A 30 Seconds love affair
Matthew J. Palm | Sentinel Staff Writer
Posted November 5, 2006
Orlando Sentinel

"Oooh, that's Jared Leto's band," a female colleague sighed upon hearing a reference to 30 Seconds to Mars. "Jared Leto," another female colleague echoed dreamily.

Leto gained fame and teen-heartthrob status on the short-lived but cult favorite '90s TV show My So-Called Life. He subsequently moved on to roles in movies such as Panic Room and Alexander, and since 1998 he has also fancied himself a rock star.

30 Seconds to Mars, an alternative rock/progressive metal quartet, gave a sold-out hourlong performance Saturday night at Orlando's Hard Rock Live as part of the MTV2 $2 Bill tour.

Leto was a smooth-talker, saying there's "something special about Orlando" and that Orlando "understands" him and the band.

"Let's make a promise to each other," he proclaimed. "Let's keep doing this together the next 10 or 20 years." Sigh.

A word of caution, though: Leto might be a demanding lover. He certainly ordered around concertgoers, with frequent commands to raise hands in the air, scream or jump. Most artists let the crowd response evolve naturally, but Leto took no chances. "If you have a cigarette lighter or cell phone, this is the time to pull it out," he announced before a rock ballad.

Also, be aware Leto doesn't follow rules. Despite the slew of signs stating "No crowd surfing or moshing. You will be ejected," within moments of taking the stage, Leto organized a mosh pit. It didn't take too much longer for him to dive off the stage for some semi-successful surfing, a stunt he repeated with better results later in the show.

Finally, any prospective paramour might want to work on Leto's sense of style. He took to the stage in a highly stylized sequence, wearing a white bandanna over his face and carrying a white-and-red flag with vaguely political symbols. He also sported eye liner that apparently was applied by a member of Kiss or a raccoon.

On the flip side, he's a people person -- taking time to introduce his band mates, brother Shannon, Tomo Milicevic and Matt Wachter. He's generous -- throwing multiple bottles of water in the crowd after taking only a sip. And he can rock your socks off -- employing a throat-shredding delivery on pulsating crowd-pleasers such as "Beautiful Lie," "The Kill" and "Savior."

Still, if you want to give him your heart, don't say you weren't warned.

The evening featured five opening acts, making it a minifestival.

Cobra Starship, first on the stage, provided delightfully poppy melodies over a crash of guitars and percussion. Members were adept at dropping local names such as Winter Park and Celebration, and witty frontman Gabe Saporta won over the crowd, in part by colorfully ragging on Justin Timberlake. "I hear he's from Orlando," said. "He's bringing sexy back? It never ... went anywhere, you know what I mean?"

The Receiving End of Sirens, next up, gave a less involving performance, though it grew more intense throughout the set.

Rock Kills Kid fared much better, with its melodic set full of percolating songs that channeled an appealing, amped-up alternative-'80s groove.

Things took a punkier turn with New York's Head Automatica, who got the crowd revved up and clapping along with "Graduation Day" and "Laughing at You."

Finally, Street Drum Corps provided a break from the guitars with its trio of percussionists, banging out mesmerizing rhythms on drums, buckets, barrels and metal pipes. Their insistent beats had the crowd roaring and segued dramatically into 30 Seconds to Mars' arrival on stage.

At that point -- nearly four hours into the show -- judging by the lines at the Hard Rock bars, it seemed miraculous that so many fans were still upright to bask in Leto's charismatic glow. But as on many a Saturday night, love and liquor went hand in hand.

Matthew J. Palm can be reached at 407-420-5038 or mpalm@orlandosentinel.com.