"Top to bottom, MINISTRY put on a spectacular show that highlighted why this band has withstood the test of time and still sits atop the throne of all-things metal. Al “Fucking” Jourgensen is still the man, and MINISTRY continues to rock harder than any band on the planet today."
Friday's sold out show in San Diego could not have come soon enough. I drove in from Long Beach (which to itself is no small feat), and had plenty of windshield time to listen to a wide-range of MINISTRY classics while reflecting on what is arguably the best industrial metal band of all-time. To see this band in such an intimate setting was going to be nothing short of amazing, and as a lifelong fan this show was even more special for me. As I walked up to pick up my press credentials, I couldn’t help by notice the line of die-hard fans wrapping around the block, waiting for their opportunity to enter the House of Blues to see a band that many had been following for well over 30 years. Fists were pumping, fans were screaming, and energy levels were off the charts. If this rabid excitement was any indication of how the MINISTRY’s overall performance would turn out, we were all in for a real treat that evening.
MINISTRY hit the stage around 9:00 pm, and this capacity crowd of over 1200 went absolutely nuts as Al Jourgensen and Company took the stage. Fans pushed towards the stage as the lights went black and the band ripped into their opening song, "Punch in the Face". If you were lucky enough to be in the pit, you were no-doubt lifted off the floor as the crowd pushed their way towards the front of the stage to be up-front and personal with their favorite band. Over the next hour and a half, fans were treated to a high octane show that never saw a break in energy or intensity. Fans were treated to amazing lighting, intense video backdrops, and loud music (what else would you expect at a MINISTRY show?)
Whether you were down with MINISTRY back in 1981 or a newer fan, there were songs for everyone. Classics like "N.W.O.", "Lies, Lies, Lies”, and “So What” laid groundwork for a 14-song set that far exceeded everyone's expectations. The highlight of the night for me personally was “Just One Fix” off 1992’s Psalm 69 and “Thieves” off from the 1989 standard, The Mind is a Terrible Thing to Taste. Both tracks were simply epic. MINISTRY then closed the show with a two-song encore consisting of "Psalm 69" and "Filth Pig". Talk about taking it up a notch – these guys went from a solid “10” in anyone’s book to “11” in mere seconds. Perfect choices to end an incredible night of metal in San Diego’s infamous Gas Lamp District.
Walking back to my car, I can honestly say that this may be one of the best MINISTRY shows I’ve been to in the last 20 years. Jason Christopher’s thundering Bass was nothing short of amazing. The guitar tandem of Sin Quirin and Cesar Soto literally blew the doors off the joint (my ears are still ringing!) And tying this crazy sound together was the keyboard prowess of John Bechdel and the wizardry of drummer Thomas Holtgreve. And then there’s Uncle Al. What can be said about a guy that has been there since day one and continues to electrify the masses with his “no-bullshit” approach to music (and life). Top to bottom, MINISTRY put on a spectacular show that highlighted why this band has withstood the test of time and still sits atop the throne of all-things metal. Al “Fucking” Jourgensen is still the man, and MINISTRY continues to rock harder than any band on the planet today.
Until Next Time,
Stay Frosty and Rock On!
Setlist:
Encore:
Executive Editor - Long Beach
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