The platinum-selling, post-industrial/alternative rock pioneers in Filter started the night off strong. Formed out of Richard Patrick’s involvement with Nine Inch Nails as their touring guitarist, Patrick left NIN in ’93 to start his own passion project that would quickly grow beyond what he could ever imagine it would become. Over 30 years of pushing the boundaries of musical expression, Filter continue to wow critics and fans alike even today, especially as they release their much-anticipated new album, The Algorithm, their first in seven years. Consisting of some of the best songwriting from Filter, The Algorithm puts Filter back into the headlines with a modern sonic edge.
One of the pioneers of industrial rock music, Ministry have earned their spot in the hallways of history with their heavy synth-pop style mixed with hard rock creating a unique, never-before-seen fusion at the time. While their sound did change gradually over time, progressing into a more harsher, stylized sound that they would be famous for, Ministry are still out here killing it. Wasting no time, Ministry dove straight into the heart of their discography, pulling their best tracks and fan favorites out for this run. Even though they have nothing to prove due to being a massive influence on industrial music for multiple decades, Ministry performed with the heart and energy of it being make or break it.
Next up requires no introduction. The man, the myth, the legend himself, Alice Cooper. Some of my first experiences with Alice Cooper were watching the Wayne’s World movie where Wayne and Garth go see Cooper and get to hang out with him backstage, along with every middle schooler’s summer anthem being “School’s Out.” Having never seen Alice Cooper before, I was so excited to finally be able to see him.
One thing that has always stood out to me about him is just how much of an absolute workhorse he is after all these years. He still tours multiple times a year across multiple markets, and he’s still releasing new music and staying active creatively. A lot of artists from his generation slowed down exponentially, but not Alice Cooper. Still rockin’ his classic vaudevillian rock outfit, an iconic staple attached to his name, Alice Cooper is the perfect embodiment of never limiting yourself just because of your age.
I also HAVE to mention the rest of the group. The sheer amount of talent surrounding Cooper is downright incredible consisting of decades of experience among them and dozens of other projects/bands they are a part off or assist, plus the incredible Sheryl Cooper, who aides the performance and storytelling as the primary dancer/entertainer. An Alice Cooper show simply wouldn’t be the same without the rest of the team on and off the stage.
In classic Alice Cooper fashion, while he of course will always play his classics, he also makes a point to switch up many of the other songs he plays per tour so that no two experiences are exactly the same ensuring that fans keep coming back year after year to see him. He’ll also always change up the production from tour to tour making sure it is a holistically new visual experience when you see him from the last time, whether it’s going for a minimal approach for a smaller tour/theater run or going huge for a massive amphitheater tour.
In classic Alice fashion, you’re always guaranteed his most famous on-stage bits and beahviors from waving a real saber around, to prancing around with his cane, and, of course, bringing out the snake to sing and dance with. No two Alice Cooper shows will be the same. An incredible entertainer like no other, Alice Cooper is one of those artists who transports you back in time even if it is just for a brief time whether it’s back to the ‘70s or simply to your youth. There’s a level of authenticity to him and his music that can simply never be replicated.
The anticipation rising during the short break after Alice Cooper leading into Rob Zombie’s set felt like an eternity, but once that curtain dropped and the stage exploded you could feel the roar of 16,000 fans erupt all at once as Zombie stood atop a giant industrial ‘ZOMBIE’ sign making sure he had the perfect view of the chaos. An adrenaline-fueled set filled with pure entertainment and flair stemming from an arsenal of experience and pure talent, a Rob Zombie set makes you feel as though you just stepped into a horror movie and you’re the next victim.
To no surprise, a Zombie show is filled to the brim with horror elements and psychedelic imagery making you feel as though you just walked into one of his iconic movies or a B-movie horror movie. Featuring massive LCD screens displaying images and reels from his movies helping set the tone and mood for each song playing even being utilized as the perfect interlude between song and set changes. Taking the entertainment factor to the next level, Zombie would have multiple giant stage props onstage for certain songs in addition to 12-plus-foot tall creatures and monsters on stage running around and reigning terror on their unsuspecting victims ensuring you get dragged into the deepest parts of Hell alongside him.
When you’re watching Rob Zombie, it must be acknowledged the sheer amount of talent that is on that stage, both through him, but also around him. While Zombie is the centerpiece, he has consistently been surrounded by a litany of incredible talents such as John 5, Mike Riggs, Piggy D, Ginger Fish, even Joey Jordinson for a small stint, just to name a few, all of which having experience working with some of the largest artists and bands ever. While Zombie’s crew can change sometimes, he always emphasizes dedication and commitment within his team which can obviously be seen through his music and live performance.
Always flexing his creativity, Rob Zombie has never been afraid to push boundaries and try new things, all of which is evident throughout his career in White Zombie, in Hollywood through his massively successful films House of 1000 Corpses, Devil’s Rejects, The Munsters remake, and the Halloween remakes, or as a solo artist after leaving White Zombie. Raised by parents who worked in a carnival and loved horror movies since he was a kid, Rob Zombie wanted to blend his love for horror with music, all while being his own boss and playing by his rules.
From working as a bike messenger, a porn magazine art director, and a production assistant for Pee Wee’s Playhouse, Zombie would ignite his career with White Zombie eventually moving into larger movie projects and soon starting his solo career. Zombie recognized a serious gap in metal wanting something edgier and heavier, but still fun. Crafting a never-before-heard sound, Zombie blended industrial metal with edgy, tongue-in-cheek humor, a massive amount of sexiness and raunchiness, dark themes, and a nice splash of dance, club elements so that not only can you circle pit and bang your head, but get up to strut your stuff at the same time.
Rob Zombie is a one-of-a-kind artist who has managed to not only become a master in one realm, but also become a staple in so many other aspects of art demonstrating his talent, commitment, and dedication to what he does, but also his love for everything he does. Never half-assing anything in life, Zombie continues to wow and shock even after so many years whether it’s through his music or his movies. Rob Zombie embodies energy pumping life into his music, his live performances, and his films all while completely eliminating boundaries not just pushing them. Rob Zombie has been a force to be reckoned with since day one transcending every limitation ever placed on him. Even if you’re not a fan, you need to make a point to see him at least once.
Rob Zombie
Alice Cooper
Ministry
Filter
