Marilyn Manson + Slayer - White River Amphitheater (Auburn, WA; July 14, 2009)

Touted as a “riotous road show,” the Rockstar Energy Drink Mayhem Festival has a slew of bands criss-crossing the country. Now in its sophomore year, the tour rolled into the White River Amphitheater in Auburn, a nice outdoor venue described as “a mini Gorge.” Tons of bands were on the bill: Marilyn Manson, Slayer, Bullet For My Valentine, Cannibal Corpse, and Black Dahlia Murder (to name a few). But we were there to see the closer of the night, Marilyn Manson.

Pre-show checklist for Marilyn Manson:
1. Tickets…check!
2. Boots (in case I get caught in a mosh pit)…check!
3. T-Shirt of cool band (not on the bill)…check!
4. Camera…check!
5. Friend Jack (to buy gas)…check!
6. Adrenaline…check!
7. Marilyn Manson CD for drive down…check!

We were “go” for Marilyn Manson, or at least that’s what we thought. Arriving at the venue fashionably late, we saw many people walking in the opposite direction that we were. Could the show be over? Why would Manson go on before the sun went down? Turns out, they were in between bands and we had gotten there in time.

The place was eerily quiet as we were patted down by security. Like incubi and succubi drawn to a satanic mating call, the beer gardens emptied as the throbbing bass beat from Dave Lombardo’s drum kit launched into Slayer’s “Darkness Of Christ.” Their set was loud, fast, and unforgiving as hardcore fans were treated to some deep album cuts like “Born Of Fire” and “Ghost Of War.” We weren’t there to see Slayer, however, we were there to see Marilyn @#$*% Manson!

We decided to take a break and hit up the beer garden. I knew the beer wasn’t going to be cheap. I thought that maybe I would get a nice chunk of change back if I handed the beer wench a $10 bill. I did get change . . . a $1 bill! My 16 oz. can of beer was $9! Every time I took a swig, I was drinking a dollar! Adding insult to injury, a bag of Skittles or M&M’s set you back $4! But I digress. It was a nice night, I had good company, and we were about to go and watch one of my favorite bands.

The stage was covered in a black scrim as red lights pulsated behind it. The “show’s about to start” lighting was whipping the crowd into a froth. The intro music always seems to take forever, when in actuality, it’s probably a minute or less. All of a sudden the house lights were killed and the scrim dropped (a clichéd rock concert device, I know, but I never tire of it). Marilyn Manson bounded onto the stage . . . or did he? I could hear Manson, but I couldn’t see him. The smoke machine were working overtime or the ventilation system decided to take a break just as Manson was starting his show. I thought, “OK, that’s cool, the smoke will go away.”

When I was first introduced to Marilyn Manson, I would play Antichrist Superstar non-stop. Whether I was driving in the car or walking down the street, I would be listening to raw anger and rage. Marilyn Manson made you want to hate everything around you. This is what got me so excited to see him live. Feeling what I felt years ago with Antichrist Superstar.

Unfortunately, it wasn’t the case. Maybe it was the perfect storm of him not wanting to be there, the microphone screwing up numerous times and the amount of smoke that followed him around the stage that contributed to the downward spiral of the show following the opening “We’re From America.” From that point, it seemed that Manson had given up . . . both in energy and vocals.

Everybody has an off-night. But as the night went on, it was becoming more and more apparent. The set list was a mere hour long and just contained the “hits.” At one point, Manson announced that he was going “old school” and launched into “Tourniquet,” “Rock Is Dead,” and “The Dope Show.” Before I got to the show, I was thinking about how awesome the songs were going to sound live (“Rock Is Dead” being one of my favorites). Musically, the songs sounded fine, but nothing really blew me out of my seat. 

Supporting Manson’s new release The High End Of Low, a couple of cuts made it to the set list: “Four Rusted Horses” and “Arma-Goddamn-Motherfuckin-Geddon.” But the audience was there to hear the old stuff, which happened in an encore of “The Beautiful People” and “Sweet Dreams (Are Made Of This).”

Marilyn Manson turned 40 years old this year, and sadly, it showed.

Bottom line: I’m glad I got to see Marilyn Manson live. It’s been crossed off my “bucket list.” Would I pay good money to see him again? Probably not.

DOWNLOAD: Marilyn Manson - Rock Is Dead (MP3) or Follow us for more Marilyn Manson MP3s (Twitter)

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