Mercury Rev + Sandy Bell – 5 October 2026 (Sala Apolo – Barcelona)

With his arms raised, Jonathan Donahue conducts Mercury Rev as though he were standing in front of an orchestra. Or rather, like a magician casting a spell. He points at Grasshopper’s guitar and performs wizard-like gestures with his hands. The guitar twins and the rest of the band respond. Within minutes, psychedelic lights and distorted sounds bring a spectacle to life that is as strange as it is fascinating, complete with a red electronic trumpet.

Jonathan Donahue of Mercury Rev, Sala Apolo Barcelona 2026 – Photo taken by Meritxell Rosell for Indieofilo^©

Before the main act takes to the stage, Sandy Bell opens the evening with her angelic voice, which gradually fills the room. There is a fragility and mystery to her songs that fits in perfectly with what is to come. Her music lingers in the air, setting the scene for Mercury Rev’s expansive universe.

Sandy Bell,Sala Apolo Barcelona 2026 – Photo taken by Meritxell Rosell for Indieofilo^©

The New York band is coming to Barcelona as part of their 25th anniversary tour of All Is Dream (2001), one of the defining albums of their career. Released in 2001, it followed the acclaim they received for Deserter’s Songs (1998) and features tracks such as “The Dark Is Rising“, “Tides of the Moon” and “Lincoln’s Eyes“. However, the evening turns out to be anything but a nostalgic celebration. The songs blend into one another, with hardly any breaks in between. The concert builds gradually, everything flowing naturally.

Mercury Rev,Sala Apolo Barcelona 2026 – Photo taken by Meritxell Rosell for Indieofilo^©

Donahue is in the middle. While his singing is an important part of his performance, it is his gestures, the way he moves and looks at his fellow performers, and his flamboyant direction of the action that truly define it. There is something very theatrical about the way he performs, but it never seems artificial. His appearance hasn’t changed much over the years, and he still has the look of a singer from a 1980s New York band – a style that reflects his histrionic personality.

The current line-up of Mercury Rev features Jonathan Donahue and Sean ‘Grasshopper’ Mackowiak at its core, accompanied by Marion Genser on keyboards, Jesse Chandler on drums and Joe Magistro on drums. Grasshopper’s electric guitar plays a significant role in the concert, while the keyboards and saxophone feature intermittently throughout the set.

Joe Maguistro of Mercury Rev,Sala Apolo Barcelona 2026 – Photo taken by Meritxell Rosell for Indieofilo^©

During ‘Tiger‘, Donahue plays a peculiar red electronic trumpet with an almost futuristic look while continuing to experiment with the microphone and his stage presence. The lights and psychedelic projections make it all the more hypnotic, making the song one of the most unique moments of the night.

When two of All Is Dream’s best-known songs, ‘Tides of the Moon‘ and ‘The Dark Is Rising‘, are played, the audience immediately recognises the melodies. Later on, ‘Holes‘ – one of the standout tracks from Deserter’s Songs – is performed. Live, they reach a whole new level. Mercury Rev stretch them out, experiment with their structures, and allow them to unfold over the course of a few extra minutes. Yet they remain perfectly recognisable.

Jonathan Donahue of Mercury Rev,Sala Apolo Barcelona 2026 – Photo taken by Meritxell Rosell for Indieofilo^©

Some bands commemorate anniversaries by looking back. Mercury Rev do things differently: they make songs with decades of history sound as though they’re being heard for the first time. I can see why they’ve remained on the fringes of trends for so long: they have a unique sound and they know how to use it. There’s something magical about that.