I have been to an insane number of concerts over the years. When people ask me who my favorite is, my brain almost short-circuits because there are so many. I can confidently say Igorrr, Secret Chiefs 3, and Violent Magic Orchestra are high on my list of the best concert nights I have had so far. It was beyond bizarre in the best way. While I expected an eccentric experience, I was blown away by the exceptional talent on stage with each and every band. Allow me to take you on the journey I got to witness on September 27th, 2026 at Treefort Concert Hall in Boise, Idaho.
The night began with a band I had no prior experience with, so I had no idea what to expect. Violent Magic Orchestra took the stage and initially scared the hell out of me. Not because of the imagery, but because of the abrupt sound that blasted out into the crowd when they started. I jumped about a foot in the air, then came down to earth when the musicians launched into the performance. I was transported quickly into a whole other realm. They called it Death Rave, and I couldn’t think of a better title. They went from rave music to death growls to clean vocals to an avant-garde mix. It was a wild exposure, and I loved every part of it. Every member on stage was entertaining, from dance moves to crowd interaction to musicianship. A couple of them even jumped into the crowd and moshed with everyone, handing out green flashlights to enhance the light show from the ground. Meanwhile, the background visuals on screen were just as introspective. I felt like I was on some drug-induced trip the whole set, but I believe that is what they go for. And, hey, it was well worth the participation. I don’t think I blinked the entire time, and it was an experience I will never forget.
Secret Chiefs 3 was up next. I was really excited to see these guys for a lot of reasons. The obvious one is Trey Spruance from Mr. Bungle is in it. Mr. Bungle is one of my all-time favorite bands, so seeing him in a different light was thrilling. Also, I grew up listening to 60s and 70s jam bands, and Secret Chiefs 3 is that plus so much more, given their diversity. This experimental rock band plays a wide range of instruments, with some foreign compositions and instrumentation that add to the eclectic sound. The most impressive part of this band is that every single member is a highly talented musician. I took turns being captivated by each one and was constantly in awe. These guys just launched a Kickstarter to start releasing music more regularly, and fans jumped in early and quickly to support them, blowing past the original goal by miles. It is amazing to see so much support for an experimental rock band, and I am beyond stoked to see this avant-garde approach to music becoming more desired. The light show also created some funky patterns that added to the experience. The mix included Indian-influenced music and surf-rock styles. Definitely a must-see band!
I have been waiting to see Igorrr for quite some time now. Their last album, Amen, reached number two on the year’s top albums list for my son and me on Metal Nation. It actually tied for number one; I enjoyed it that much. After they announced they were coming to Boise, Idaho, I anxiously awaited the day to finally see the spectacle that is Igorrr, and I was far from disappointed. Capturing the experience in words will be difficult, but I am going to try. They took the stage and played “Daemoni” right away. Gautier Serre, the wizard behind the music, took the stage first, and the rest joined soon after. Something I find so fascinating about Serre is his background presence in some of the show; while he’s still interactive with the crowd, he showcases the other members’ talents and positions on stage. For someone as brilliant a composer, it was so unegotistical to see him behave this way. He is a multi-instrumentalist, so we got to see him up close throughout the night and hear some songs he got to take center stage in, which, as a big fan of his, I was glad to see. Harsh vocalist JB Le Bail and operatic vocalist Gerda Iguchi were impossible to look away from; they were both some of the best performers I have seen. Iguchi looks at home on stage; she is captivating and stunning, both vocally and visually. Bail is intense in the best way; he has a way of looking into the depths of your soul and finding what keeps you alive. Together, they’re almost supernatural; I have never seen anything like it. Then when you add in Martyn Clement on guitar, Erland Caspersen on bass, and Rémi Serafino on drums, you have something truly special to witness. Clement was very interactive and delightful to watch. Serre performed a spellbinding “ADHD” solo, and at one point it was just Serre and Iguchi on stage for a breathtaking performance of “Silence”. At one point, Iguchi added a mask that covered the top half of her face, with horns at the top. It reminded me of the Labyrinth and was a creepy yet perfect addition to the visuals.
If you sleep on this show, you will regret it. I suggest you go see them live anywhere you can.
