Rob Zombie
Islander
DJ Ginger Fish
September 24th, 2014
SOLD OUT!
Mid America Center
Council Bluffs, Iowa
Dropping the cost of tickets down to an unheard of $10, tonight’s show was sure to sell out. Allowing those who’d purchased their tickets before the price drop to enter half an hour early allowed the hardcore fans the chance to secure their spots at the barricade.
Kicking off tonight show, and concealing his identity with a glitter skull mask, drummer Ginger Fish amped up the crowd with a dj set that included tracks from Slayer, Pantera, Slipknot, Rob Zombie and others. While fans speculated the identity of the dj, I got a peak under the mask when Fish turned, bent over, and took a drink from his waer bottle. Many of the fans I spoke with wondered if it was Jonathon Davis of Korn, or even Zombie himself behind the turn tables.
Christian Nu Metal band Islander would be opening tonight’s show. The band, however, failed to amp the ever growing crowd up as much as Fish’s dj set did. The quartet from Greenville, South Carolina was stale. Their live set was unimpressive and failed to gain much of a reaction from the fans. It was only when vocalist Mikey Carvajal jumped on the barricade and into the crowd during the band’s 2rd song did the crowd respond. It was Rob Zombie that the sold out crowd had come to see, and it looked like Islander wouldn’t be able to sway the crowd’s favor their way.
The stage crew wasted no time raising the gigantic back of stage curtain proudly featuring a classic image of King Kong, and the stage banners of other classic horror movie creatures; including the Hunchback of Notredam, The Phantom of the Opera, Frankenstein, and Dracula. An unholy trinity of highly detailed mic stands, featuring Count Orlok of the classic silent film Nosferatu, were then placed on stage.
By the time the clock struck 8:40pm, the crowd, now almost at full capacity, began to chant in unison. Zombie. Zombie. Zombie. Zombie. This lasted until the the house lights were killed at the stage light burst to life. The screams were deafening as the band walked on stage and hit the opening notes of “Teenage Nosferatu Pussy”. While Piggyd and Ginger Fish were unmasked, John5 wore what I can only describe as a robotic bondage hood, and Zombie covered his nose and mouth with a skull bandana. The long tassles of Zombie’s leather jacket spin wildly as the man bounced across the stage, whipping his arms back and forth. The band continued to shred with “Superbeast” as mosh pits opened up around the arena. Zombie took a short break to tell the fans that tonight’s show was being recorded for an episode of the Howard Stern show, and thanked everyone for coming out to his “Early Halloween party.” Zombie continued to address the crowd as thousands of voices screamed back their approval. “It’s great to see so many of you dressed up in costume tonight. Or maybe that how you dress everyday. Anyway, doesn’t matter. Tonight we’re here to party, so get up! Get up!”
Zombie then treated the crowd to his version of James Brown’s “Get Up (I Feel Like Being a) Sex Machine” that mented seemlessly in “Living Dead Girl”. Starting his musical career in 1987, no artist currently touring today knows how to put on a high energy show that is on the same level as Rob Zombie. Even without the flashy LCD screens that I’ve seen the band use in previous shows, Zombie’s live show is full of energy. It’s impossible not to thrash around at one of his shows.
The stage lights bathed the arena in eerie shades of red, purple and green, and highlighted the intensity of each track the band played. After Fish’s drum solo, John5 walked back on stage dressed like he was ready for Thunder Dome and kicked into a brutal live rendition of “More Human Than Human”. Zombie switched back to his classic six-armed skeleton mic stand for “House of 1000 Corpses” then gave the fans something to play with, in the form of giant balloons, for “Sick Bubblegum”.
Even though Zombie has played “Thunderkiss ’65” five thousand times, it didn’t stop the crowd from screaming for the band to play the song five thousand and one times. With Zombie’s show, the man pushes the boundries of a traditional rock concert. Zombie knows that people want a spectacular visual show as well as the heavy metal and rock that he provides. This became apparent during John5’s guitar solo. As 5 was shredding through The Munster’s theme song, Zombie grabbed a spotlight and made his way through the sold out crowd, walking all the way around the arena floor, climbed back on stage to finish “Thunderkiss ’65” before the band exited the stage.
After several minutes of the crowd chanting ZOMBIE, the six-armed skeleton mic stand was placed back on stage. The stage light burst back to life and the
band ripped into “Jesusfrankenstein”. Several large circle pits opened on the floor in response. Zombie walked off stage to grab an American flag and, wearing it like a cloak, the guys performed their cover of “We’re An American Band”. The arena went nuts when Zombie sang the line about Omaha.
What was on the paper setlist as the band’s final song, “Dragula” was no such thing. After working the crowd once again into a frenzy with his most popular song and exiting the stage, the band came back out for their 3rd and final encore. The band’s final four songs were a mixture of fan favorites. Tracks that aren’t played enough live.
Overall, the band played for close to two hours. During those two hours, the band maintained their energy level and fed off of the energy coming from the crowd. Without a doubt, it was the best show Zombie has ever put on.
Setlist:
Teenage Nosferatu Pussy
Superbeast
Get Up (I Feel Like Being a) Sex Machine (James Brown)
Living Dead Girl
Dead City Radio and the New Gods of Supertown
More Human Than Human (White Zombie)
Sick Bubble-Gum
House of 1000 Corpses
Meet the Creeper
Never Gonna Stop (The Red, Red Kroovy)
Blitzkrieg Bop (Ramones)
Thunder Kiss ’65 (White Zombie), with John5’s guitar solo, and The Munsters’ theme
1st Encore:
Jesus Frankenstein
We’re an American Band (Grand Funk Railroad)
2nd Encore:
Dragula
Final Encore:
Demonoid Phenomenon
Pussy Liquor
Demon Speeding
Ging Gang Gong De Do Gong De Laga Raga
