Ah. My first concert. After managing to get out of the house and convince my parents I was going to several movies, I got down to the really sucky Rose Garden (a blemish on the face of Oregon) and start searching for Noogs. Incidentally, she had my ticket and upon my arrival, the gates were opened. Panicking, (hey, itís my first concert. I wanted to see MM!) I cruised the lines and both entrances. Finally, around 6:45 I found Noogs (pink glasses! ;) and we managed to get right in.
Stupid as I am, we headed over to the most empty looking souvenir stand. There are several new shirts. (the cutest being ìI ëheartí drugs and on the back ìDrugs ëheartí meî) Typical Omega stuff, and the tour shirt has the entire band on it. A nice poster of the whole band (set me back $10 bucks) and a shirt for Noogs and I was out of there.
After procuring cotton candy (we wished for pixi sticks later on), we headed up to the level 200 seats and got in just as Monster Magnet appeared. Their set was actually pretty good, considering the one song lasted the length of five for me. I like them actually and they played a lot of the songs I like, so I enjoyed what little time they had.
Next Hole finally appeared. Ok, do I have to talk about her? I really donít like her. They had a rather nice stage set though; a big screen with a fountain projected on it and ivy covered most of the amps. Courtney said ìhiî to the audience about a billion times, having little chats almost every song. Managed to spite her hometown just enough that no one moved during their set. I really didnít care to hear what schools she got expelled from (heh, she managed to fuck the name up on one of them) and hear her call us ì503írsî. She walked off after their 5/6th song (hey I took a nap), saying ìthis is our last song Portland motherfuckers! good night! and goodbye!î The crowd chanted for her for a full ten minutes, and the house lights finally came on and a round of loud boos came.(most of which I hoped reached her) Yes I hate her and donít flame me. I have my reasons; Iím glad she has some of a fan base.
After 9 Pink Floyd songs (heh, the only one the crowd knew where Brick in the Wall).....
Marilyn Manson appeared.
Setlist:
Reflecting God
Great Big White World
Get Your Gunn
Mechanical Animals
Sweet Dreams
Speed of Pain
Rock is Dead
The Dope Show
Lunchbox
IDLTD(BTDLM)
Anti Christ Superstar
IHA
The Beautiful People
OK, it started with Twig messing around, playing odd notes on his bass so loud that the crowd was confused. Then the curtain covering the front of the stage dropped and the band was all there. Then Manson rose out of the stage on his television cross, running down the stage and they kicked into The Reflecting God. Only technical problems were for Twig, whose bass was just not working. He kept moving back to yell at the tech, who could only shrug and adjust stuff. A cute thing was Pogo kept getting on his knees, acting like he was praying to the keyboards. And then heíd put all his glow sticks on it.
No pause and they were into GBWW. Very moving, if it hadnít been for all the damn people in front of me singing along. Manson was pretty into it. John was just showing off, the most into it of all of the band. Iíve never seen someone jump around so freakin much!
Get Your Gunn was pretty good, more bass problems and now the keyboards were dying. Pogo managed to get in a spat with a tech. Manson ran off before the last of the song was over, leaving the band to finish for him.
Mechanical Animals.... Manson appeared on his stilts, and the whole song was preformed rather flawlessly. A roadie had to come out and
hold Manson steady as he raised one of his arms. Sweet Dreams was basically preformed by the audience. The only one who was into playing it was John. This boy obviously is still fresh to the song; I pity the rest of the band. Again Manson cut out early for a costume change.
Speed of Pain began with Twig alone, bathed in several spotlights. He played the beginning of it with the synth, and it was so beautiful. Then Manson came out in the leather outfit and ruined the moment (for me ok!) and they kicked into the song. Another pretty flawless performance; the backup singer was a little overbearing (someone had her way turned up). The snow appeared, but didnít really get anywhere but the stage. (a great shot was when Pogo had his solo and the snow swirled around him.) And the cross burst into flames at the end, leading to wild cheers from the crowd. (I was sitting there thinking ëoh great. all the skinheads are loving this.í IMO, I donít think it was a great choice Manson has made.)
Rock is Dead was awesome! The glitter cannon exploded, and with the multicolored lights, it was even prettier. Totally flawless; Twig had his bass from the VMAs and it actually worked right. Manson got into it. I think he enjoys his new skin-tight lycra two piece. He was especially proud of being able to drop the pants and show the string up his ass. A few pieces of equipment and a pole got extra attention from him too ;) And I think it was here when he said ìWe need to wake you all up Portland! Holeís set made you all fall asleep!î
The Dope Show was also flawless. ìThe drugs are made right here in Portland!î Manson screamed.
Lunchbox was interesting. John managed to fuck up the opening. Twig played his little heart out, even though he looked miserable. Manson got the crowd into it, starting with the seat section on his left, making them scream ìI wanna grow up, I wanna be, so no one fucks with me!î. Then he moved to the right side (where I was. I finally got a pretty close look at the man. He looks physically worn.) and we kicked the left sideís ass. Then Manson stepped to the edge of the stage and said ìAll thatís left are you Portland motherfuckerís in the middle!î; actually i think they beat us.
I Donít Like the Drugs began with the Jesus speech. I wasnít terribly amused. It lasted long and I think Manson wanted new material by then end himself. One cute part was when he said ìThey said ëMarilyn Manson! Thereís a war on drugs!í and I said ìI surrender!íî. The DRUGS sign appeared from beneath the stage; no worshiping from Pogo. Manson again left just a tad early....
There was a pause and suddenly there they all were, complete with podium, helmets and banners. Anti Christ Superstar was on. An interesting twist was the fire pillars that shot off back by the banners. Pogo stood still for a whole ten seconds (i timed him) and looked actually regal in the whole helmet.
IHA came on and Manson came out saluting in the cop uniform. At the end, an unknown person appeared onstage in a black cop/assassin uniform, with a large rifle, and proceeds to "shoot" Manson. (large pyrotechnic went off near the back of the stage.) Manson crumpled on the edge of the stage, getting fake blood all over and had to be dragged off by roadies. I caught Twig smirking when Manson got shot; a good sign. I wasnít the only one who enjoyed the shooting. ;)
TBP started off with Manson screaming ìPortland is lucky; because itís gonna see something the rest of the tour will never see again!î I never heard anything about ìthe last show of my career.î; you may want to check with Noogs on that part. Yes, a shoe did hit/trip him. He was visibly pissed off entering the first verse. Bent the mic stand while pounding it into the floor, then threw it at the drum kit, knocking Ginger in the face with the mic holder part. Scared Ginger, who fled fast as soon as he saw Manson take the kit in one hand and yank it off the riser. Twiggy scrambled out of the way, visibly relieved to be done. Pogo jumped off after throwing a keyboard at the tech. Manson just vanished. John was the last to leave; being hit with a t-shirt and then throwing it back. He himself looked pissed.
No encore, no nothing. I donít believe there was a decent turn out at the backstage show (as Noogs had a pass, but was barred because the damn will call desk was closed and no one would get it for her.) We looked for the busses, but as the Rose Garden is a fortress, they were no where to be seen. So we gave up, called taxis, and went home.
All in all, it was worth it. Noogs rocks (first list sib I met) and even though I was depressed for Twiggy, Iíd do it again. If anyone learns of a copy of the show on video/cassette, let me know. Iíd like one.
- Bat