unavailable for the bands concerts in Atlanta GA, Charlotte NC and Philadelphia PA.

Whether he'll join his bandmates onstage tonight at the Roseland Ballroom in New York City remains to be seen, but rhythm guitarist Mårten Hagström spoke to The Village Voice about the experience of playing sans vocalist. 

How does not having a vocalist change the performance experience for you?

The way it sounds is not that different...but it's more the way you feel walking up onstage, not seeing the entire band, because we've never done this before. You're used to being that five-piece unit, walking up and doing this together...but there's no use complaining about it. The only thing we can do is try to make the most out of it. We travelled over here now. A lot of places we play on this tour we haven't really played for a long time, so canceling is not really an option. 

Here is some footage of MESHUGGAH performing without Jens Kidman!

MESHUGGAH's "Ophidian Trek II" (remaining tour dates):

- 02/15/13:  Roseland Ballroom in New York, NY
- 02/16/13:  The Fillmore Silver Spring in Silver Spring, MD
- 02/17/13:  House of Blues in Boston, MA
- 02/19/13:  Sound Academy in Toronto, ON - CANADA
- 02/20/13:  House of Blues in Cleveland, OH
- 02/21/13:  Bogart’s in Cincinnati, OH
- 02/22/13:  House of Blues in Chicago, IL
- 02/23/13:  Pop’s in Sauget, IL
- 02/24/13:  Mill City Nights in Minneapolis, MN
- 02/26/13:  Union Hall in Edmonton, AB - CANADA
- 02/27/13:  MacEwan Hall Ballroom in Calgary, AB - CANADA
- 03/01/13:  Ace of Spades in Sacramento, CA
- 03/02/13:  Wiltern Theater in Los Angeles, CA
- 03/03/13:  House of Blues @ Mandalay Bay in Las Vegas, NV

MESHUGGAH's European Tour: 

- 04/18: Seinäjoki, FIN in Rytmikorjaamo
- 04/19: Tampere, FIN in Pakkahuone
- 04/20: Helsinki, FIN in Nosturi
- 04/21: Tallin, SPA in Rock Café
- 04/22: Riga, LAT in Melna Piektoiena
- 04/24: Warsaw, POL in Progresja
- 04/25: Krakow, POL in Kwadrat
- 04/26: Budapest, HUN in A38
- 04/27: Bratislava, SLO in Majestic
- 04/29: Zagreb, CRO in Tvornica
- 04/30: Roncade, ITA in New Age
- 05/01: Geneva, SWI in L’Usine
- 05/05: Copenhagen, DEN in Lille Vega
- 05/06: Aarhus, DEN in Voxhall
- 05/08: Oslo, NOR in Rockefeller
- 05/09: Stockholm, SWE in Circus
- 05/10: Umea, SWE in Idun

Related links:

MESHUGGAH's Website