Hartford, CT - Meadows Music Theatre - Ozzfest 2001.
After Slipknot were done The Beatles White Album commenced, the trademark of the beginning of a Manson show (usually Beatles or Stones that is). After about 6 or 7 songs from that album it stopped and their personal remix of God Bless America started as their intro. then about two or three minutes into it Twiggy, John 5, Pogo and Ginger came out. Then Manson, in his headdress, after flaunting for a few seconds Ginger hit the symbol four times and the Irresponsible Hate Anthem was underway. That was about the time I realized I would be the only real 'hardcore' Manson fan sitting in my general vacinity, I only realized I didn't give two shits because I was going to get my $80 worth of my damn ticket and that I did. It was my fourth time seeing Manson and I've never been that much into a Manson show in my life. There were about five words Manson sang that I didn't. I was too busy raising my first, swinging my arms, giving Manson the finger to give a shit about the Ozzy heads and scared Linkin Park fans around me.
After a good rendition of the Hate Anthem was done The Reflecting God commenced with the classic Mechanical Animals era intro from John 5. During the acoustic part Manson sang "I went to God just to see/and I was looking at youuuu", which made me glad because I've always wanted him to sing that at one of my shows! "Disposable Teens" was up next which got the un-Manson fans into the show a little after the first two un-radio friendly songs were played.
Before The Fight Song Manson gave one of his self shameless introductions. He said he was glad to be in Connecticut except for that it was the homestate of Senator Joseph Liberman. He then went on to say how the Senator was ugly along with his wife and family. Then he said how he wouldn't like sex if he had Liberman's wife. It was after this that I and possibly Manson wasn't his usuauly audience and didn't do what he told them to do after he stopped doing it. Shortly after going "FIGHT, FIGHT, FIGHT, FIGHT", he stopped and so did the crowd except for about five people (one being me at the top of my lungs).
After this, he came out on the stilts for The Nobodies. Pretty cool songs on stilts, much better than the previous on the tour Tourniquet, but not quite as good as Kinderfeld or Mechanical Animals. The shots on the screen looked like the ones of him in the Dead to the World home video doing Kinderfeld. After that little dity was over Rock is Dead started, contiuing the radio songs and me giving the finger. Then there was The Dope Show with "DRUGS" on the screens during the whole song. "The Drugs they say are in CON-NECT----I----CUTTTT".
Then there was my personal favorite of the night (you'll learn why in a second) Cruci-Fiction in Space. Well it seemed like the tame part of the show because of it's droning guitar sound and somber keyboard parts. During the second verse I start moving my arm back and fourth singing along poiting at Manson. I then realized he started pointing in my general direction while singing the lyrics. Then to see if he was pointing at me pointing at him, I flipped him off, he returned the gester.
I tried getting his attention for the rest of the show but I didn't get his. After getting off of the high riser, Sweet Dreams started. He started having everyone clapping but they stopped when he did which seemed to irritate him. So, he said "I know everyone knows how to clap so clap!". One disappointment to me was them doing the Hell Outro, I'd really like to see Sweet Dreams without that darn thing, I haven't yet. Manson went off stage through the curtain he originally emerged in looking like he was going to get into the Bishop's alfit for Love Song (which I had thought he was going to do). He then came out at the end of Hell Outro without it on so I knew something I wasn't expecting he was going to play (I do like surprises, I purposely didn't read any Ozzfest reviews, so I'd enjoy it).
This could of been my second favorite moment during the show "'CUZ I AM THE ALL-AMERICAN ANTICHRIST!". Yes, Rock 'n' Roll Nigger, a cool song that's nice and noisy which is always a nice edition into any show/setlist. It was then that the two kids I'd say about eleven and fourteen came back with their father to the seats in front of me. I was so into the show I sang the entire song practically into their ears (nigger, nigger nigger!). Anyway, I started pumping my arms in the air going "hey, hey, hey" like Manson had done during the intro of Rock 'n' Roll Nigger when I saw them on Rock is Dead tour. Either Manson saw me, someone else or got the idea into his head so he started doing it but no one in the audience did so he signaled Ginger to slow it down and just play the soft beat. When he had initially done this I thought to myself great, he's pist because when I saw them in Lowell in '00, he did the same thing and walked off stage for two minutes during Lunchbox. But he then started going "hey, hey, hey" trying to get the crowd to join in. It didn't work so he just went into the song. He started it back up during the interlude instead of "this is your world..." but it worked for about three seconds.
After that Patti Smith original was over I heard the beginning to the epic, Antichrist Superstar. To add the the beat they lit the front of the podium up to the "dun dun". So back to the song, when it started I did the throw your arms in the air thing. To my surprise more than five people in the audience did this as well. Almost a highlight of the night, actually crowd participation! Ut oh... During the chorus ("cut the head off") two different colored flames came up twice each part. Also, no bible ripping (which is kind of boring after a while anyway) and the song was shortened.
Oh, I knew what was next, the song that ALWAYS follows Antichrist Superstar. "How does it feel to tbe one of the Beautiful People"? A cool version of the song, nothing to write home about because the song is over played and performed almost exactly the same way every time. At the end however, the giant gun cross started firing which was damn cool. An effect not used on the GGG World tour in the yesteryear.
Overall I was disappointed that almost every band closed with their hit radio song, come on get some originality prove to people you have more than one good song and having them suffer through your set to see it. Also, I was disappointed with the crowd participation, or lack therefore of. Sure, it was great whenever the artist asked people to yell, put the hands up, show the devils horns, or evil the popular let me see your middle fingers. But unlike many bands the great thing about Manson shows is that Manson fans usually know when to participate even on some ocassions when not asked. Even if Manson stops doing it they generally keep on doing. This possibly proving the theory that Manson fans are smarter than you think!