| | | | | | |
October 31st, 2006 @ Mr. Small's Theatre in PA
The show seemed to be about as full as the show in April, so that was good. The venue used to be a church, so it was a neat place to spend Halloween! I missed Brand New Sin, but saw the Autumn Offering (their guitarist is amaizng!) and Soil (they were all wearing the exact same clothes as Saturday night, lol).
Right before Mushroomhead started, they played the opening song from the Nightmare Before Christmas again. Also, they played a thing saying something like, "We're sorry but Slipknot will NOT be performing tonight.". They did this at the Halloween show on Saturday and both times, it received a great, approving cheer. It seemed as if someone wasn't quite ready, because it took a while for anyone to come onto the stage. But all was well and everyone showed up to begin "Damage Done".
Everyone was dressed the same as the Halloween show. Nothing was dressed as a psychotic butcher again. If you haven't seen a picture yet, he was wearing a white, sleeveless shirt under a heavy apron. Rusty-looking chains with hooks and cuffs hung from his belt and he was covered in a spray of what looked like dried blood.
Waylon came out in his red coat, but got rid of it within a few songs. He had the same face paint as usual, but was wearing a black, button-down shirt with black pants and a belt with a huge buckle. Besides that, everyone else looked the same.
I was so happy with the crowd because everyone was singing along to the songs... old and new. Of course it wasn't like home, but it was close! As Hurley already said, there was no crowdsurfing. For some reason, there were signs everywhere that said, "NO CROWDSURFING TONIGHT AT THE DIRECT REQUEST OF MUSHROOMHEAD". I never found out what that was about... does anyone know if something happened? Did someone get kicked in the face one night? Anyways, it was nice that everybody respected the request. The only crowdsurfing was Lil Dan and Stitch. Lil Dan jumped in right in front of me and somehow, I never saw it coming! Later, Stitch jumped right on top of me @_@
The setlist was the usual... they did new songs as well as classics such as the singles, "Never Let It Go", "Bwomp", and even "43"! I miss "When Doves Cry", but I'm satisfied with the replacement of "Save Us" and "Embrace the Ending". I forget which song it was, but I think during "Never Let It Go", Waylon pretty much just held the mic out to the crowd because so many people were singing right along.
It was really good to see the guys again and it was even on Halloween night!
October 28th, 2006 @ the Agora in Cleveland
The worst part of the night was that I missed Ventana T_T I was really upset. Besides that, I can't complain!
I saw Brand New Sin and thought they were ok. It was funny when Waylon came on stage with a big cowboy hat and sunglasses and danced around with the band. I thought Soil was pretty good, too, and it was fun at the end because people really got into the music. I was in my spot way at the right by the little balcony and there was a guy by me dancing like crazy!
The Wait wasn't too bad this go around. They didn't shut the curtains, so we could watch everything being set up. You've probably seen pictures by now, so I won't go into describing the look. I thought it would have been really cool to have a gargoyle somewhere because they had that old stone look going on. Maybe two little gargoyles on the sides of the drums stand...
I was surprised to hear the show start off with the opening song from the Nightmare Before Christmas. It was fun because a lot of people were singing along. The announcement about Slipknot not playing was met with a resounding cheer, then Mushroomhead began to filter out from the sides to take their places. They started right off with "Damage Done" and the energy of everyone's combined anticipation exploded as fog billowed into the crowd and beautiful snowflakes fluttered down from high above the stage against the burst of strobe lights. It was amazing. I can't begin to describe it, but the feeling you get right at that moment is one of the best things in the world. Right then, your extreme patience will be rewarded and you know that the next 40 or so minutes will be incredible (unless you die in the crowd, but even that thought doesn't seem so bad!) and it feels as if everything is ok in the world for just that bit of time. I guess that could sound pretty weird to some people, but that's what Mushroomhead does for me ^_^
Anyways, it was quite the entrance. I loved the snow and was happy to see the giant curtain in the back with the trees. They have used it quite a few times, but I really like it. Part way through the show, they switched it with a giant curtain of the artwork from under the disc on Savior Sorrow. That also looked very good. I agree that the setup wasn't too amazing, but it still looked really good and was definitely much more than a usual Peabody's show.
I have officially decided that "Erase the Doubt" is my new favorite live song. The first thing I thought when I heard it on the CD was, "This will be so much fun at shows!". How true, how true! Like people have said, the set was normal, but it was still good. There were the classics such as the singles, "Never Let It Go", "Bwomp", and even "43" at the end. Throughout the songs, they shot off the confetti cannon quite a few times. When it happened, the air was filled with fog and confetti pieces and was really pretty. There were so many pieces that I was scared I would inhale one or two o_o
Did anyone see the fight right at the end? After the show was over, a guy ran onto the stage and the bouncers grabbed him. There was a girl on the little balcony by me who was mad about that, so a bouncer came after her. They were yelling at each other, then she flicked a lit cigarette right at his ear! He got mad and tried to grab her and it took a couple big guys to restrain her because she was fighting like a mad woman. The bouncers had to lift her and carry her away because she was kicking and flailing so wildly. Afterwards, people were thanking the bouncers for their work.
That's about it for the review. I definitely enjoyed myself and it was a much-needed bit of fun. It was nice to see the guys back home and I made sure to thank them for the show. It was also fun to see some fellow Thirteamers!
April 4th, 2006 @ Mr. Small's Theatre in PA
Mushroomhead played at a theatre called Mr. Small's and first of all, I have to say that the place had to have been a church in the past. There weren't signs on the outside except for a lit-up one on the ground that said "Mushroomhead" on it. Even with that, we were wondering if it was the right place.
Inside, it was an awesome building. There was an aisle in the middle surrounded by squeaky wood floors and up near the ceiling, there were large old doors sort of hanging out from the walls by chains. It was very cool to look around at everything.
ANYWAYS, we got there during Gizmachi's set. We didn't care for them at all. I kept thinking they were going to finish, but 5 or 6 songs later, they were still going. I couldn't really tell the songs apart so I don't know how many there were.
As a usual Peabodys attendee, I'm used to Mushroomhead going on after midnight, but they were setting up after Gizmachi at around 9:30. They must have started playing at 10. I can never get over that when it's so early!
We moved up farther to the front and waited in the crowd. I was pleased to see a few people with masks on (even one gas mask). Then, when the lights finally dimmed, everyone started chanting, "Mush-room-head! Mush-room-head!" and the band filed out onto the stage. They were in dark jumpsuits with the new skull masks and Nothing had a white face with red slashes of a pentagram across it. Skinny's drums had lost the pentagram design and were back to the X face, though. The last change I noticed was an American flag hanging from Stitch's keyboard.
The setlist was the same as usual, although I could have sworn that they played "Eternal" twice. I was very happy to still witness "When Doves Cry"... it's great that they still play it. No new songs yet! Waylon did mention that the CD is due out in AUGUST now.
Along with all the usual equipment, they went to the trouble of dragging along extra drums for "Destroy the World Around Me". Dan and Stitch took their places beside Nothing and beat the drums to shoot illuminated water into the air (in case you don't know what I was talking about). It's such a great effect...
If you're curious about the Pittsburgh crowd, they did sing along and some even knew about crossing their arms and shouting, "Oi oi oi" for "Born of Desire". According to my boyfriend, the pits aren't as good as Cleveland because people use elbows and mosh much dirtier. Still, people will pick you up if you fall! It was no Cleveland crowd, but I was still happy with it.
Like usual, they ended with "Born of Desire". Waylon said that they'd be back soon, though! Afterwards, they threw out setlists, water bottles, and guitar picks, then wandered off to where ever they go. Nothing and Waylon took their places at the merch table, then some of the guys showed up in the crowd later. It was a great show and Skinny told me that they've been doing very well, so hopefully they'll continue to have successful shows throughout the tour!
December 30th, 2005 at Peabody's in Cleveland, OH (Christmas show)
I would have to say that Peabody's let in too many people than they were supposed to. I don't think I've ever seen so many people in there before o_o
I was there with my boyfriend and we got there during the lip-sync band (never caught their name). I thought they were ok and it was kind of cute having the little boy with the spiked mohawk on stage the whole time. He was helping with cymbals and chimes, but mostly stood there sort of headbanging.
The next band was Two Headed Chan? Champ? Something like that. They were from Michigan and were really good! I haven't seen an opening band that good in a lonnnng time. They said that they play with Mushroomhead when Mushroomhead goes to Michigan, but that this was their first time in Cleveland. I hope they come back again!
The next band I think was called Rue. They were boring... it sounded like the same song for the entire set but with breaks in between. Each song seemed to last for 10 minutes.
Finally, the last band was PKS. I thought they were pretty good. By then, it was 11:30 and the place was packed as if Mushroomhead was just about to start. PKS finished and the curtain went up after a while. Waves in the crowd shuffled everyone around, then finally, the lights dimmed and the Muppets song came on. Lights flashed behind the curtain and the pent-up energy in the room was about to explode and finally the curtain fell and chaos broke out as Slow Thing filled Peabody's. By now, you've probably seen pictures or have read about what the band was wearing, but I'll still say it was awesome! I really liked Waylon's new design.
I actually can't say what the next song was because I was so busy trying to stay alive! If anybody has been in the crowd during Bwomp, they should know that that's almost always the most intense part of the show. Well, the very first song was of "Bwomp intensity". People were being shoved from side to side and falling all over each other, all scrambling to stay on their feet. I had to flee to the side and hide before the song was over. WOW.
So by now, I've stressed that the venue was packed.
The setlist seemed to be the same as the Halloween show's, complete with all of Destroy the World Around Me. Stitch and Little Dan even brought out the drums and sent illuminated water spraying into the air. I don't know whose idea that was, but it was a brilliant one!
That was about it. It was a crazy show and a great way to end the year!