Well we (Meghan-Crmsndeth2, Damion-numerology1 and a nonlist member friend Lori) arrived around noon and scoped the place out. After seeing that no one had arrived yet and that they wouldn't let up park at the lot til after 4pm we decided to get something eat and relax. It wasn't too bad a day, being on the water I thought that it would be colder, but it wasn't too bad and the threatening clouds managed to hold back. So we hung out, got something to eat... and bascially entertained our selves by joking with the anally retentive outdoor security and fellow spooks (angelynx, coyote, EVB, nonlist member mike, Jeff-simplestain, Evil Dink and many more I cant remember names for now sorry =p) who began to arrive as the afternoon wore on. I wont go into the parking fiasco but just as a warning to anyone who might want to attend a show there in the future... They are the biggest idiots and dont let them push you down to the outer lots just drive around to the third lot... grr... what a bunch of assholes!!!

Anyway... we once again lined back up (if you call it that LOL, it was more like herded up on the sidewalk in front of the door). The fun really began when they came out shortly before we were allowed to go in and began the intimdation ritual. They began repeating over and over that if you had any chains, spikes or heavy jewelry that you needed to take it back to your car or they would throw it away (one good line was that it was coming off if they had to cut it off!). They had people worked into a frenzy about it.. saying that they would find it and all this crap and then they didn't even search half the people.
But when they finally let us in they seperated those for the pit off from the rest of the people and had us line back up again. It was nice since I've heard what a nightmare it is when they just let you make a run for the pit. So we waited once again in line. The day should have been called the hurry up and wait in this line day LOL ;-) When they let us into the pit finally we made our way to the first open spot which was right under John 5. I got to be on the front of the barricade (and nearly panicked a couple times when listening to the security tell their horror stories. But there was no way I was gonna let go of my spot =) Anyway the security guards there were actually rather cool. We had a fun time chatting with them before the show... and it just goes to show that not all security are jerks, our guard who spent the majority of the show in front of us was really great and tried to keep an eye out for us. He even threatened to kill this one guy who was giving us a hard time, though I think he was just looking to fight someone LOL. So that killed the time til 12 rounds.

Now a lot of people have said that they sucked and all, but frankly I didn't find them all that bad. I think it was just a matter of they just aren't the Manson fan bases style really. They're a different style musically from Manson (a really different style) more of an etherial blues rock sound to them live and i think they were referred to as goth-tronica by an article. It was a bit hard to understand the lyrics but that was from a number of reasons, the music was super loud, I don't know the lyrics yet and the singer has a rather unique accent. I've found though from experience that most opening bands have a hard time, for the simple reason that the fans aren't there to see the opening band they want to see the headliners and anything that stands in their way automatically sucks. But all in all they aren't bad. I rather like the sound and the bands presence was pretty good too. There were a couple songs that really got going and had a good feel to them. I happened to like one of thier songs that I had heard a couple times before, Plesant Smell, so it turned out that I actually liked hearingthem. (And as a side note for those fans that i've discussed the previous opening bands with... Rasputina fared just as bad in the beginning with fans as 12 Rounds is now.. so perhaps if they stick it out the tide will turn and they will get a small following and some respect from the manson too).

So 12 rounds goes off and up come the lights and pink floyds the wall plays. As the comment was made several times that night- what an appropriate piece this time for the intermission. Being a huge Pink Floyd fan I was rather happy too since I know some Bowie but prior to the ACS tour didn't really know Diamond Dogs so I couldn't sign along. Pink Floyd though was a totally different story =) And they picked some of my favorite songs from the Wall too (though I could have sworn that a couple were from the dark side of the moon but im terrible with remembering track listings.) So all in all we were happily singing along and enjoying the wait when finally the music dies out and so do the lights. Oh how I wish I could capture that moment in words. Looking up I see out of the corner of my eye a little Twiglet pop up on stage.. then a quick look to the front of me and there stands John 5 and then .... the static begins to take on a musical sound and the reflected god in the curtin stands outlined, an alien/angel fallen to earth-- the omega and alpha all in one. Standing ready to show us what a long hard road out of hell it was for him. And with the flick of his twisted wrist the curtain drops and the show begins.

Opening with Reflecting God actually turned out i think to be a good choice. I wasn't sure that I would have gone with that but it worked rather well as an introduction to the new look, the new guitar player and acted as a nice segway into the new material. In truth I can really only remember the order for the first three songs ... Reflecting God, Great Big White World (where I swear I got worried cause one of the roadies was screwing up stuff. All I could think was please no! dont let him get so pissed of he ends it before it starts!! But all was ok and the show continued on.) And then there was Cake and Sodomy. After that point I can remember what songs were there but not the order.