Review/Photos: Fu Manchu 9.13.25 Bowery Ballroom NYC

Words & Photos by Marco Denzer

A long line of mature stoner rock fans extending from the front doors of the Bowery Ballroom, down Delancey St., and around the corner at Bowery St. was a clear indication that tonight’s headliner carries gravitas. There was quiet excitement in the air, and it was very obvious that something great was about to go down.

Fu Manchu, currently on the road with The Return Of Tomorrow Tour 2025, had returned to NYC and would soon hit the stage with a vengeance at the legendary Lower East Side venue on Saturday night.

The Seattle, Washington based duo Year Of The Cobra, featuring Johannes Barrysmith on drums and Amy Tung Barrysmith on lead vocals and bass, opened with a solid setthat laid the foundation for what was to come.

Following the opening set, an exchange of music gear, and a quick sound check, veteran rockers Fu Manchu walked on stage to the welcoming cheers of the crowd. They didn’t waste any time in getting down to business and playing “Eatin Dust” from their 1999 release Godzilla’s / Eatin Dust. With guitarist/vocalist Scott Hill thrashing about incessantly on stage, transparent guitar in hand, the band -featuring drummer Scott Reeder, bassist Brad Davis, and lead guitarist Bob Balch – unleashed an extra
heavy dose of fuzzy riff laden tunes that immediately energized the place with vibes of seismic magnitude.

To everyone’s surprise, things suddenly took a dangerous turn at the start of their set. As Hill stepped close to the edge of the stage riffing and whipping his blond mane back and forth, the energetic front man accidentally tumbled off stage and fell on a fan. He never missed a beat though, and fortunately neither Hill nor the fan got hurt in the process, so the show continued without a hitch.

After narrowly avoiding a bad situation, relying on their extensive repertoire, Fu Manchu pressed on to deliver an absolutely face melting show and the crowd loved every tune. The night’s setlist included songs from a broad spectrum of their discography, albums like “No One Rides For Free”, “King Of The Road”, “ California Crossing”, and obviously their most recent production “The Return Of Tomorrow” featured prominently in the selection of titles they played.

In summary, with Davis and Reeder laying down the rock-solid rhythm, Hall layering the heavy riffs and vocals, and Balch heaping tons of fuzzy shredding on lead guitar, the show was an absolute treat for the audience. And let there be no doubt, Fu Manchu rocked the Bowery Ballroom.