The concert at the Pond was one of the best arena shows I have attended. The last one being Pink Floyd "The Wall". Besides the music being brilliant and pure rock and roll,I think Marilyn Manson is bringing back that whole rock star -glam rock feel. He did not dissapoint!

Monster Magnet played a short set to a half full arena. Hole came on next and more people showed. During their set, Courtney Love had to keep on mentioning Manson. At the end of her set, she said Manson would be on in a little while with all his pyro-technics and burning crosses but first she wanted to give away a guitar to someone in the audience. She picked one girl but made her promise not to sell it but to become a "rock star" because it was so fuckin' easy! I prefered the old stuff like Doll Parts over the new stuff but there was at least one girl that liked everything because she was screaming in my fucking ear the whole time they were on!

While Manson was setting up behind white curtains, Pink Floyds "The Wall" was being played over the P.A. system. Then the lights went out. The crowd anticipation was great! The place was packed now. Curtains drop. We see Manson being raised on his TV cross. The music starts! All the lights were contained on the stage, spots and strobes gyrating in a frenzy along with the high intensity of the band whirling around.

Their set included: The Reflecting God, Great Big White World, Mechanical Animals (wearing his spider like stilts), Sweet Dreams, Speed of Pain (trench coat and hat a la Bowie), Rock is Dead, Dope Show, Lunchbox(with audience participation and alot of mooning), I Don't Like The Drugs(BTDLM) along with flashing DRUGS marquee, Irresponsible Hate Anthem, Antichrist Superstar, The Beautiful People, and an encore of Coma White.

The show included all the snow, explosions, fire, pin wheel fireworks, and the "dancing" tube lights(which I liked alot) but the most intense part was when he was singing "Irresponsible Hate Anthem" and got shot for expressing himself."I wasn't born with enough middle fingers", and then came back as leader, dictator, preacher, politician, and puppet while the band was busy wielding nazi helmets!

The encore was Coma White but 3/4 of the way through it he took the mic stand and threw it all around(Twiggy got out of the way quickly). He thrashed the drums, then stormed off stage. the band finished the song without him. The newspapers reported that he sprained his ankle during this show and that he never should of played the next night at the Forum in L.A.. Something seemed wrong during Coma White but if he was injured he put on a hell of a show. Maybe we got shorted a song or two but he did play for one and a half hours.

During the show he dedicated a song(I think it was Get Your Gunn) to his fans for having to put up with all that nonsense from Ms. Love. He also said that this was the best audience so far. Maybe he says this to all the young dudes.

Bravo!

- BeefEye@aol.com