“Freaks on Parade Tour: Rob Zombie, Mudvayne & more
Rustbelt Rock Review
By: Z.M. Delgado
Zackolantern.com
Volume #24: “Freaks on Parade Tour:” Rob Zombie, Mudvayne, Static-X, Powerman 5000
August 3rd, 2022
Blossom Music Center, Cuyahoga Falls, OH
Good evening and welcome to another episode of the misadventures of Z.M. and Chen aka The Rustbelt Rock Review. In this installment I will be doing my best to recollect what transpired last Wednesday at Blossom Music Center. For those of you who aren’t aware, that was when the“Freaks on Parade Tour” rolled through town. This was one of the biggest mainstream metal shows to touch down in Northeast Ohio this summer. Rob Zombie headlined with support from the much anticipated Mudvayne reunion, as well as Static-X and Powerman 5000.
Chen and the crew arrived at my place shortly before 4pm, and after a quick inventory of supplies, the five of us piled into my van and headed west. Spirits were high, as I cranked the tunes and beers were distributed. (Relax! Our associate Jojo Skillz was running D.D. duty for the evening, so the rest of us were in the clear.) I think I was about four beers deep when we arrived at Blossom and found a spot in the endless grass sea that is the parking lot. Here we rendezvoused with the sixth member of our party and crushed a few more before heading toward the gate. The day was sweltering hot, and our portion of the lot was largely devoid of shade. With the sun blazing above, I felt like an ant beneath the Sky Daddy’s magnifying glass. (Luckily, I had the foresight to bring along my wide brimmed Motorhead hat, which has single handedly kept me from dying of heat stroke on many occasions.) Crossing the long expanse between van and gate felt like a chapter from Dune and I sorely regretted not bringing a brew for the walk. Soon enough we were at the gate and I was predictably fumbling to make my cell phone work so I could gain entry. (I truly miss the time of the paper ticket.)
While we cleared security without harassment of any note, there was one guy making a stink about his wallet chain. Like, homie, it is 2022. How do you think you’re bringing your 24 inch wallet chain from 1999 into a show? Seriously, quit holding up the line and leave the chains at home! Anyway… We grabbed another round once inside and felt the first of many wounds BMC would inflict. Violent, violating, unforgiving, repentless: The beer prices at Blossom are no laughing matter. They match or even exceed those of any venue I have ever been to… for anything. Not just shows, but pro sports events, casinos, cruise ships, strip clubs… you name it, Blossom out ranks them all. So leaving my left kidney on the counter, I walked off with what I think was a 25 ounce Budweiser. We hit the merch line next, and were punched in the gut immediately by a large man who asked 45 dollars per shirt. He apologized for the punch, but its policy so we just had to accept it. I was out like 60 bucks before the first band played… but hey, them’s the breaks, kid. You gotta pay to play, and at a Blossom Rock show you pay out the ass without exception.
Making our way down the hill, we found a shaded spot near center stage. Here we posted up and soon enough the first act; Powerman 5000 was up to bat. It was at this point that I realized I had forgotten my earplugs. (I was pretty pissed at myself for this, as I am a huge advocate for hearing protection.) Realizing there was nothing to be done about it; I strapped in and prepared for the inevitable bout of tinnitus in my future. Powerman 5000 came out with a lot of energy and unapologetically delivered their brand of Sci-Fi Nu-Metal to eager fans. They went on to blow through an impressive 7 song set. Opening with “Footsteps and Voices” they jumped right in and never really slowed down. They included a cool mash up of “Horror Show” transitioning into a cover of “Seven Nation Army” by the White Stripes. They treated us to the single “Bombshell” and predictably closed out with “When Worlds Collide.” In truth I was never much of a follower of this band back in the heyday. That being said, I am glad I got to see them. They played a solid set and were a fitting opening act for the subsequent line up. They finished to an enthusiastic crowd response which was well deserved.
After that it was back up the hill where I was shanked three times in exchange for another Bud. Bleeding to death, but too drunk to care, we made our way back to our spot for a band I was stoked to be seeing again: Static-X. This was the third time I would be checking them out. The first was during the “Machine” era, and the second was the most recent reunion tour; both of which were great experiences. They came out to the track “Regeneration” then jumped right into “Bled for Days.” Immediately the first Moshpit started on the lawn, with a small but dedicated group of guys. Shortly thereafter I noticed the pungent odor of marijuana drifting liberally about. Not slowing for a moment, Static-X hammered out “Wisconsin Death Trip,” “Sweat of the Bud” and “Love Dump” without mercy. With a dedication to the Wayne Static, the band played “Cold,” possibly their trippiest song. In my drunkenness, swaying to the music, surrounded by a cloud of ganja, I had a thought “Can a song this mindbending actually make a person higher?” I pondered this as I noticed a woman nearby collapse. People bustled about her, lending their assistance; helping as they could. Believing the situation to be in far more capable hands, I returned my attention to the show, but I had another thought: “What if the song DID make you higher? And what if it made her too high; so high in fact it had fried her brain?” I actually laughed out loud at myself over this. In all likelihood it was dehydration or sunstroke, not sonically induced catatonia that was the prognosis, but who knows. Static-X finished up with two of their absolute best, “I’m With Stupid” and, of course, “Push it.” They delivered a flawlessly executed and absolutely energizing set. By the end the pit had grown to a much more respectable size and the crowd was amped, myself included. I enjoy this new version of the band. I know no one can replace Wayne, but I think it is worth noting that “Zero” fills the shoes fairly well. I also respect that they take time to recognize Wayne during the sets, making every show a tribute. It never feels like a shameless cash grab… for lack of better phrasing, it is tastefully done.
I barely survived the beating I sustained after the next trip to the booze dispensers, but I soldiered on. By this point I was plenty liquored up and wild eyed with Metal enthusiasm. Powerman 5000 had been good, and Static-X even better, but the band I had really come to see was about to play: Mudvayne.
Of the Nu-Metal era, I consider them to be one of the best bands. I feel their first three albums hold up decades later. While I long ago outgrew many of their contemporaries, I still enjoy Mudvayne’s early records. Here’s my problem with Mudvayne: I’ve had a hard time seeing them live. I bought tickets to see them three times. The first two gigs they cancelled the day of the show, the third was at a crummy festival in Tucson, AZ. That set was a big disappointment to me: They played maybe thirty minutes, weren’t in costume and the only song from “L.D. 50” they performed was “Dig.” That was twenty years ago. Mudvayne broke up, and its members pursued other projects. I thought they were done and I would never get the chance to see them “for real.”
So there I was, severely intoxicated and my wish was coming true: Mudvayne had returned! And not just returned, but allegedly, they had been resurrected in full force. Preliminary reports on the tour had indicated they were doing the whole shebang: Make up, costumes, big stage set up and most importantly, reviews said they sounded great. My crew and I were foaming at the mouth as they took to the stage and broke into “Dig.” The crowd lost their shit, and the moshpit immediately doubled, and then tripled its earlier size. “Under My Skin” with its chaotic vocals set headbanging across the amphitheater. “-1” with its bipolar structure, had the pit slowing to a groove then catapulting to shattering intensities. Here they hit the sets most impassioned and epic point: “Severed.” Arguably the bands greatest song, and the showcase track from L.D 50, it was the one song we had hoped against hope we’d get to hear. Mudvayne delivered with total precision and immeasurable passion running through the songs melodic segments and building towards cataclysmic explosions of rage. Following the emotional peaks and valleys of “Severed” they broke into “Death Blooms” which sent the pit to new heights of hot sweaty violence. The smell of weed continued to grow, as the enthralled crowd began exhibiting decreasing amounts of discretion with each subsequent song. “Internal Primates Forever,” and “Determined,” came in succession followed by “Not Falling” which garnered huge crowd support on the choruses. The serial killer anthem “Nothing to Gein” left me in awe at its intensity. “Dull Boy,” a track which appeared on a later album, was one I was not familiar with, yet really dug. They followed that with “World so Cold” and then closed out with my all time favorite “Happy?” That last one had me screaming drunkenly with such fervor that I accidentally gave myself a headache. Mudvayne left the stage to a frenzy of fan appreciation. I got the feeling that like me, many of my fellow Metalheads never thought this day would come. It was nothing short of awesome. Seeing a band that had been dead for over a decade, rise from the grave and play an incredible set was something special. In fact the only criticism I have centers around the big screens. While the stage was full of colored lights and banners, not to mention a band in full costume, for some reason the screens were set to “black and white.” I don’t know if it was by design or due to technical difficulties, but either way it made it difficult for those of us on the lawn to enjoy the full visual experience that Mudvayne was presenting. Of course, that did nothing to diminish the music, which is what really matters and that was flawless from my perspective. What can I say? I am happy to report that the Mudvayne reunion is the real deal. If you have the chance to check it out, I highly recommend you do so.
I haven’t walked right since “the incident” when I bought my next drink, which was too shameful to describe. Suffice to say, “my wallet” is pretty sore after what Blossom did to it. By that time I was beyond the point where I was registering pain, so I just rolled with it and made my way down to watch Rob Zombie.
If you’ve never seen the spectacle that Mr. Zombie puts on, then you have missed out my friend. His live show is one of the more impressive performances you can see by a major label act. Visually it is staggering. He fills the entire stage with screens and risers for himself and his band. A mix of psychedelic imagery and old school horror footage blended with Zombie’s own films, fills the viewers eyes. All the while Rob Zombie’s unique and peculiar brand of Metal pumps and gyrates the speakers with a sound that is more grooving than heavy at most points. “The Triumph of King Freak,” “Superbeast,” and “Meet the Creeper” opened the set with some of Zombie’s high gear material. “Shake Your Ass-Smoke Your Grass” had the lawn doing both with glee. “Living Dead Girl” carried that vibe forward right into the iconic opening notes of White Zombie’s “More Human, Than Human.” Zombie continued with “Scum of the Earth,” “Dead City Radio and the New Gods of Supertown,” and “Never Gonna Stop.” “Well, Everybody’s Fucking in a UFO” had the party vibe in full swing which was abruptly and intentionally twisted when Rob fired up “House of 1000 Corpses.” Next the band took a break while John 5 broke into a lengthy and impressive guitar solo. This led into the highlight of the set for me, the eternal classic “Thunderkiss ’65.” I first heard this song in junior high and I never have gotten tired of it. It truly has one of those riffs that will live forever like “Breaking the Law,” “Mother” and “Iron Man.” After Thunderkiss, he played “Shadow of Cemetery Man” before exiting the stage. Then we were treated (forced) to watch the trailer for Rob’s new movie. I don’t like that he does this. I don’t even know why. I just can’t stand it, I don’t want commercials during my concerts, and I don’t care what the commercial is for. I would rather stare at an empty stage for 10 minutes waiting for the encore than watch your trailers, Rob. I go to concerts to escape that kind of shit… BUT AGAIN, I digress. After the trailer, he played “Dragula” and that was that. The crowd cheered, Rob said goodnight and the lights came up. As always Rob Zombie put on a show that is more audio/visual extravaganza than it is a Rock concert. It is definitely a unique, interesting experience and it’s a hell of a lot of fun. If you love live music and want to see something that is legitimately over the top, then check him out. It’s a show not to be missed.
Dragging my revolting form up that accursed hill, we fell into the procession of the undead moving towards the gate. We left Blossom, staggering back to the van, and the blessed coolers where the beers were free. We drank up and nursed our financial wounds. Chattering like baboons we talked it all over as we made our way along the serpentine roads that connect BMC to the rest of the world. Soon enough we were back in my driveway, saying goodbyes and parting ways. It had been a very good and very long day; Also a very hot and very drunk day. As such, I was bone tired when I finally stumbled into bed like a yeti on roller skates. The following day was rough, but the night prior had been worth it. I regret forgetting my earplugs, and the ringing in my ears keeps reminding me why I harp on this so much. Trust me, it is not a mistake I will be making again anytime soon. (Wear earplugs, ya dingus!) Aside from that, and the hit to my bank account, the night was a resounding success. Blossom is a great place to see a big show, despite the parking and pricing issues. It is where I saw my first show back in 1994, so I always get nostalgic whenever I visit. All four acts were good, though I have to say Static-X and Mudvayne were exceptional. It was cool to see four acts from my high school days still out there doing their thing and doing it very well.
Until next time, Rock on, Rustbelt!
-Z.M. Delgado
Rustbelt Rock Review
Zackolantern.com
8/7-8/8/2022
Robzombie.com
Mudvayneofficial.com
Static-x.org
Powerman5000.com
