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Thursday, Nov 20, 2008
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| Marilyn Manson a theatrical force of nature | |
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| by Jessica Price -
SGN A&E Writer MARILYN MANSON FEBRUARY 18 PARAMOUNT THEATRE Like it or not, controversy follows Marilyn Manson everywhere he goes. Religious zealots picketing outside the Paramount is a sight not often seen in our fair city, yet there they were in full force for Monday's sold-out show. Hollering at a crowd, mostly grown-up metal devotees and teenagers in full freak regalia for a big night out, the protesters were actually a mood-enhancing throwback to the days when rock was dirty. And yes, cool. They must have forgotten how much fun it is to be a rebel when you're young. Marilyn Manson most definitely has not. When the red curtain lit up, revealing Manson's shadow wielding a huge knife, the audience went berserk. The slasher movie curtain dropped to unveil the lanky star brandishing a microphone cleverly made in the shape of a knife. "Cruci-Fiction in Space" was the pulsing opener and then the band ripped into "Disposable Teens" and "Irresponsible Hate Anthem" while the Antichrist-arrow American flag unfurled. Manson affectionately put his arm around returned guitarist Twiggy Ramirez, who was a huge part of the band's trademark sound and one half of the duo behind the group's best work. With a red stripe painted across his eyes, leather trousers, and a variety of coats, hats, gloves, and other outfits, Manson's towering frame transfixed the entire theater. All the characteristic slashing motions and twitches were in full effect. The band was on fire with energy to match the amazingly powerful vocals. Most performers would kill for such stage presence. Sets changed, backdrops flashed cultural buzzwords, and strobes went off in a frenzy at all the key moments. The band is at its best when they're playing furiously such as in "mOBSCENE" and their absolutely amazing delivery of a certain controversial Patti Smith tune. Another cover, Eurhythmics' "Sweet Dreams (Are Made of This)", was a revelation. Hands down, the most amusing prop of the night was what appeared to be a real girl during "Heart Shaped Glasses" (wheeling a cart of what else, a faux bottle of absinthe) whose garter-clad thighs Manson rubbed his face on. Most people actually thought she was real until the star ripped her head off and brandished it over the audience. (Hilarious! I want to see it again.) During "Rock is Dead," confetti and plumes of smoke billowed over the stage - there's no denying the wow-effect of a good stream of pyrotechnics. As a finale, Manson perched behind a tall, propaganda-inspired podium, shaking his fist over the audience for "Antichrist Superstar" and tossing a flaming bible to the ground. Manson's ragtag tribe of followers were dressed & well, not exactly to the nines, but at least to the sixes or sevens - makeup done, black hair touched-up, corsets tightened and ready to go. Admittedly, I've never given him much credit except perhaps for a few interesting songs and an incredible knack for knowing his audience. Juvenile gushings about absinthe, drug use, and his 19 year-old girlfriend Evan Rachel Wood to a journalist last year were so pubescent it managed to offset every intelligent thing I've ever heard him say. However, the man knows how to work those makeup artists and world-famous photographers, pitching his act for every image, appearance, and record. He is the most accessible poster-child of anti-establishment thinking for kids all around the nation looking for someone to relate to. He's scary, he's "evil," he's larger than life, and that's just the way his fans like him. Never mind his asinine comments about absinthe and his decidedly goofy girlfriend. His fans don't care, so why should we? People scoffed, but I was truly excited for the concert and had been looking forward to seeing the band again for weeks. The last time I saw them he was on stilts and on the cusp of his breakthrough "Beautiful People" period. After last night, I'm convinced the man is more than just his image. The level of showmanship was over-the-top, hilariously pseudo-evil, and damn good fun. Teenagers going nuts, a huge bombastic stage production, elaborate props and set changes, one woman actually baring her breasts while perched on top of the crowd - what could be more rock and roll that that? Nothing I can think of in recent memory quite measures up. Never mind the evil, long live the twisted universe of Marilyn Manson. |
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