Nico Suave & The Mothership

Over the Hills to Oxbow: The Mothership Lands in Portland

Troy Bass, contributor

​If there was ever a show I would have wanted to see as a kid, it would probably have been a combo of Rage Against the Machine and Led Zeppelin. Two bands whose tapestries hung in my childhood bedroom and fueled my love for authentic rock ’n’ roll.

​On July 5th, I got a double dose of both Burning Monk and Burlington’s own Nico Suave & The Mothership when they took the stage at Oxbow Brewing Company in Portland, Maine.

​The Burlington, VT based Rage Against The Machine cover band Burning Monk opened the night. Dressed as if they were Rage themselves, they had the look and the energy down. The vocalist leaned more Chester Bennington than Zack de la Rocha, but it still worked. They kicked off with a blasting “Testify” into a head banging “Freedom,” mixed in some deep cuts like “Snakecharmer,” “The Ghost of Tom Joad,” and “Tire Me,” then launched into the heavy hitters: “Fistful of Steel,” “Bulls on Parade,” “Maggie’s Farm,” “Bullet in the Head,” “Take the Power Back,” and “Wake Up.” They wrapped with the obvious but necessary “Killing in the Name,” and I genuinely appreciated how committed they were to the sound and stage presence.

​I was back by the bar during set break when Cotter Ellis walked up beside me to order a beer. I recognized him right away, hard not to. As a big fan of Goose, and a drummer myself, this was one of those moments I couldn’t make up, even if I tried. One week ago, he was on stage at Madison Square Garden; the next, he was about to play a set at a brewery in Portland like it was just another night.

​It struck me in the best way. No pretense, no distance, just a musician doing what he does, regardless of the room. I got to shake his hand, say I was a fan, and joke about how it was too hot for him to wear the John Bonham wig. A brief, but super memorable interaction.

​Sometime past 10 p.m., Nico Suave & The Mothership took the stage, opening with the thunderous “How Many More Times.” On deck was a deep cut, “Custard Pie,” which the band jammed on before transitioning into “The Ocean.”

​Like a true band of musicians making their way from town to town, Burlington’s Nico Suave belted out the chorus of “Ramble On” like it was a journal entry. We got a full taste of Jimmy Page’s handiwork when they moved into “Heartbreaker” with a spotlight guitar solo that ran straight into “Living Loving Maid (She’s Just a Woman).”

​Nico had tremendous energy and aura onstage, it felt like watching her channel Robert Plant himself. Up next was “Over the Hills and Far Away,” followed by a major highlight: “Trampled Under Foot.” This was a favorite of mine, as Cotter incorporated a dance-infused hi-hat rhythm that gave the track some real extra juice. They jammed on it for a bit with Nico throwing in “Gallows Pole” teases before coming to a halt.

​“Here’s another song we’re gonna play without keys, goddammit,” joked Nico before the ominous opening notes of “No Quarter” rang out. By the end of the track, the guitarist broke a string, apparently a first, as they announced. He left the stage briefly, and Nico picked up a harmonica, a crowd-pleasing move that added even more soul to “Bring It On Home.”

​To close out the show, it was bangers only: “Whole Lotta Love” and “Black Dog.” An encore of “Immigrant Song” followed, showcasing Nico’s shrieking range and sending the crowd into a final applause.

​I hung around a little while after, hoping to chat with Nico, and was able to catch her just as the merch table was closing. She was very kind, and we chatted about all things Burlington, Goose (whom she’s close with), and her other side projects.

She also designed a sweet t-shirt that I had to have, and she convinced me it would make a great concert cutoff.

​And just like that, the Mothership was off to the next stop. Bringing energy, groove, and plenty of Zeppelin spirit along the open road.