30 SECONDS TO MARS

HAMMERSTEIN BALLROOM

DECEMBER 7,2011

By Christine Natanael

Some journeys, when begun, seem simple in scope and plan.  The course is set, the itinerary planned, all the participants in agreement as to the destination and outcome.  The point of any journey is not only the places visited, but the experiences gained and the people met along the way.  This is what connects us to each other and enriches our souls.

When the brother Jared and Shannon Leto, and Tomo Milicevic released THIS IS WAR in 2010, little did they know just where the tour for  the album would take them or the journey it would become.  Not only have they touched millions with their music, but they have helped so many with their compassionate charitable work.

The band’s journey was marked by a new milestone on Wednesday night (December 7, 2010) at Hammerstein Ballroom in NYC, where the Echelon (their fans) got to share in two great experiences: the presentation from The Guinness Book of World Records of an award presented by James Montgomery, for achieving the greatest amount of shows in one tour cycle, (a round 300 on the plaque, but 309 in actuality); and simultaneous live streaming of the show via VyRT on UStream.

Those in the sold out venue experienced a multi-media experience at the hands of the band itself and the filmmaker Bartholomew Cubbins, a full sensory immersion in the 30 Seconds To Mars Experience.  The teenagers, toddlers, and adults alike were there to interact with the band, the music, the film and each other.  It was a celebratory experience of positivity from the first chords of “Escape” and “A Beautiful Lie” to the encore of “Kings and Queens”.

Jared made his way to the back of the venue by the soundboard and light techs and took audience requests for the tunes “Kings and Queens”, “Alibi”, “Was It A Dream?”, “Hurricane”, and “The Kill”, before returning to the main stage for “Closer To The Edge”.  But 30 Seconds To Mars is not just the Jaret Leto show.  Guitarist Tomo Milicevic added his tone and technical precision throughout the evening as drummer Shannon Leto punctuated and poly-rhythm-ed across the event with a highlight being his coming center stage to produce a beautiful tone on a large white singing bowl at the beginning of “L490”.

Older favorites such as “Search and Destroy”, “Buddha for Mary”, and “Capricorn”, were also included in the set.

Jared let the crowd know that from their passion for the band they have and could make reality from a dream with the statement: “Dreams Are Possible” before bringing up two of the cutest little kids from the audience and introducing Bam Margera.

During the encore of “Kings and Queens”, there was a slight mishap when a young female fan down front went down and Jared stopped the show in order to call out from the stage for the medics to attend to her.  But she was revived quickly and soon joined the band onstage with so many people, including one guest who was hoisted out of his wheelchair to be brought up to be a part of it all, ending the night joyously.

Also on the evening’s bill were local NYC group Semi Precious Weapons who are signed to Interscope Records and who toured with Lady Gaga as the opening act on her  Monster Ball Tour.

The following two night’s 30 Seconds To Mars shows were held at St. Peter’s of Chelsea with 100% of the proceeds going to aid those in Haiti who are still suffering from the devastating earthquake and cholera epidemic.  Non-perishable food items were requested by the band to be brought by attendees of the event.