Not going to lie, it’s still kind of weird to me that 30 Seconds to Mars is like, a thing now. It kind of boggles my mind that they’re happening right now, and the level to which they are. Not so long ago, it seems like nobody wanted to really give them a fair shake, least of all the mainstream radio and TV outlets, and now both are all up on the band’s business. And the fandom. God, the fandom. I’d wager that on a scale of one to Twilight, it’s probably about a nine. But to the band’s credit, they’re one of few acts who can achieve that kind of following and have that widespread of an appeal without having to reduce their music to lowest common denominator elements. Granted, they’re not quite as prog-artsy as they were on their first album, but they still challenge the mold of mainstream rock in a way that the other bands currently occupying that scene could only ever hope to do. Despite their increased accessibility, frontman Jared Leto’s vocal style hasn’t lost its edge and is still as dark and haunting as ever. Whatever your preconceived notions about him are, listen to Leto live, and he’ll make it worth the price of admission for you. The dude sings like he means it, like it’s the last performance he’ll ever give. Maybe it’s those acting skills at work, but his flair for theatrics only makes a 30 performance that much more evocative. - Brien Overly More Information >>