Twins of Evil Tour: Rob Zombie and Marilyn Manson at 1STBANK Center, 10/02/12

By Tom Murphy Wed., Oct. 3 2012 at 10:24 AM

Eric Gruneisen

Marilyn Manson last night at 1STBANK Center. Slide show: Rob Zombie and Marilyn Manson at 1STBANK Center

Before Rob Zombie went on, a huge drape with the image of King Kong on the front blocked us from seeing the set change and yet provided a compelling image from the stage when nothing else was going on, which was much appreciated. As the drape bearing King Kong's image dropped, Bach's "Toccata and Fugue in D Minor" issued forth from the speakers and a large figure like a techno-organic robot torso and head sat on stage, then caught fire.

Eric Gruneisen

Marilyn Manson last night at 1STBANK Center. Slide show: Rob Zombie and Marilyn Manson at 1STBANK Center

Zombie took stage at a microphone stand made up of a skeletal figure with six arms. Zombie himself used an extension for his arms made up of skeletal figures as well. If Hell or Purgatory could be depicted in the most appealingly cartoonish way possible, Zombie and crew made it happen from the beginning to the end, starting with "Jesus Frankenstein."

Eric Gruneisen

Rob Zombie last night at 1STBANK Center. Slide show: Rob Zombie and Marilyn Manson at 1STBANK Center

For "Superbeast," fires appeared at the top of risers and other equipment making it seem entirely possible it would get out of control. For "Meet the Creeper" a collage of images of the Manson family with the names displayed evolved in the projections behind the band, making it look like a trailer, of sorts, for the controversial but excellent and vividly realized Jim Van Bebber film.

Throughout the show, Zombie pumped up the crowd and cajoled when it seemed people were acting like they were at home watching TV. But instead of just harping on that like a lot of performers seemed to, he just encouraged involvement and earned it with the sheer enthusiasm and energy he brought to this show. Maybe it was that Manson had had such a great set that he felt he needed to make his own just slightly more exciting, but one got the impression that Zombie just does this all the time regardless of with whom he's touring.

Eric Gruneisen

Rob Zombie last night at 1STBANK Center. Slide show: Rob Zombie and Marilyn Manson at 1STBANK Center

He got guys to lift their girlfriends on their shoulders more than once and otherwise wound up the audience like few people probably can these days.The latter part about getting women on the shoulders of some guys was apparently prompted in part by a review Zombie had read about the Salt Lake City show in which the writer said something about the Twins of Evil tour not being shocking but that the show was amazing.

Eric Gruneisen

Rob Zombie last night at 1STBANK Center. Slide show: Rob Zombie and Marilyn Manson at 1STBANK Center

Zombie had a laugh about this because clearly it's not a flaw in a show not being shocking. Shocking is primarily in the eye of the beholder and is no substitute for a solid show where you have fun. Zombie, to his credit, and Manson, too, provided one of the most visually, sonically and emotionally engaging shows you're likely to see all year.

After more jokes with the audience, including telling someone that putting a guy on his shoulders didn't count and that he knew that sometimes it's hard to tell, the band kicked into one of its most popular songs, "Living Dead Girl." For the whole show, an array of screens in the back displayed footage and images from various sources including classic monster movies and anime. For this song it was a kind of creative reconstruction of the footage from the original video. John 5's guitar face winked on and off with a hazy, white light adding to a cartoonish sense of the eerie.

Eric Gruneisen

Rob Zombie last night at 1STBANK Center. Slide show: Rob Zombie and Marilyn Manson at 1STBANK Center

Everyone recognized "More Human Than Human" right away and many sang along all while footage from Godzilla movies and episodes of Ultraman ran in the background. Before "Sick Bubblegum," Zombie told us more about the SLC review where it was supposedly claimed that Zombie never talks to the crowd and that he just yells obscenities. To which, Zombie replied to us, "Just because we yell shit, piss, cunt, motherfucker and asshole doesn't mean we don't love you. It's just our way." Of course the crowd had a good laugh at that. Following this, Zombie split us up into two teams with one side of the room chanting "Rock!" and the other "Motherfucker!"

Location Info

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1STBANK Center

11450 Broomfield Lane, Broomfield, CO

Category: Music

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NoTHanks

Setlist correction - Zombie did not play Demonoid Phemonenon, which was a bummer as that's a favorite of mine. It might have been cut as he said they were running long, and skipped right to Thunderkiss '65.

Also, Manson said, "Columbine....not my fault.", not "Colorado...not my fault." OK, we get it, they liked your music, but we're over your 'shocking' gimmic. It was more theater than anything else, I much preferred RZ's set.

michelleg

How long did the show go on for? I'm heading to the one in MI from Canada.

bcbarkley

This concert was awesome except for the opening act DJ sucked ass.

BV15

1 Like

Excellent review of the evening. Can't wait until Manson stops by my city. His live shows have always been a highlight for me. It is great to see the genius within the songs come to life on stage. Fantastic photography too. I love how the photographer captured the intensity of Manson's set.

Nick1992

1 Like

"one of the most visually and sonically emotionally engaging shows you’re likely to see all year."

That is, unless you go to a Rammstein concert.

RustyShackleford

2 Like

@nicktatoian Rammstein > Cartoonish Mass-Media Poseurs

Nick1992

1 Like

@RustyShackleford Agreed. Rammstein not only puts on an absolutely incredible show visually, but they also perform nearly flawlessly; some would even say they have gotten better with age (which I would agree with). Both Zombie and Manson have lost some of the power they once had, especially with Manson. They both seem to be living in the past; they can't perform like they used to. Manson is waddling around the stage moaning incoherently half the time, and Zombie always sounds like he's out of breath and relies on his band and special effects to make up for it. I'm not saying they aren't worth seeing, I wouldn't pass up a chance to see them If the opportunity was there, but they just aren't what they used to be.

Juan_Leg topcommenter

@zipto44 Very well put , brother .......

zipto44

1 Like

Way to stand up for your band, man.

Every arm chair rock star has an opinion and it don't mean squat.

Show me YOUR gold record, know what I mean?

By the way, I saw Iggy Pop In 88. Lost hearing in my left ear for three days. But I was proud, PROUD MAN!

Nick1992

2 Like

@BV15 @nicktatoian @RustyShackleford

First off, Rammstein is not all playback, second, who are you to say that the only reason I like Rammstein is because of their pyro? Rammstein has been my favorite band for the past 7 years, and I can assure you I haven't been listening to them everyday because I like fire hahaha. And your comments on Till is entirely your opinion, I can assure you their are millions of Rammstein fans who would disagree with you. I believe Till has an amazing stage presence; it fits the music's industrial militaristic sound and look. If he was to act like Manson or Zombie, it just wouldn't seem right. Also, "Rammstein loves Manson btw", that statement really has nothing to do with anything in what you are trying to argue. I know Rammstein likes Manson, Manson likes Rammstein as well, what exactly are you trying to say? Also, I never said anything against Manson's lyrics, he is a great writer and has some fantastic lyrics, Ka-Boom Ka-boom and Just a Car Crash Away are my favorites by him lyrically. I will also say that Rammstein has awesome, very deep lyrics as well. Personally I think Till is a better writer than Manson, but that's my opinion.

And finally, your response to my comment was very immature and full of ignorance. Next time you comment on something think about what you wrote before you hit that "Post Comment" button.

BV15

1 Like

@nicktatoian @RustyShackleford Its very easy to sound great when most of your set is playback. Rammstein is mostly playback. And the only reason you like Rammstein is because they have some pyro at their shows. I don't know if you've noticed but Till isn't the most exciting guy to watch on stage. He is actually incredibly boring. And anyone that relies on pyro to merely entertain the incredibly stupid and docile audience is not impressive and I'm not impressed. It is the same as Zombie. Neither live up to the message and meaning of Manson's words and music. And Rammstein loves Manson btw. So emulate them and shut the fuck up