Last Night: Marilyn Manson at House of Blues

By Craig Hlavaty Mon., May 14 2012 at 12:00 PM

Photos by Groovehouse

Marilyn Manson
House of Blues
May 13, 2012

See more Mother's Day Marilyn Manson photos in our slideshow.

"It's Mother's Day. Anybody here have my child, or is my child?" howled Marilyn Manson from the stage at the House of Blues Sunday, just as he and the band ended "Disposable Teens" in a flurry of fog and stomp. For a good number of fans in the crowd who responded with reverence, he is their father, if only because he gave them sight and identity so many years ago.

Manson hadn't been in the Bayou City in more than four years, making Sunday's sold-out show even more of an event for local Manson fanatics. He's touring behind this month's new Born Villain, an LP so lustful and tongue-in-cheek that it sounds like a 21st century retelling of David Bowie's Scary Monsters, albeit with his trademark snarl and sass.

The Manson family band is presently guitarist Twiggy Ramirez, now on his second album back in the fold after some time away from the group; Fred Sablan handles bass duties where Ramirez once stood, and drummer Jason Sutter is an old industry hand whose credits date back to the mid-'90s and who has a filthy wrist-crack. Manson and Ramirez are all that remain from the classic-carnival lineup of the original Manson band.

The band's 15-song set list was heavy on hits ("Dope Show," "Rock Is Dead"), plus two killer signature covers ("Personal Jesus," "Sweet Dreams (Are Made of This)"). The new Villain stuff is very strong -- "Slo-Mo-Tion" is a great Iggy Pop-style waltz.

I only wish that we could have gotten more of the "Lunchbox"/"Get Your Gunn" work from the Portrait of an American Family period last night. But maybe "Cake and Sodomy" would have hit too close to home here in 2012 for some.

The Antichrist Superstar material -- which closed the show -- speaks louder than it ever did now, 16 years away from its release. The notion of a cult of personality running the country doesn't seem too far-fetched anymore and the near-religious fanaticism of said cult is pretty blatant now.

I have been a Manson for more than half my life, and I still can't tell if he's a demented Elvis Presley, a tattooed Bono for aggro-assholes, the most vital rock artist of the '90s or a national treasure that belongs in the Smithsonian.

Hell, let's just go with all of those.

Location Info

Venue

Map

House of Blues

1204 Caroline, Houston, TX

Category: Music

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concert reviews, Marilyn Manson, The Pretty Reckless

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maria.pao

this show was amazing!!! the best mothers day present ever,for the fact that i am pregnant and on my belly i had manson's symbol totally cough his attention!!!!

guest

I liked pretty reckless more than MM

RDT

I liked the Pretty Reckless side boob more than MM

Ricksouza

Portrait Of An American Family period is dead and I hate it.

Gary Packwood

Interesting and timely article.

I learned a bunch about music history that I didn't know.

Brilliantly written.

Thanks

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Harry Peter

MANSON GOT FAT

Fillet

He's really not that fat. That's a pretty silly thing to say. When I showed up, someone said, "Oh, Manson's fat..." but honestly, look at those photos, the guy is still a beanpole.

M-isForMister

It's odd that the article didn't mention that, but his fans have gotten pretty fat as well. OK, maybe not fat, just a whole lot healthier than 15 years ago.

Cap'n

The AntiChrist Superstar show was definitely unsettling in 1996. I remember seeing that show at the International Ballroom and it was absolutely fantastic. They did the whole AntiChrist album and then everything else was from Portrait of an American Family (I don't think there was much else to draw from). He definitely made people squirm -- I can vividly recall security, cops, vendors and promoters at the venue looking very uncomfortable at what they were witnessing. To paraphrase Lemmy on rock, "It's always been the sign of good rock and roll. If you parents hate it, it's good." MM made parents lose their shit.

Kate Bundy

Yo Craig, would be your Manson band member name?

Craig Hlavaty

Lee Harvey Streisand

Raul Alfaro

Lovely read. Thanks.

mbkeever

"I still can't tell if he's a demented Elvis Presley, a tattooed Bono for aggro-assholes, the most vital rock artist of the '90s or a national treasure that belongs in the Smithsonian. Hell, let's just go with all of those."

Perfectly put, sir.

If I'm a fanboy of anything, it's Manson. It's too bad he didn't perform "Crucifiction in Space," though. I always loved the line about Christ being in Texas. If I recall correctly, that's what he opened with four years ago when he performed at Verizon (now Bayou Music Center).

I'd also like to see and hear him perform "Last Day on Earth" live before he hangs it all up... Here's hoping.Bummed I missed the show, but I thoroughly enjoyed recap, Craig. And Groovehouse, as always, solid photos, man.