Skinny Puppy - Marquee Theater, Tempe AZ
I've been a fan of Skinny Puppy ever since I first heard Assimilate when I was a teenager. For whatever reason though I never got around to seeing them live. Until last night that is.
They put on a really really good show. If you know anything about Skinny Puppy you know that their live performances are really rather good. Ogre is something of a showman in his, er, own way. Last night he hobbled out onstage using a walking frame wearing what can only be described as a bandaged straight jacket with a dunce hat on. Of course because I suck, I left my camera at home. Ah, Flickr to the rescue.
The setlist was really rather good. I was surprised they didn't preview anything from the new album but they did throw in some goodies. Rodent, Assimilate, and Worlock are some of my favorites. I was a little disappointed that they didn't play Smothered Hope but they closed the show with Far Too Frail so who can complain at that?
The show was only marred by two things. Firstly the sound was very loud and very muffled. Not the fault of the band though, I've seen a number of concerts at the Marquee Theater and the acoustics are abysmal. Secondly, Ogre didn't know what city they were playing in.
Now, I don't ask much from a concert. But there are two things I do expect when I hand over my cash. The lead singer remembering the words to the songs and the band remembering what city they're playing in .
"Thank you, Albuquerque." Really? Albuquerque?
10/10 for performance. 0/10 for having a clue.
Setlist
Love In Vein
Hatekill
Addiction
Dogshit
Deadlines
Tormentor
Politikil
Pedafly
Rodent
Pro-Test
Morpheus Laughing
Ugli
Assimilate
Encore
Worlock
Brap
Far Too Frail
I can honestly say I'm not at all familiar with Skinny Puppy. I know the band name, but don't know their music.
Fancy not knowing which city you're playing in. Too long on the road, or too many drugs? :-)
I'm off to see the Saw Doctors on the 12th and can't wait for that. They have a reputation for being great live entertainers.
kapgar... if synth/industrial music is your kind of thing, then this is that kind of thing. Have a peek at their last.fm page and stream some stuff to get a taste. I heartily recommend Assimilate or Worlock for first listens. Some of their other stuff can be quite the shock to the system ;-)
jonathan... for me I think it's just a case of lack of professionalism. At the very least, before you go on stage, find out where you are. Doesn't seem that difficult to me.
I saw them years and years ago. The Too Dark Park tour. Lots of gore as I recall. Any fake blood at this gig?
jake... yep, when Ogre climbed into a plexi glass box on stage and splattered some fake blood on the pane.
Nice. I'm familiar with their older music, but haven't heard anything they've done in the last 12 years.
I wish I would have been able to go to the Nitzer Ebb show that was here in SLC. I hope you can still go to the AZ date coming up here soon.
marty... their last two albums: Greater Wrong Of The Right and Mythmaker are really really good. I'm not going to go to the NE show but to be honest that's fine as I've already seen them 3 times. I'd never seen Skinny Puppy before so out of the two, that's the one I really wanted to go to.
Not really into Skinny Puppy... more of a Fat Kitty fan. Also like Chubby Goldfish, Anorexic Rabbit, and Portly Panda. Good stuff.
myke... your comment, while spam, is funny so I'm keeping it. (Removing the link to whatever you were advertising though obviously).
Darn! It was worth a try. Have a good one!