Ministry’s Al Jourgensen knows that good things come to those who wait. “I know you paid big bucks to hear the older shit,” the singer told those in attendance at the Fillmore on Sunday night, April 30. “So, I played some newer shit first. So, this next one … is even newer shit! It’s not even released yet. So, fuck you!”
After those first six songs, Ministry dove into a handful of classic tracks, appeasing the crowded Charlotte venue. While the first songs, such as “Disinformation” and “Broken System” focused on the problems in the current political culture, some things never change. “N.W.O.” was about the New World Order and hits hard at politics even for a song that’s 30 years old. That was followed by “Just One Fix,” “The Missing,” and a few others before set closer, “Stigmata.”
Sure, there were some fan favorites left off the setlist — “Thieves,” “So What” — but it wasn’t long ago that Jourgensen refused to sing any of the “classics” and left that responsibility to his band. This time around, he was in fine form — animated from start to finish, encouraging audience participation and clearly still having fun on stage.
The night started with a set from Front Line Assembly (who apparently blew a venue fuse only one song into their set, causing a 10-minute delay). The band features singer Bill Leeb who started the group in 1986 after leaving Skinny Puppy. The guitarist for this tour is Tim Skold, who is currently the guitarist for Marilyn Manson.
Sandwiched between Ministry and Front Line Assembly was Gary Numan — the ’80s one-hit-wonder who has recreated himself in a far more industrial setting over the years. Both opening acts were a great appetizer for the main course.
Ministry setlist
Alert Level
Good Trouble
Disinformation
Believe Me
Broken System
Goddamn White Trash
N.W.O.
Just One Fix
The Missing
Deity
Burning Inside
Stigmata
Encore
Ricky’s Hand
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