[kj] Ministry in NYC tonight

Thu Jun 15 11:24:20 EDT 2006

I'll post a longer, more detailed review later, but some thoughts re: Ministry last night....

1. BB Kings Blues Bar was the *WRONG* venue to book this show. Too small (it was totally packed) and the sound is so compressed that it was akin to standing in front of a 747 engine for three hours.

2. Did not catch the Pitbull Daycare, and don't really feel a great deal of remorse.

3. I met my friend Christina (she from that fabled earlier photo with m'self and Raven on Andy's Gathering site) and her friend John and made it in no problem. Raven gamely put Peggy (my wife) on the list as well, but she couldn't make it (someone had to mind the kids), so my "date" or plus-one ended up being Julya (slutty and stupid ex-FUSE veejay), who is a friend of John's. She was hungover and unfriendly and was later seen being asked to leave the venue by security. Rock'n'roll!

4. The Revolting Cocks were easily the high point of the show. Opened with "Beers, Steers + Queers," and suddenly a wave of early-90's nostalgia swept over the room. Luc Van Acker has not aged well and is now a total buffoon. There is another vocalist who looks a bit like Crispin Glover/Hitler who I was unfamiliar with. And he's a bit of an idiotic bore. But the rest of the band (featuring the odd ex-Skatenig, I believe) was great. The bass player (not Raven) is indeed a huge hottie, somewhat like vintage-era Corey from Nashville Pussy. They also played: "Attack Ships On Fire" (my personal fave), "D'ya Think I'm Sexy," "Let's Get Physical" and a rousing version of "Stainless Steel Providers." They also did a cover of "Dark Entries" (by Bauhaus), which was surprisingly faithful. An excellent performance.

5. Lots of drunk idiots in the crowd. And sweaty males. Did not spot a SINGLE Killing Joke shirt (other than the one I was sporting).

6. Ministry come on. Bones on the mics. Projection behind at all times. Strobes. Raven a good two feet taller than his bandmates. Both Raven and Al sporting Jaz-esque black warpaint. Raven gets a pass for this, as far as I'm concerned, but try being original, AL!!!! 

7. The Ministry set: lots and lots and lots and lots of new stuff. And ya know what? It's DULLLLLLLLLLL. Totally monocrhomatic. Very little deviation. 

8. Tommy Victor must have made some pact with the devil, as he has not aged a day. He is also VERY energetic on stage. Man loves his work.  He and Al Jourgensen, according to Raven, do not get on well, and Raven has to act as go-between.

9. It was Mike Scaccia's birthday. He was wearing a Lynyrd Skynyrd shirt. Most unfortunate, this.

10. Joey from Slipknot on drums -- Raven loves him (and evidently GEORDIE does to, so sayeth Raven), but he was clearly having a hard time keeping up. Couldn't tell if he was wearing a mask or not, but he's clearly a freaky lookin' dude.

11. Bechdel still has the `hawk.

12. Songs played in addition to new stuff: "N.W.O," "Thieves," "So What," "Just One Fix," and a truly dead-on-arrival limp through "Stigmata" wherein poor Joey started to lose his place. Most unfortunate.

13. Al Jourgensen clearly has a lot to say about the Bush Administration and how this country is going down the toilet, but y'know what? For all anyone could hear (let alone decipher through his heavily treated, vocoded vocals), he could've just been screaming out the names of all the State capitals. All gobbledigook.

14. It was VERY loud. No surprises there.

15. Raven - clearly enjoying himself, though seemed a bit upset onstage (it's always somewhat hard to distinguish these two expressions).

Met up with Raven afterwards, and we repaired to the bar at the Paramount hotel. Lots of gossipy chin-wagging ensued. Raven drank mineral water the entire time. Businss dealings with all things Killing Joke continue to be a stupefying mess, but he does not rule out re-joining the fold. Lots of bullshit and deception in the air, but Raven seems to approach proceedings from a "life's too short" perspective, to his credit. GEMS OF POWER, as has been suggested, will probably never see the light of day. Raven was surprised to hear that the `Joke have evidently dropped the new material from their live set. For you Yank radio fans, evidently Raven and Al will be guests on Opie & Anthony today (which may have already happened).

Overall, while it was great fun hanging out with Raven (who sends his regards to you all, though is not subscribed to the Gathering these days), the Ministry show was far from the best thing I've ever seen. Bring earplugs, if you're going.

Pictures to follow. Not many, though.

Cheers,
Alex in NYC

-----Original Message-----
>From: Pssyche <pssyche at soia.freeserve.co.uk>
>Sent: Jun 15, 2006 10:48 AM
>To: "A list about all things Killing Joke (the band!)" <gathering at misera.net>
>Subject: Re: [kj] Ministry in NYC tonight
>
>me and a mate are going - tickets are $20 - and I've been warned not to
>wander anywhere away from the venue and not to hang about afterwards either.
>However, I was told the venue is great and Detroit crowds are the best in
>the USA so.....
>
>----- Original Message ----- 
>From: "Christof hamille" <wessidetempest at hotmail.com>
>To: <gathering at misera.net>
>Sent: Thursday, June 15, 2006 5:32 AM
>Subject: Re: [kj] Ministry in NYC tonight
>
>
>> No I wish.
>> Harpo's.
>> Straight up metal veune complete with thugs for security.  In a shitty
>part
>> of town (do not leave an empty bottle in your car in fear of being broken
>> into and stolen).
>> I'll put it this way.  I have seen Motörhead there twice.  Gwar with the
>> Dickies and Buzzoven (opening bnads is whay I went) at this venue.  Back
>in
>> the day the Dead Kennedy's and the Ramones would play there
>>
>> Want to go?
>>
>> ugghh
>>
>> Chris
>>
>> >From: P Bernardi <phantasmas at erols.com>
>> >Reply-To: phantasmas at erols.com,"A list about all things Killing Joke (the
>> >band!)"<gathering at misera.net>
>> >To: "A list about all things Killing Joke (the band!)"
>> ><gathering at misera.net>
>> >Subject: Re: [kj] Ministry in NYC tonight
>> >Date: Thu, 15 Jun 2006 00:27:33 -0400
>> >
>> >Chris,
>> >
>> >which venue in Detroit is it? Is it the same one thats down the road from
>> >Majestic/Magic stick?
>> >p-
>> >
>> >
>> >Christof hamille wrote:
>> >
>> >>Alex let me know how it is.  Really I have no desire to go other then to
>> >>see Raven and Bruchdel (sp?).  I am guessing the tix will be $30 after
>> >>service charge and I am being a snob.  Plus the Detroit show is at a
>> >>notorious metal venue that is in a shitty part of town with even
>shittier
>> >>security.
>> >>
>> >>If I could get in somehow without forking out the dough I would (simply
>> >>because of the venue).
>> >>
>> >>I would rather hand Al my money in person then through that place
>> >>
>> >>Chris
>> >>
>> >>drunk in Detroit
>> >>
>> >>>From: Alex Smith <vassifer at earthlink.net>
>> >>>Reply-To: Alex Smith <vassifer at earthlink.net>,"A list about all things
>> >>>Killing Joke (the band!)"<gathering at misera.net>
>> >>>To: "A list about all things Killing Joke (the band!)"
>> >>><gathering at misera.net>, gathering at misera.net, partyslammer at socal.rr.com
>> >>>Subject: [kj] Ministry in NYC tonight
>> >>>Date: Wed, 14 Jun 2006 14:20:16 -0400 (EDT)
>> >>>
>> >>>
>> >>>Should've asked this earlier, but is anyone else (apart from m'self)
>> >>>going tonight at BB King's?
>> >>>
>> >>>Lemme know.
>> >>>
>> >>>Alex in NYC
>> >>>_______________________________________________
>> >>>Gathering mailing list
>> >>>Gathering at misera.net
>> >>>http://four.pairlist.net/mailman/listinfo/gathering
>> >>
>> >>
>> >>
>> >>_______________________________________________
>> >>Gathering mailing list
>> >>Gathering at misera.net
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>> >>
>> >
>> >_______________________________________________
>> >Gathering mailing list
>> >Gathering at misera.net
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>>
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>
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