"AntiChrist visits the Country Music Capitol"

doors opened around 6:40pm... i had found phoenix & doug just before that... then phoenix & i looked for jeff davis... which we did. okay, after inside, HooDoo & i rushed to front of the stage area where a group of ppl already found seats on the floor... we met some spooks from NC who experienced the Grady Cole incident. about 6:45 Drill came onstage for a soundcheck... that was weird. everyone was just sitting there watching them...

just after 8pm Drill hit the stage. i don't have much of an opinion on them since all i could hear was the bass. no vocals... we were right in front of the stage so the vocals weren't very audible... but the grrl lead singer was interesting to watch... they were no NY Loose. the crowd moshing began during their set & the crush was on... somehow, i think there's a purpose to the opening acts having a grrl lead singer/frontperson... NYL, Fluffy... and now Drill. i expect Crisis or Manhole to be opening soon... =)

the delay between sets was forever! almost an hour! and the crowd was getting somewhat hostile. at 9:25pm, our boys finally took the stage in their standard dramatic fashion... smoke & spotlights... angel with the scabbed wings is in the house!

the Rev was noticeably _thin_... he has lost some weight! and lookin' GOOD! lean & mean... and very mobile. leaping up onto the cube (right in front of me) and leaping off... he performed all the tunes rather well... and some of the poses he struck displayed just how limber he is!

twiggy wore his usual beige dress and white stockings... he just rocked out during the whole show. Zim Zum had on his leather hot pants, black net shirt & thigh high black stockings... Pogo has hair again (as Jeff mentioned)... short orange/red hair... perfectly cut... his attire the same as was Ginger's who i could barely see from my vantage.

seemed the band was really focused on the performance... hitting all the marks & ques at the right times... attempting an error-free show. no destruction. and the Rev kept his cool even when his mic went out while he was on the podium! everything went smooth... and, even though no new songs were added, the re-alignment of the songs was a welcome change. i really wasn't expecting C&S so soon into the show!

the coolest addition was the new american flag backdrop w/the white shock symbol in the place of the stars! that was _neat_! "god bless america!" said Mr. Manson before kicking into "1996"... then to see the flowered mic stand come out... i was a happy boy! Man that you fear was the most moving aspect of the show, IMHO.

the crowd didn't really seem that into the whole show... i kept my same place throughout right behind a girl on the barrier. and never felt like i was in serious harm (as i did at some of the other shows)... the place was huge compared to the small theatres i saw them at in October... and not close to a sellout. but from what our party said, Manson did well the arena setting.

after the show we all met to hang out by the buses... eventually the band strolled out sans Zim Zum, and Mr. Manson waved to us... and they boarded their bus... minutes later the bus pulled out and left. and so did we... back at the hotel Jeff & his friend never showed up (what happened to you guys?)... and that was it. nine hour drive home the next day...

^^^dark one^^^